I really didn't know what to expect from this one. Was it a thriller a la "The Sixth Sense"? What was it really about? The trailers didn't really spill too much on what to expect, so I went into this one more or less in the dark. What I did know was that this one was getting early Oscar buzz, and that Clint Eastwood is one of the top 5 or 6 directors working today, and that Matt Damon is an absolutely tremendous actor. So when I scored some passes to an advance screening of this one, I jumped at the chance. "Hereafter" deals, obviously, with death, what may or may not await us after we've departed this earth, and how it impacts those who are left to pick up the pieces. This isn't exactly an easy topic to deal with, and can quickly degenerate into religious debate or intense faith-based discussion. Eastwood wisely focuses on the characters, played so adroitly and capably, and on the emotions surrounding the situations they're placed in, with some great shots and truly terrific camera work.
This one is quite unlike basically everything else of Eastwood's that I've seen, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. This film is completely made on the strength of the director and of the performances. The film basically focuses on three characters, an American psychic (Matt Damon - proving once again while he's one of the best actors working today), a French reporter (Cecile De France), and an English schoolboy (Frankie/George Mclaren), each of whom has an intense and jarring encounter with death. The psychic, George Lonegan, is really able to communicate with the dead, and is unable to form a real relationship with anyone because of his strange ability. The French reporter, Marie LeLay, finds herself in South Asia during the devastating tsunami of 2004, where she is rescued from the deluge and revived with CPR. The schoolboy, Marcus, is a twin with a drug addict for a mother, and so is incredibly close with his brother, who dies in a horrible accident. These people find their existences defined by their experiences with death and the beyond, and find that they are inexplicably drawn to discover the meaning behind what's happened to them. Their journeys drive them on a collision course, and their stories eventually intertwine as they help each other understand and move on.
This is in no way a perfect film. The script and story at times doesn't make a whole lot of sense, often being cliche and overly sentimental. This, however, is overshadowed by the quality of filmmaking and the truly great performances out of De France and Damon. There are some soul-crushing moments that our protagonists endure, and through the strength of the performances you can't help but empathize and be brought along on Eastwood's journey. This film doesn't seek to explain, lecture, or offer any answers. It's simply one view of what may or could be awaiting all of us, and how death inevitably touches us all in different and often tragic ways.
Flawed, but with some great scenes (the tsunami scene is especially intense - as is the break down of George's burgeoning flirtation with a girl he met at night school), great performances (Damon's a best actor nom shoo-in), and something worthwhile to say, I'd say it's a safe bet this one will be one to reckon with come awards season.. the academy loves sentimental dramas with a strong director/acting pedigree. I went in not knowing what to expect, but wound up liking this one a whole lot more than I probably should have. What can I say? I can go sentimental.
7.5/10.
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