Hereafter

Eastwood And Damon go heavenly.

Clint Eastwood’s latest directorial effort Hereafter is the absorbing story of
three lives touched by death in different ways. Matt Damon plays
George Lonegan, a psychic trying to live a normal life by escaping from his
rare ability. Cécile De France is Marie LeLay, a television journalist who has a
near death experience (thanks to a spectacularly realised tsunami sequence),
and Frankie and George McLaren play young twins scarred by tragedy.

The film exudes an air
of effortless quality, something that audiences have come to expect from the
veteran director. His sure and
experienced touch is apparent in every frame, a standard of professionalism and
class for which Eastwood has long been deservedly known.

Now at age 81, and
having tackled the issue of mortality in earlier films, Eastwood now looks into
the possibility of life after death.
Intriguing, one might think, what insights this ageing artist may have
to offer. Well intentioned
though it may be, like generic platitudes at a funeral the film’s ‘it’ll be
okay’ message falls a little flat.
What is communicated well however is the importance of comfort for those
who are bereaved, and the value of accepting people for who they really are.

Damon’s character
Lonegan can’t have a relationship because every woman he meets ends up asking
for a psychic reading, and LeLay can’t convince her highflying colleagues to
take her new book on the hereafter seriously. The hereafter with which they are both acquainted remains
something of a white canvas, a concept inviting the audience to fill in the
blanks with their imaginations.

The performances of the
young twins are a little rough around the edges, but to be fair it is their
first time on screen, and they have been challenged with extremely tough
roles. Damon delivers an
affectingly low-key performance, making his third of the film the most
interesting to watch. De France is
also excellent, having created a convincing character who has to spend of a lot
of time persuading others that she is telling the truth. Her frustrations and convictions come
across with great poignance.

Hereafter is another
polished and engaging piece of work from a truly legendary filmmaker, and
although at heart it is overly sentimental, it has marked importance for
getting audiences to consider such a touchy subject as life after death. Who better to seriously present a topic
like that, than the peerlessly respected artist Clint Eastwood, full of years
and experience to share.

To Pre-Order Hereafter On DVD Click Here Or On Blu-Ray Click Here