Clint Eastwood once again shows his directorial prowess, this time in a film revolving around death, coping with loss, and finding peace. Hereafter is a beautifully woven tale that uses real events as triggers for the story’s characters and their motivations.

A drama centered on three people who are haunted by mortality in different ways. George (Matt Damon) is a blue-collar American who has a special connection to the afterlife. On the other side of the world, Marie (Cécile De France), a French journalist, has a near-death experience that shakes her reality. And when Marcus (Frankie/George McLaren), a London schoolboy, loses the person closest to him, he desperately needs answers. Each on a path in search of the truth, their lives will intersect, forever changed by what they believe might-or must-exist in the hereafter.

It’s been very difficult putting into words how I felt about this movie. It triggered emotions that I haven’t felt in a long time. It’s a very slow burn, but when a certain scene plays out, as predictable as it was, the flood gates opened and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. A testimony as to how powerful a scene can be. Hereafter is beautifully directed and masterfully assembled. It reminded me a lot of the film Babel in structure. Three different stories from 3 different parts of the world that converge in the final act. As slow as it seemed at times, I was drawn to the characters and their stories. Matt Damon, Cecile de France and Frankie/George McLaren all deliverexcellent performances. As I stated earlier, the ending is predictalbe from 20 minutes in, but the story is so strong and the performances so rich that its hard to deny the quality of the work that went into this. Hereafter is Oscar worthy on more than one level and deserves its high praise.

That being said, I’ve never actually been a fan a watching this kind of cinema in the theatres. Hereafter is a great film, but might be better enjoyed in the comfort of ones home. If you like tear jerking dramas, definately check this one out!

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