A drawn-out meeting

Rating: Null/10 (19 January 1999)

Well, I met Joe Black - and I wished the encounter hadn't been
so long. That is not to say the film is bad, on the contrary, it
is (for most of its time) very entertaining. Because the
emotions come across as very true and the lines bring up the
glorious past of screwball comedies. Which, in great part, is
due to the perfect casting. Anthony Hopkins, impeccable as
always, manages to make believable the turmoil and despair of a
man who has just learned that he is going to die - while still
not giving away the jokes. Any lesser actor would have either
opted for broad comedy or heart-feeling tragedy. That Sir
Anthony walks the fine line between these two choices is one
more proof for his genius (and I sincerely hope he won't call it
quits). Much chided Brad Pitt turns in a wonderfully subtle
performance. One really believes that his Death is becoming more
human through the experience of love, but Pitt always keeps that
glint in his eye that reminds us of who (or what) he really is.
Besides that he shows a profound talent as straight comedian.
The only drawback is Claire Forlani who tends to ham up her part
as the lover a bit. But why, in death's and taxes' name, did director Brest have to
stretch the delicate story out over three hours? Endlessly drawn
out scenes of people walking senselessly about, looking at each
other for eternity and repeating things that had been said
before make one wonder why nobody told him to "speed things up a
bit" (probably James Cameron was forcing them away at gunpoint). In the end we've got what Johnny Carson would have called: "Two
hours of splendid entertainment stretched over three hours.