Martin Brest is on fire!

Rating: Null/10 (8 March 2004)

Not having worked on the picture or participated in any form of the production, I can only wonder what went wrong with 1998's MEET JOE BLACK.

For me, the questions start with Pitt.
Why did he take on that dull persona I wonder? Why did he insist on playing death like a dolt? Also, why did he have that high lighted sunshine-puff-puff doo?
He injured the movie with blank looks and a lifeless stupidity, while giving his love interest (played by the delicious Claire Forlani) absolutely no reason to desire him.
Director Martin Brest (who suffered immensely at the hands of GIGLI) should have known that his lead actor would be box office poison. As kind as genetics have been to Pitt, they have not endowed him the ability to portray the surreal. Therefore, I would have suggested Jim "The Jesus" Caviezal for the coveted part of Joseph Black. In addition, I would have held back on the whispering voice overs that appeared more like severe editing errors than the magical messages they were intended to be. In addition, I might have rewritten the script, told Hopkins that Don Sutherland was getting the father role, and asked Claire Forlani to marry me. But, as we all know, that would require a time machine and some Hollywood connections--two things which I don't have.