Text: A conceit this fragile needs to whiz along to keep our disbelief in suspension, but Meet Joe Black grinds on for three hours (longer than either Beloved or Saving Private Ryan ), and Pitt acts as if he has leased the screen by the year.
Entailment: Brad Pitt acts for three hours in this conceit.
Contradiction: The movie is very engrossing, believable and far too short.