Meet Joe Black
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Movie Reviews of Meet Joe Black
Movie Review: What STYLE! A powerful yet sensitive film.
Summary: 5 Stars
It has lots of sophistication and style, but it's not a one-size-fits-all movie. It's dialog and pace makes it seem more like a play than a movie. Some complain that it's too long which would indicate it's not their kind of movie. By no means is it dark. It has plenty of humor and quips to keep you entertained. What a surprise when Brad Pitt start communicating with the Jamaican woman in her own dialect! Pitt's character "death" has an unusual behavior that's really entertaining.This movie clicks with a lot of people. It fills a void that the movie business seems to have abandoned -- romantic movies apparently don't appeal to the masses, but there is a large audience that loves this kind of sensitivity and beauty in films. Those who rely on gimmicks like special effects and actions scenes to stay entertained probably would not be enticed by the trailer for MJB. The preview does a good job of presenting the topic and general tone of the movie.
Unfortunately the critics are paid to be critical so they find fault with anything they can. Some of the reviews I read make you think that the whole movie is a mistake. They complain about the death character being "cold" not showing emotion and having stiff movement. What else would you expect from someone portraying death? Is this is a sign of poor acting? Of course not. The critics are so full of themselves they missed the point of the movie entirely.
The movie is filled with so much detail, you have to watch several times to catch it all. You're better off not analyzing every scene trying to poke holes in the story. Just watch the show and you'll be entertained and quickly affected by it's message and music. The romance between Susan and Joe is captivating and full of passionate emotion.
It's a good thing I bought this movie on DVD, otherwise I'd wear it out from watching it over and over!
Movie Review: Truly a rare gem of a movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie has so much going for it with drama, suspense, mystery, romance, great music and subtle comedy.The dialog, timing and acting retain the sophistication of a stage play without being stuffy.
If you're looking for special effects and action sequences, this movie will disappoint you. For those who appreciate thought provoking drama and character development, where all the action is in the dialog and acting you'll love this movie.
Sure, there are some hokey lines and unrealistic events, but the movie is art not documentary. Let yourself go and allow the scenes to capture your imagination.
This is one of those movies that you can see again and again despite it's three hour length. The main characters are wonderful, but most notable are Hopkins, Pitt and Forlani.
The tension and conflict between Hopkins and Pitt characters is in sharp contrast to the soft-spoken romance between Pitt and Forlani. Brad Pitt plays both roles so well with minimal dialog allowing his facial expressions to say it all. Pitt projects an extremely confident "death angel" who is forceful with Hopkins as they have discussions as "gentlemen". With Forlani, Pitt is the naive and innocent "Joe" and plays up his character role with comic reaction to various situations as well as he does the romantic parts as someone not quite sure what to do. As Forlani puts it "diffident in such a seductive way, yet powerful".
Martin Brest is a master at movie making with his attention to detail and perfectly timed performances.
The music sets the tone for each scene in a way that adds to the emotion of the visuals and dialog. It really draws you in.
Although a little melancholy at times, I wouldn't consider this movie a tearjerker. It's a beautiful work of art.
Movie Review: WOW -- So much to experience and feel!
Summary: 5 Stars
What a great film! There are so many interesting scenes -- It's non-stop fascination for three hours. It starts out like a Hitchcock movie with this huge lighted mansion engulfed in the mist. While trying to sleep Hopkins hears voices... Then there's the helicopter scene with Hopkin's telling his daughter Susan to wait for lightning to strike and find her true passion and love in her life - as the helicopter starts to approach Manhatten Island.
The coffee shop scene is classic with Brad Pitt - what a charmer! Susan is swept off her feet after just a few minutes. Then the departure scene - sooo sad... the look on Pitt's face as he watches Susan (Forlani) walk away. Like something from Romeo and Juliet.
The scene where Death meets Hopkins (Bill) and tells him "how it's going to be" is spooky. The following dinner scene is hilarious with everyone watching this "stranger" encounter dinner for the first time.
I loved the humor that Pitt injects into his part of Death, the love Hopkins shows for his family, and Claire Forlani's portrayal of Susan thinking she's found the love of her life and then possibly losing those she loves.
Death played as a gentle, innocent and amusing character made this romantic movie light and enjoyable rather than heavy or depressing.
I especially enjoyed seeing Brad Pitt play a character with so much diversity and play it so well. He shows a lot of maturity as an actor in this role. The love scene was so amazing to watch - you feel the intensity of the moment as first experienced by Death. Actually all the scenes between Pitt and Forlani are wonderful. There's such a feeling of passionate attraction between these two!
The background music for this movie is fantastic, too. It really adds so much emotion to every scene.
Movie Review: A Different Take On "Meet Joe Black"
Summary: 5 Stars
"DEATH"...It Is The Sound Of Ones Own Voice Echoing Back From Eternity...Everything about the feature film "Meet Joe Black" is extraordinary. From the script to direction, performances of the key actors, musical score and production. The DVD is Full screen with sharp vivid color and crisp clear sound. The DVD is much better than the VHS format with respect to picture and sound quality without a doubt. There is so much going on in this film and so much to take in that it's almost overwhelming. It's a story about the joy and pain of life and it's a story about death. However, in this film "Death" is not portrayed as the dark cloaked figure or celestial being you might expect. Instead, the focus is cast on "Death's" lighter side, gentler side and venerable side when he takes human form. This is a movie that must be viewed several times before one can truly appreciate the depth and magnitude of it. It cannot be appreciated unless careful attention is given to the dialogue. There are two scenes in the movie that call for special attention. The scene in Bill Parrish's (Anthony Hopkins) office, following the "Big Meeting with John Bonneque" and the final scene with Joe Black (Brad Pitt) and Susan Parrish. You may discover the dialogue in these scenes hold a key to a mystery. This is a movie you want to watch without interruption, and once you have ask yourself; When given the concept that "Death's" powers on his turf are somewhat boundless and that he obviously has some ongoing arrangement with, shall we say "Father Time." How inconceivable then, is the idea that "Death" may also possess the ability to turn back time?
Movie Review: What a surprise!
Summary: 5 Stars
The storyline seemed to indicate this is a suspense movie. It's actually a lot of things: family relationships and conflict, romance, drama, and some comedy. It's a really unusual subject so it makes you think about all the concepts it's presenting. I love a movie you can analyze and think about for days afterward. This is the kind of movie you can discuss with friends or relatives and compare notes on how each of you interpreted different scenes.The movie is beautifully done and roles wonderfully played by the actors. Brad Pitt is noteable is his performance portraying death. The interpretation is an unusual one where death is not used to having a body so he's stiff at first. Critics actually blasted Pitt for acting like a zombie or a robot. It was obviously part of the act portraying death. He also acted rather peculiar at the dinner table at first (smelling the food, and not knowing what to do with the plate of rolls). Later he attends a board meeting (uninvited) and makes the mistake of asking for cookies and tea and gets into a discussion about death and taxes while Drew is trying to conduct the meeting. It's all innocent on the part of death, but comes across as being funny. Death is like a child learning the ropes and making plenty of mistakes along the way.
As the movie progressed, I wanted death to fall in love and get Susan away from Drew as the tension between Drew and Joe builds.
The movie score is first rate. It's really emotional and full of feeling that's in the movie. Since getting the DVD, I've watched the movie several times checking parts I didn't quite get the first time.
Seldom is so much packed into a single movie!