Meet Joe Black has been the subject of intense hype over the past few months. It is impossible to watch a prime-time television show without being bombarded by flashes of Brad Pitt nibbling on Claire Forlani's neck. But, despite this relentless advertising, the film just simply does not deliver. The movie starts out fine - Pitt is flashing his smile, Anthony Hopkins is commanding the audience's undivided attention and Forlani seems like she's worth giving consideration to.
Love is brewing and interest is peaked.
In other words, after this scene, you can get your popcorn and eat it in the lobby for the next 150 minutes. This premise is a little too eerie to be appreciated. William seemingly did nothing to deserve Joe's dotage and he is surprisingly complacent about being courted by the afterlife. Things start unraveling once Joe moves in. However, Hopkins rises to the occasion and his character develops in appealing ways.