Profoundly Moving...

Rating: 10/10 (6 March 2004)

The concepts of the Ether, the Muses, Life, Death and God are at the cornerstone of my life, my interests and, of this movie.
As others have said, you will either completely love this movie or not.
I number among those fortunate enough who have been endowed with the gift of loving it. Perhaps to an extreme, some might say. Yes, I feel privileged and I am proud of it. MEET JOE BLACK is a sensitive drama about the Great Questions.
I feel a sense of peaceful longing for certain things which MEET JOE BLACK depicts and embodies.
The gentle and kind pace of the acting is a wonder to savor. Something which few movies ever dare to attempt. Eternity, grace, love and curiosity are well represented here. Pitt, Hopkins and Forlani are a gentle spectacle to behold. Weber, Harden and Tambor were on target in every scene. Special mention should be made about the lovely Jamaican lady in the hospital, Lois Kelly Miller. Her interchange with Pitt was unforgettable.

Enough cannot be said about the gentle direction, the insightful writing, the luscious cinematography, the tasteful art direction and the marvelous music by Thomas Newman. What a talented group, these Newmans! One wonders if they will ever rival the extensive genealogy of the venerated families of Johann Sebastian Bach. I certainly wonder how long this legacy will continue. Let's hope for a long time.
So, if you are looking for a movie which just might change you, elevate you, and grasp you at the heart without tearing it out, MEET JOE BLACK is your movie.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. And will continue to enjoy it.
Thanks.