strong film with a poor conclusion

Rating: 7/10 (21 September 2008)

Meet Joe Black outlines the story of an older man who, nearing the final days of his life, strikes a bargain with death where he will offer death the opportunity to interact with his friends and colleagues, and in turn death will offer him time on Earth. Death (having adopted the alias "Joe Black"), has trouble understanding and relating to some human customs, most remarkably love, but throughout the film, manages to grasp a greater appreciation for what these concepts entail, and what it means to be human.
The charm of Meet Joe Black resides in the realist or humanist approach adopted by the film writers. Joe, accustomed to working alone under unrealistic circumstances, has to learn how to interact with people and think about other people besides himself. He also has to understand that the rules that govern human beings are different than what he is used to, and he cannot just shape the world according to his own liking. This in turn offers him both wonderful and painful experiences and deepens his understanding of the human race.
However, after 85 minutes of developing and enforcing this theme, the writers butcher it with a Utopian and completely implausible conclusion that rejects every lesson and metaphor that the movie had taught. My suggestion? You'll see Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt walking away from a large party towards the end, with Forlani in hot pursuit. At that point, stop the movie and quite while you're ahead.