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Hereafter (2010)

Director:
Clint Eastwood
COUNTRY
USA
GENRE
Drama/Fantasy
NORWEGIAN TITLE
Hereafter
RUNNING TIME
129 minutes
Producer:
Clint Eastwood
Kathleen Kennedy
Robert Lorenz
Screenwriter:
Peter Morgan


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
George Lonegan Matt Damon
Marie Lelay Cécile de France
Marcus/Jason Frankie McLaren
Jason/Marcus George McLaren
Jackie Lyndsey Marshal ˝
Didier Thierry Neuvic ˝
Melanie Bryce Dallas Howard ˝
Billy Lonegan Jay Mohr
Himself Derek Jacobi

 

Review

Approaching eighty, it is only fair that Clint Eastwood has become preoccupied with matters like death and afterlife, and in Hereafter, the veteran filmmaker gives these matters a thorough and devoted examination. The film presents three separate plot threads, all of which are constantly interesting, if not totally absorbing: (1) a French journalist and TV personality (Cécile de France) has a near-death experience following a tsunami, loses focus on her job, and feels drawn to the subject of afterlife; (2) a retired psychic (Matt Damon) tries to lead a normal life, but his talent keeps getting in the way; (3) a young British boy dies in a traffic accident, and his identical twin becomes obsessed with getting in touch with him.

As expected, these three lives are ultimately intertwined, and Eastwood does it all neatly and delicately. The film has an aptly open-minded and inquiring attitude towards its subject material, but if you feel that it doesn't quite blow your mind away, it's because Eastwood's direction is a little bit too meek and agreeable and the plot lacks a little bit of edge. The acting is fine, however, especially by Damon and de France, and the ending has a fitting poetic quality.

 

Copyright © 26.3.2011 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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