Clint Eastwood’s latest, “Hereafter,” starring Matt Damon, explores what matters now and what lies beyond death. Yet the film never gains the emotional traction that you expect from an Eastwood film. Remember “Gran Torino” or last year’s “Invictus”? This might be due to the fact that, like many art house movies, Eastwood interweaves three separate tales. One character is a woman whose near-death experience has left her wondering about the afterlife. Another is a grieving boy trying desperately to communicate with the other side. And the third is a psychic who can talk to the dead and is tortured by it.
You have to admire Eastwood for tackling such a difficult topic. Nonetheless, as the traumatized French woman, Cecile de France never engages us emotionally and the child remains annoyingly remote. Only Matt Damon succeeds in bringing genuine anguish to his character. “Hereafter” is a beautiful production, especially the horrifying tsunami that opens the film. But after watching this disappointing movie, I have to wonder, ‘Is this all there is?’ 10/15/10
1 comment:
To me, this movie was an off-beat love story, featuring two lonely hearts in a search for meaning in their lives with the added factor that Matt Damon's character speaks to the dead. After traveling the world in search of answers they wind up at the same trade show and ultimitly at the same restaurant finding each other. Hard to believe, I know but then, that's Hollywood for you!!
Post a Comment