absolutely perfect

Rating: 10/10 (21 April 1999)

Why are there so few people who appreciate "Meet Joe Black" as the absolutely perfect film it is !? Undoubtedly my favorite motion picture of 1998 (and I sat through over 250 of them), it is a simply beautiful look at the poetry of life and death. An intoxicating, mesmerizing film of macabre dark humor and romantic fantasy. Brad Pitt (not just another pretty boy given his choice of roles) is better than ever...and I stand in awe of Anthony Hopkins--who gracefully paints the portrait of a man of dignity and honor like few we see in movies anymore. I am moved every time I see this film-- I connect (and not everyone does); with it's representation of everything there is to love in a given lifetime...love between two people, love for your work, love amongst family; and the importance of saying goodbye. I'm a wreck, I'm reduced to a blubbering sissy for almost the entire last half hour (and that lovely "nice pictures" moment with the old lady in the hospital) I'm almost emotional typing this review !!! -- How do I respond to criticism of it being boring ? Impatience. I'll admit it's slowly paced. But, its length is a benefit to the story. So few filmmakers take the time and energy (and nowadays, the guts) to flesh out the aspects of a given story --this is what makes great movies people !!! I've also heard complaints about the pregnant pauses--long stretches of silence during one on one conversations between characters that 'seem to exist simply to draw things out longer'. Kids, acting is about more than words...check out what Pitt and Hopkins are doing in those beautiful moments of silence : look at their eyes, watch their face....THEY'RE ACTING !!! Those so-called unnecessary moments of silence shared between characters are priceless in the form of character development. Thank God for Martin Brest; it's four screenwriters; and the entire cast (Jeffrey Tambor will have his day). Thanks to all of them, along came a movie that I can add to the very short list of movies that I can honestly say changed my life.