Meet Joe Black

Director: Martin Brest
Cast:
Brad Pitt
Anthony Hopkins
Claire Forlani
Marcia Gay Harden
Jeffrey Tambor
Genre: Romance

Pitt, you handsome devil A movie that is three hours long begs a short review, so I'll make this as quick, painless and easy as possible:

1. Brad Pitt is Death, Anthony Hopkins is the millionaire who serves as his earthly host, and Claire Forlani is the love interest.

2. The movie strives for atmosphere over excitement, emotions over plot, and poetry over prose.

3. Hopkins, as always, is brilliant—able to turn cheese into a priceless crepe.

4. Brad Pitt is swell-looking to be sure, but relies heavily on the fact that Death has very little personality to bring down to Earth.

5. Claire Forlani = too beautiful. Rarely has my post-sexual revolution heart been taxed so visually.

6. And, sixthly,

7. Should you see it? Only if your schmaltz tolerance is high, and you've had lots of sleep. Because mired in the soundtrack swells and incongruously long scenes is a movie full of genuine emotion, heartbreak and beauty.

I'll leave the rest up to you.

—Ian Williams

Return to Ian's movie reviews.