Where to Watch:
8.5/10
FilmFascination Rating
I had this heavy heart after watching ‘Meet Joe Black’. Not from weariness, but because of all these emotions the movie took me through.
Sometimes you don’t need a nasty, complicated plot. Even one character or that one ideology the movie wants to share becomes worthwhile. Anthony Hopkins is the guy who made this movie what it has become for me.
Bill Parish is a successful businessman who gets a heart attack when he realizes, he hasn’t got much time left. He hears a voice ‘Yes’. ‘Yes’ says the voice, ‘Yes is the answer to your question’. The question we all wonder at some time. ‘Am I going to die?’. But when death comes to meet him, death makes a deal with him to explore the world in return for time. Time for him to live more. Death gets introduced to Bill’s family as Joe Black and then the movie becomes a delicate story about life, relationships, and love.
I have always had a special outlook on movies about life. What is the purpose of life? What is it that matters here? Who hasn’t wondered about all these things? Let me tell you one thing- there is no right answer to it. Just perspectives. It is your choice to decide which perspective you want to believe in and then live by. ‘Meet Joe Black’ is a ride at the end of which you get the feeling of living and having learnt something more about what we call life.
The delicate details in the movie are very admirable and I appreciate them. The subtle glances, the sexual tension in the chemistry between Susan (Claire Forlani) and Joe (Brad Pitt), the loving relationship between father and daughters, and the way love is described in the film. Love is a tender feeling, and it is treated that way in the film. But this isn’t just about romantic love. Even the tender relations with your father are beautifully captured in the film. There is such a beautiful scene between Maria Gay Harden (Alisson) and Hopkins (Bill) where Allison knows she is not Bill’s favourite child, but it does not matter because she knows she is loved. It is because of some of these scenes by the other characters that we know that Bill is a good guy. And that is why it is sad to see him go.
Human relations and their nature become the center of the film. In whichever direction the film goes, it comes back to the fact that Bill has got a few days to live. That constant reminder gives a perspective to look at those family dinner scenes or even makes you remember how he would be leaving this family and the beautiful house that he has worked so hard for his whole life.
The movie takes its time, it is a 180-minute movie, but I did not feel that it was dragged anywhere. You just got to be ready to give your time to it because it needs that time for the mood of the movie. My suggestion would be- feel the movie, feel it as much as you can. Because in a logical sense, the movie fails at some places. How does death fall in love? And even if I accept that why the hell is he so naïve? He has never had peanut butter, does not know how to kiss, and seems hesitant even when sitting. He is supposed to have lived for like a million years, so isn’t his inexperience with Earth a little technically wrong? His naivete does bring some fun scenes to watch, but you will have to ignore those technical questions to enjoy the film. That is why just feel the movie. But despite that, some trimming at the end could have worked.
Anthony Hopkins did make me smile more than once in the movie. He has this depth and maturity in his acting that creates a connection with him. Even when he describes his wife and his love for her, we get a perfect idea of her. That little scratch on his neck when talking about her, or the genuine tears in his eyes when he realises he has just a few days left. Those subtle actions are beautiful in the movie but even the camera captures them perfectly through its close-ups. Brad and Forlani have this very tender chemistry between them. Forlani is gorgeous in this rich, lavish set where even her diffident look is seductive (as she says it to Joe). Even their kisses or sex scenes are tender beautiful scenes. Then there is Jeffrey Tambor’s Quince, a likable character that also gives some touching scenes. The acting is brilliant with the right pauses and the right emotions through the eyes. That becomes a delight to watch and perhaps also the pillar of the movie.
In this long movie, the music also becomes another savior. A beautiful piano piece that reminds of- ‘nothing matters’. Whenever someone raises their voice, or it seems like we are going off-topic- this music brings us back on track. Even the last scene’s musical piece of ‘What a Wonderful World’ sets the mood right.
Finally the movie surpassed my expectations and is a beautiful watch about love, death, mortality, and leaving a legacy.
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Thanks for the encouragement. This made my day!
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Hey, you used to write great, but the last several posts have been kinda boring… I miss your great writings. Past several posts are just a little out of track! come on!
Sorry to hear that. But always open to constructive criticism…