Hereafter is a different type of film from Clint Eastwood. It does not have shoot outs, it does not take place in California, and it is not hard-boiled. What it is, however, is gentle and quiet, with some moving performances and fairly good writing. Hereafter is often moving, even if its script does become sappy at times. Its hard to remember that great directors are the most versatile ones and Clint Eastwood simply proves this by making a sad, Babel-esquire movie about trauma and death.
Hereafter follows three stories about death. The first is about a French journalist, as played by the great Cecile de France, who nearly dies in a tsunami and rethinks her life afterwards. The second is about a psychic (Matt Damon), who can actually communicate with the dead, although he chooses not to do so. He has quit his job as a psychic and wants to return to a normal life. The third is about a British boy who loses his brother in a car accident and tries to overcome his death. The three stories intertwine, although it does take a long time for the stories to even start coming together.
Peter Morgan's writing shines in this movie. Morgan, who previously wrote The Queen, has written another good script, even if this one is not as good as his other writing. Although the story feels a little "easy" in terms of its predictability and deus ex machina turns towards the end, it is still an interesting story and one worth watching. Morgan and Eastwood's ideas on death may not be for everybody, especially because the movie never deals with religion, but nevertheless, it is still an unusual and enthralling story.
The acting from most of the main cast is very good as well. Cecile de France, a relatively unknown actress in the United States, outdoes the rest of the cast in her sad but delicate performance. Matt Damon, probably the most well-known actor in the movie, is pretty good, but he will never be able to have a performance as great as the one in Good Will Hunting. Unfortunately, the performance of the British boy falls short. Played by both Frankie and George McLaren, the acting is sadly emotionless, even during the saddest scenes, and feels fake. Although the may just be children and one cannot expect much from child actors, there have been much more believable and better child performances.
Clint Eastwood has made a good movie with Hereafter. It is not a great movie, per se, but it is an interesting one nonetheless and one that is worth watching simply for this reason. Hereafter is certainly not one of Eastwood's best (in fact, it is probably one of his lesser good ones), but it is one of his must unusual ones and should be seen to show that he can direct in many genres. Eastwood has directed thrillers, westerns, and sports dramas, but never a delicate drama upheld by great performances. And for that reason, it should be seen, even by Eastwood fans who are sure that they will hate it. From a tour de force opening tsunami scene to a somewhat odd and disappointing, but quiet end, Hereafter is a unique movie from a person that one may not expect to make this kind of film.
Note: My rating would be a 7.5/10 (or 3/4) if I could give it half-stars.
Hereafter follows three stories about death. The first is about a French journalist, as played by the great Cecile de France, who nearly dies in a tsunami and rethinks her life afterwards. The second is about a psychic (Matt Damon), who can actually communicate with the dead, although he chooses not to do so. He has quit his job as a psychic and wants to return to a normal life. The third is about a British boy who loses his brother in a car accident and tries to overcome his death. The three stories intertwine, although it does take a long time for the stories to even start coming together.
Peter Morgan's writing shines in this movie. Morgan, who previously wrote The Queen, has written another good script, even if this one is not as good as his other writing. Although the story feels a little "easy" in terms of its predictability and deus ex machina turns towards the end, it is still an interesting story and one worth watching. Morgan and Eastwood's ideas on death may not be for everybody, especially because the movie never deals with religion, but nevertheless, it is still an unusual and enthralling story.
The acting from most of the main cast is very good as well. Cecile de France, a relatively unknown actress in the United States, outdoes the rest of the cast in her sad but delicate performance. Matt Damon, probably the most well-known actor in the movie, is pretty good, but he will never be able to have a performance as great as the one in Good Will Hunting. Unfortunately, the performance of the British boy falls short. Played by both Frankie and George McLaren, the acting is sadly emotionless, even during the saddest scenes, and feels fake. Although the may just be children and one cannot expect much from child actors, there have been much more believable and better child performances.
Clint Eastwood has made a good movie with Hereafter. It is not a great movie, per se, but it is an interesting one nonetheless and one that is worth watching simply for this reason. Hereafter is certainly not one of Eastwood's best (in fact, it is probably one of his lesser good ones), but it is one of his must unusual ones and should be seen to show that he can direct in many genres. Eastwood has directed thrillers, westerns, and sports dramas, but never a delicate drama upheld by great performances. And for that reason, it should be seen, even by Eastwood fans who are sure that they will hate it. From a tour de force opening tsunami scene to a somewhat odd and disappointing, but quiet end, Hereafter is a unique movie from a person that one may not expect to make this kind of film.
Note: My rating would be a 7.5/10 (or 3/4) if I could give it half-stars.