George Lonegan (Matt Damon), blessed with the ability to communicate with those from the afterlife considers this strange ability a curse. Trying to run away from all of this and in search for a lease of a new beginning he travels across the globe. Twins Jason and Marcus (George/Frankie McLaren) on the other hand trying to avoid being put into foster care is trying to support their mother to recover from drug abuse. A quick run to the drug store for meds, takes Jason’s life suddenly. French journalist Marie Leelay (Cecile De France) who comes face to face with death has a vision of the afterlife and tries to make sense of it all. Three individuals searching for an answer heads out in the Clint Eastwood picture of “Hereafter”.
Eastwood in his prior productions of “Gran Torino” and “Invictus” left me with a familiar trademark in his directorial approach. He was somber in his approach; his climax was slow paced, stretched out and methodical. This picture is no different. He wrapped my head around the plot for over 75 minutes and paced his approach very cautiously that sadly I lost all interest in the movie. Eastwood paced his approach too cautiously this time – at which the screenplay was felt – disconnected. Individual story lines of the main characters did tug my heart and was speaking to me but yet the disconnection and the delay in all the characters molding together attracted unrequired negativity towards if not an average picture. Whilst the plot was drowning within its own disconnected atmosphere; Eastwoods experience and talents clearly is not all lost. As said before, some outstanding scenes of emotions were crafted by him. I am not at liberty at discussing this further in respect of the spoilers.
Matt Damon, Cecile De France and George and Frankie McLaren (Twins from real life) were a well suited cast for each other. The leads were a good fix and no one over casted the other with the presence nor with their talent. Damon who has so many productions to his name played his character equally as good as France and McLaren did theirs. To be quite frank the characters did not have the depth to be played with since the screenplay was not detailed in that sense. Yet – there was nothing radically wrong as far as watching them on the screen was concerned.
I have to say this before I wrap up. Do not be fooled by its trailer! The movie is not half as cool at its trailer. It’s not as bad as “SKYLINE” but still not as good as the trailer. This seems to be happening a lot now don’t you think? Trailers tend to mislead the audience. I agree they are teasers, but for some us, its time and money that we will never get back. That’s an entirely different discussion; may I will leave it for next week.
Title: Hereafter
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Matt Damon, Cecile De France, George McLaren, Frankie McLaren
Rated: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements including disturbing disaster and accident images, and for brief strong language
Rating: 04/10