Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Michael Allen
Director: Clint Eastwood.
Writer: Peter Morgan.
Hereafter released on DVD, Blu-ray and video-on-demand formats March 15th and this is director Clint Eastwood's thirty fourth film, with J. Edgar coming in 2012. Hereafter covers an elusive subject, or perhaps more of a question: is there life after death? The film suggests that yes there is more to come after mortality ends, but Hereafter is just as much about the complex relationships here on earth.
A young, London schoolboy loses his twin brother, Jason, to east end gang life and hurried traffic. Marcus does not adjust well to his brother's death, as the only other support he has comes from a very damaged mother. The drama continues forward with another character. Cecile de France's plays Marie Lelay, a survivor of the 2004 tsunami. During her encounter with the flooding, Marie experienced a near death experience. She is compelled to tell her story, in print of the figures and lights she saw while in a coma. Finally, Matt Damon plays a retired psychic, named George, who can speak to the dead. He under utilizes his potential in a dull warehouse job. However, difficult circumstances draw him back to his former gifted life.
One of the elements that Hereafter uses to prove that life exists after death is the inclusion of Marie's near death experience. Really, NDEs are the only proof in human existence that there could be something in another, more spiritual world. Many who have experienced NDEs relate stories of bright lights, shadowy figures and a beckoning voice. Some scientists state that this is merely the synapses firing off one last round of neurochemical signals. Perhaps there is something more everlasting to these universal experiences
Flatliners starring Keifer Sutherland, and Julia Roberts also explored the possibility of life after death, way back in 1990. There characters found something much more sinister, as they induced NDEs through chemical intoxicants. Death does not like to be messed with. But really, how can one confirm that life exists in another universe, unless dead?
Simply, there is nothing that we as mortals can do to find out whether the possibility of an afterlife exists. That is why contemplating NDEs and other spiritual phenomenons are so interesting, especially when covered in film and literature. The debate continues, unending.
With this major driving theme aside, Hereafter manages to bring each of the three central characters together, in London. The young boy, Marcus, meets George, at a book presentation. He pesters him for a reading, but what he finds is his own loneliness and his brother's voice beckoning him to move on. Marcus reciprocates the reading by telling George how to meet another person experienced with the afterlife, Marie. Their first meeting promises a future romance.
The conclusion might be a little befuddling for some. Centrally, the final scenes show that George has come to realize that his psychic abilities are not a curse as he states earlier in the film, to his brother: "it is a curse!" Instead, his abilities are a gift and they help him see the potential in a relationship with Marie. Their pairing is an excellent match, as both characters have seen evidence of life after death.
Challenging, thought provoking and full of hope, Hereafter is a great film to watch with friends. Afterwards, you can discuss the possibilities of the themes mentioned in the film, as no one will agree and conflict often breeds interesting conversations. Watch this film now, on the platforms mentioned above, for an understanding of what could exist in the afterlife(based on reports of NDEs). However, double down on your bets and live life to fullest, in case immortality disappoints.
Overall: 7.5 out of 10 (a little long in the runtime, slow periods in pacing, excellent acting, a good interweaving of characters).
The film's official website at Warner Bros.:
Hereafter at Warner Bros.
Another review of this title by J Hoberman at The Village Voice:
Hereafter at The Village Voice
Available now through Amazon:
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Posted in: 2011,anime movie review,blu-ray,cecile de france,clint eastwood,dvd,hereafter,matt damon,near death experience,peter morgan,psychic,release date,supernatural movie review
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