A Great, Fun, Long Look At Death

Rating: Null/10 (18 November 1998)

"Meet Joe Black" is a deliberative and contemplative story about discovering love for the first time, about passion and fire, and bursting anger. The movie's slow pacing makes the movie's calculating business intrigue storyline even more powerful and gripping while the first half of the movie's ironic humor captures the heart of romance. This is a great movie that gives depth to supporting characters especially the sister and the business associate (scenes which remind of "It's A Wonderful Life"). There is a remarkable love scene that glows with passion and emotional power without graphic sex. And Anthony Hopkins closes in on death with a vengeance. Brad Pitt plays a cool character that has an undercurrent of inbred superiority and hard, icy edge underneath his bewildered exterior. His role like Kurt Russell in "Soldiers" are both powerful performances that require a fine talent to meld the various, complex personalities on screen.