Image Source
Film: Hereafter
Director:Clint Eastwood Year: 201o
Stars: Matt Damon, Cecile De France, Frankie Mclaren
Genre: Supernatural Drama
Fox Rating: 3.5/5
'A heartwarming story of hope, with a slightly predictable ending'
This film was a pleasure to watch, even if a little too serene for my taste. Eastwood takes the direction of emotion to lead this film, rather than the special effects and the thrills you tend to find in a supernatural dramas...and it worked. Matt Damon plays an awkward psychic who is battling with his abilities, and he plays the part surprisingly well, given that we are used to seeing him amongst the action.
The film connects the lives of three people who all live in different countries (namely; France, England & America) and starts with the near death experience of a french woman Marie Lelay (Cecile De France) On a mission to write a book about her experience, she sets to find out more. Meanwhile young boy Marcus (Frankie Mclaren) is also seeking evidence of the afterlife, to try and connect with his recently deceased twin, Jason.
With Damon (George Lonegon) pushing his abilities aside to focus on a normal life, he refuses to use his gift as a way of earning money when he is made redundant. Instead he goes on a literacy mission, where he travels from San Francisco to London, to learn more about the works of his favourite writer, Charles Dickens. The strong theme of literature and death in this film, highlights the philosophy of the afterlife, but not the evidence of such.
There are some emotional scenes that deliver messages from loved ones, but this film is more about the emotional journeys of three people, struggling with the aftermath of death, and present day life.
The only reason I have not given this a 4 star, is because I found it a little bland at times and somewhat predictable. However, I thought the acting was superb, and the pace of the film was at just the right speed.
A nice, soft film that gives warm feeling of hope.