Best Film of 1998

Rating: 10/10 (3 December 1998)

JauntyJen@aol.com Ronkonkoma, NY
I thought Meet Joe Black was a sweet, funny, touching, and thought provoking film. I already saw it twice and plan to go back a third time. For this movie to work, the viewer has to have an open mind about two things: 1. To accept the absurd notion that Death is a conscious being who experiences a sudden curiosity to experience life as mortal human beings know it. 2. To be forgiving of certain plot elements which are never fully explained. A lot is left to the viewers interpretation. I thought all the performances in this film were noteworthy, especially Anthony Hopkins as Bill Parrish. Here is a man who not only has to deal with the knowledge of his impending demise, but has to spend his last days accompanied by Death, in the heavenly human form of Brad Pitt. (who has never looked better). Death, introduced as "Joe Black" follows Parrish around as he tries to tries to tie up loose ends in his business (which Parrish considers his legacy), and tries to make the most of his time left on earth with his family. Brad Pitt as he plays the mysterious Joe Black is both innocent and awkward, charismatic and seductive, and frighteningly omnipotent. In his arrangement to give Parrish a limited reprieve while he "sees the world", he holds all the cards, and Bill Parrish is increasingly frustrated in his realization that he doesn't have the bargaining power which served him so well in former business dealings. The character Joe Black also develops a romantic interest in Parrish's younger daughter Susan (played by the misty-eyed Claire Forlani). As for the concept of Death falling in love or even having any human emotions, it can be explained that love and other human emotions are at least partly influenced by bio-chemical processes. It stands to reason that a being occupying a human body would be subject to these hormonal and chemical reactions to outside triggers (such as the sight or smell of a potentially compatible mate), which cause the human brain to experience feelings of lust, desire, infatuation and ultimately love. It is even easier to understand, since we already know the previous human occupant of Joe Black's body was also attracted to Susan, who had a brief but flirtatious encounter with him in a coffee shop. By the end of the movie, even the supporting characters such as the fawning older daughter, her seemingly inept but good hearted husband, and Bill Parrish's trusted business partner, are fleshed out. Each has at least one emotional or pivotal scene which brings their motivations to light. I did not think this movie was too long, in fact I hardly noticed it was 3 hours. I cannot think of one scene which could be cut without compromising the movie. The scenes were paced to give the viewer time to imagine what the characters might have been thinking at that moment. The actors did an admirable job of conveying the various emotions through their facial expressions and limited dialogue. The cinematography and lighting were also extremely relaxing and pleasing to the eye. All in all, I would recommend this film to anyone who believes the key to happiness is keeping close family ties, living life to its fullest without compromising moral and ethical principles, and settling for nothing less than true love.