Hereafter

Starring: Matt Damon, Cecile De France, Thierry Neuvic, Jay Mohr, Bryce Dallas Howard, Richard Kind, Frankie McLaren, George McLaren
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
2010

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: An American (Matt Damon) with psychic abilities, a French woman (Cecile De France) caught in a tsunami, and a young London boy (Frankie/George McLaren) all deal with death and the question of what happens in the hereafter.

Review:

Tim: Clint Eastwood the director has been on an unbelievable streak recently. Since 2003, he's done Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Letters from Iwo Jima, Gran Torino, and Invictus- all very solid movies. He's had a few downs, though- I thought Flags of Our Fathers and Changeling were a bit disappointing. Unfortunately, Hereafter falls into that latter category. This is a film that feels like a Clint Eastwood movie, but also feels like it's missing some key ingredient. It feels a bit hollow inside. That surprises me, because a movie contemplating whether there is life after death shouldn't feel emotionless and pointless. Sadly, this film too often comes across as both those things.

Like many movies before it, Hereafter tells the story of multiple different people, and how their lives all intersect in unforeseen ways. Unfortunately, none of the three stories are particularly powerful. Sure, they may be interesting and occasionally emotional, but it's hard to really care about any of the storylines. We have Matt Damon playing an American psychic. There are some very compelling moments (I thought the blindfold cooking scene with Bryce Dallas Howard was particularly brilliant), but his story as a whole feels too empty. Damon's performance is far too forgettable. It felt like he was on autopilot, giving just enough to get through the scene. I wasn't impressed with him, and I believe a good deal of that is because of the script he was handed. Cecile De France has some good moments, but her story drags in far too many places and isn't told very well. I never felt like I understood her character, her motivation, or why I should care about her at all. The best storyline involves the London twins, which is not what I expected going in. Their story is powerful on an emotional level, but in the most manipulative way- it's not Eastwood's direction that hits home, but the fact that sad things happen on screen. These storylines all weave together, but don't build up to much.

The film's conclusion is one of the weakest aspects. The movie certainly comes together, but it feels forced and way too convenient. These movies rely on different characters coming together in an organic, believable way- that didn't happen here. It ended in an unsatisfactory way.

Eastwood is a terrific director- one of the best. And yet, he still has a number of misses, despite his impressive track record. Hereafter had the pedigree and the foundation to be a truly great movie. For a number of reasons, it falls far short of its potential. Eastwood's latest film can only be labeled a disappointment. I am holding out hope that his next one is pretty amazing (historically, he follows his weaker films up with a much stronger one).

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Invictus, Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River