Meet Joe Black (1998) Is An Undervalued Film | A Video Essay
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- Опубліковано 17 лип 2020
- Music used in this by Thomas Newman
A review of Meet Joe Black (1998)
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The scene with the old lady at the hospital is one of the most beautiful scenes.. humour, sentiment.. as close to real life as the film gets
Apparantly Brad Pitt and that actress (Lois Kelly-Miller) became great friends and the friendship lasted till she died four years ago aged 102.
_Edit._ She died in 2020 so she had time to make a whole bunch more nice pictures to take with her.
Most romantic movie I’ve ever seen and as a guy I’ve actually never cried harder for any other movie in my life
This and the notebook for me 🥺🥺😩
seen ps i love u?
Same for me. I've watched this movie 20+ times, but I cry every time. It's a beautiful film.
I don't understand why most men always have to mention how they cried despite being men. Crying for a reason doesn't make a man weak. On the contrary it shows that he has feelings too.
@@kristofferpettersson4584 Another timeless right in the feels movie. One of my top 10 movies.
Claire Forlani's eyes and Thomas Newman's music. The best love story ever composed.
I love her since the first time i saw her in joe black … 🥰🥰🥰
Claire Forlani: What do we do now?
Brad Pitt 1998: "It'lI come to us
Anyone 2022: "Are you sure, that:
- you are no lesbian?
- patriarchy didn't make you ask this question?
- you are no racist?
- you can do without animal products?
- you name it ...
“Whisper of a Thrill,” and this entire movie, is absolutely fantastic. One of my top 10 movies of all time, a classic. The music is just spectacular.
Whisper of a thrill always manages to untangle my mind.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
🙏🙏🙏🙏
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I guess I am Jo black... hmmm... capitalism economic oligarchs of the world should make things right before time and the rhythm of space taken them away... hmmm
I've watched "MEET JOE BLACK" a dozen times and it's touched my heart each time... It came up on my feed this morning and I thought " oh I've seen it a dozen times" and yet again.. it pulled me in and I am touched in my heart... deeply. It seems that again it has hit me.. now I'm older with a daughter I can only wish the best for and I worry about her happiness.. right in the feels again. MEET JOE BLACK is a wonderful timeless movie with great heart and I recommend it fully.
I have always loved this movie, from the year that it first came out. I continue to watch it regularly as I grow older. I'm now 65. It gives me a bit of peace.
The same age as William Parrish ☺️
awwww this is so wholesome
私は毎晩観てから寝ます❣️
You cannot stop staring at the beauty of Claire and the handsomeness of Brad and how well they work together. A wonderful movie from beginning to end!
I've seen it several times, and l
Never felt like it was close to three hours long! Amazing!!! 😃♥️♥️♥️🎉
Dude frfr they were both so young in this movie and we’re stunning looking people
As a heterosexual male, I don't find her attractive.
@@TransformersTalkRAW
You don't have eyes to see!
@@TransformersTalkRAW Everyone has their own tastes. For example..., for me, as an heterosexual man I find her really good looking, especially when she is wearing that really basic gray t-shirt (on the coffee scene) or that "doctor's clothing". I can't deny that her having blue eyes helps a lot since I have a soft spot for blue eyed girls, but that's not the only reason, she has really good looking facial features and I don't want to sound/appear weirdo but she has a really nice slim body. At the end of the day everyone has their one tastes and we just have to respect them or at least try to.
Ps: Sorry for the long text, but I've just finished the 3hour movie and it's currently 4 a.m and I had nothing to do besides writing this down lmao.
@@TransformersTalkRAW It's okay. Come out of the closet.
Totally Agree... one of my top favorites.
I'm a big 6'-1" grown man who drives a pickup truck, and this film makes me into a mush.
I watched it many times, brings tears to my eyes and wonder each time. I lose myself in this film.
The music score is beyond greatness, it grabs you and pulls you into the moment. OMG...beautiful.
The powers at bee should mark this film as one of the Greatest films ever made.
The length of the film is nothing...seams, feels as a normal length film of no more than 2 hours, most likely because you are pulled into the film with intensity.
Again, One of the Greatest films ever made, the Actors was on top of their acting skills and perfectly picked for each character they played.
The romance was off the charts...my heart completely fell in love, and not with just the actors.
This film goes alongside the other greats, South Pacific, The Sounds of Music, Crazy Rich Asians and others...including a honorable mention to a cute short film, A Walk in the Clouds, a romantic story, uplifting.
Meet Joe Black, my number one favorite.
See it!
Susan: "I can wait. You'll come back?"
gets me every time
Crying after watching a movie with feelings doesn't make you less of a man that you are. We really don't have to highlight how great a movie, a book, or a TV series is by saying how you cried despite being a grown up man.
Crying is an emotion that makes us human. Both men and women can do that. Crying for a reason isn't weakness.
Great movie nonetheless.
Thomas newmans whisper of a thrill is the most amazing and beautiful music ever composed.
He's my favorite cinema composer. He makes every movie memorable from his musical genius and magic. I loved this film. It is beyond romantic.
He's my favorite composer as well and would love to see him in concert which is very rare. I loved The Highway Men and especially Lemony Snickett: A Series of Unfortunate Event film. His scores are so eclectic or seem to portray a time in the past and the vastness past the horizon. Love Thomas Newman. I heard he got his break when John Williams told him he could compose some music in Empire Strikes Back. I often wondered which bit.
@@carologiwan501 Not to mention The Road To Perdition; Shawshank Redemption, and after MJB my favorite, The Horse Whisperer.
This is my favorite love story movie ever!
Mine too.
Couldn’t agree more.
Truly is a VERY underrated movie I cry and I’m surprised during the entire movie…. Amazing how we look at life and what we take for granted… it’s was well done and you don’t mind sitting for the time it’s magnificent
I was moved by so many scenes, including when the daughter sees Joe and Anthony Hopkins walk off in the distance, and runs as if to save her dad, because she knows what is happening; but stops because she knows that she cannot stop it. Her acting and the music are so powerful.
One of the best films I've ever seen, it's amazing and anyone that wants a true film that will leave you breathless, this is the one. Watch it, you will NOT be disappointed.
Yes fr
I revisited this film after more than two decades, and I must say it is more meaningful to me as older person with more life experiences. The film has so many holes and inconsistencies but you tend to look past it, as you allow your senses to indulge, rather like Joe. The score is great and the main theme is just so emotional.
PS - I've really been listening to them recently. Love the OST to The Fountain.
I love this film , Brad Pitt played a binder in this film , his face is wonderful abd shows all his emotions
This movie captures the heart and the imagination. Here’s Death so fair of face you can’t remember why you ever feared him. Every character either recognizes him or comes close. Your mind can not face some realities. While heaven waits for you after death, Death has come unannounced but has changed the appointed hour. He becomes exposed to the human mind and what’s inside the human heart. He meets a girl and is attracted to her. In his timeless existence, he has no memory of this feeling. He can’t control it. Emotions come as he moves through life’s every moment. Watch Joe Black’s face as he makes discoveries of sight, sound, color, fireworks, an endless array of things to taste and drink, and the bad behavior of some men. It makes him appear distracted from what goes on around him. When your use to the details of your environment, you can choose to ignore most sounds and movements except what your eyes are focused on or your ears are listening to. Woe to the mortal who causes Death to focus for a bad reason. Normally, Death in life does not appear to judge or take sides. He leaves that to the leaders of good and evil. He’s an independent. Although it is thought he favors evil because we fear death. But that isn’t true. Jesus on his death left us the gift of everlasting life and an existence after death. The movie presents death as impartial and not really interested in human affairs until he gets himself inside a human body while he has decided to be on vacation. His outlook changes due to him experiencing human emotions. They overwhelm him at first. It’s a struggle trying to manage how he feels at every turn. It’s hard for him to stay on vacation. Like when he meets the old Jamaican lady in the hospital. He tries not to get involved but she at first fears him then in turn realizes she can’t bear the pain and only he can help end it. She begs for his help. With the new feeling of pity, remorse, and compassion, he does his job and tells her it will soon be over. They separate. We meet destiny in moments of passing . Who is noticing. No one. Everyone has their own concerns in a hospital. Death is a constant in hospitals. When he spends time with Bill Parrish, he discovers that there are people trying to hurt him at the last. He decides he will use his ability to level the playing field so Bill can leave with peace of mind that his affairs are in order. Death has discovered the pull of love. He cannot bear to leave Allison who he loves broken hearted. So in the moment as he leaves with Bill he returns the body he borrowed for his vacation. This person can’t know what happened to him while he was dead. He goes back to the party and sees Susan who loves this young man. She knows something Is different but she won’t let him go. It’s a happy ending. It’s rare that death gets a speaking part in the movies. We are usually left with his handiwork but not him. If this movie does nothing else it will teach that death is always near and many times unexpected. People should be taught to face this part of life. The film has great cinematography. They take their time with shots. You see their faces, hear that heartrending musical score. At last a happy ending in a picture with Death in a leading role. I feel the constant flow of emotions across Death’s face throughout the film really shows the tremendous range of Brad Pitt’s acting.
You meant Susan instead of allison but thank you for this amazing explanation
Absolutely 💯 correct, my exact sentiment.
Outrageously beautiful.
Very well said. People need to de-distract themselves in order to face the fact of death. Jesus is waiting for you to want Truth.
Splendid movie , excellently explained. Your words even made it more enthralling. Thank you.
Pat,
Yours was a beautiful comment .
thank you very much for the review. I'm going to watch this movie soon as I can
This is a beautiful film just on the shear aesthetics; emotional and physical. It is definitionally one of my all time favorites. It just has a feel to it. I'm especially drawn to the romantic scenes. Excellent taste and essay Andrew! Great art isn't always logical or analytical. Great art can be abstract and emotionally subtle. That's what I like so much about this film.
Just the natural lighting alone made it transcendent.
Yes it can
An unbelievably POWERFUL film. As a man I don’t cry much at all, be it for a movie or a song or even funerals for close family members, including my own mom. I just never felt like it better or made me feel any better. I’m sure being in the military and going through what I did, has had an impact on me as well. I only mention that to further drive home the point of how powerful this movie is that I almost can’t even watch it because EVERY SINGLE TIME I watch it, I ball like a baby. In fact the only time I have ever cried harder was when we (my fiancé whom I’ve been with for 9 years and I) lost our Beagle whom she had even before she met me. She adopted her when she (precious) was 6 months old and she died 2 months short of her 12th birthday. We do not have nor do we want kids. I’m 35 years old and she is 34 so no we will NOT be changing our minds. Also along with being a fully disabled combat veteran I am also an Atheist. Which is why I had to explain to people why I cried during this movie. There are two specific parts that make me ball. The part in the office where he describing when he met his wife, and the dance with his youngest daughter at the end, when she could sense something was going on. I cry because this life is so short in the grand scheme of things, if we’re lucky we have 80-85 years or in his case I believe it was 65 years and his toast at his birthday was so poetic and true “65 years....don’t they go by in a blink” and even at 35 I know it’s true because it’s like a plane going down a runway, when you’re a kid it seems like time goes by so slowly and somewhere along the way it speeds up and every passing year goes by faster then the pervious one. The other part is the fathers love for his daughter and vice versa, despite not having human kids, we love our dogs as if they were human beings and we call them our “fur babies” we live for them and we treat them as if they were our kids! Anyways sorry for the long comment, great video about a GREAT MOVIE!
what a read. love to see it though
I watched the film again last night for the umpteenth time. It was late, so I thought I would just watch the intro coffee shop scene. I watched the whole movie again. I’m glad my wife had gone to bed, as I cried during many of the scenes. Life is so short and I really like your comments about time accelerating as we grow older, likening it to a plane on a runway picking up speed. Best wishes to you & your wife. Be happy & make the most of each day.
Agreed, this film is underrated.
The producer, and his team created a film that is simply genius. When you find yourself watching the same film again from time to time, is when you recognize it's timeless.
I wouldn't call it an oddball of a movie. It's just ahead of its time, people were not prepared of its concept.
Still aren’t . It’s definitely ahead of it’s time
I think they were if you consider Macbeth or A Christmas Carol. People just dump on this movie and I have no idea why. I haven’t met a person who doesn’t like it, but the critics tore it apart. Another weight on the scale that shows we shouldn’t let critics tell us what to enjoy.
Smitten. "Clair, The moment I saw you, I swear, I felt as if something, somewhere, Had happened to me"
It a rare thing to break your heart but leave you with a sense of hope.
Every part of this film is about discovery, deciding what you want/need and deciding who you are. Love is the most wonderful and frightening thing in the world whether you have it, lost it, or never knew or valued it...
Love is always the answer.
Well said! :)
One of my all time favorites. I was16 when it came out and I loved it for the acting and love story. Now that I'm older I love it for the reasons I didn't see then. Claire and Brad have amazing chemistry on screen.
This movie has such an ICONIC story ...it's simply sooo out of the box. It's such a shame that people don't appreciate this movie.
One of my Top Five movies of all time.
This is one of my all time favorites. I never noticed it was almost 3 hours long. I love the premise and all the characters and relationships.
Yes, it doesn't feel too long.
""Thank you for loving me" even after she knew 'Your Joe'. This is one of my all time favorite movies and absolute favorite scenes. Your video essay is the best portrayal of it to date... appreciate your taking the time to create it! I am delighted you include mentioning the music and how all of this touched you emotionally Andrew. Me too.... sometimes I simply put on the music when I am driving just to feel some of that deep emotion again. Recently I watched it again... and the discovered the feelings were still valid and not just a memory I made more than it was... again, thanks kindly oh and keep doing your essays, your voice is perfect for such a role. I did not realize it was close to 3 hours long... was so engrossed in it, it did not seem to be... hated to see it end; that happens for me when I read a great book too.
When I first saw this movie in the theater, I had to run out through the fire door (alarms be dam) to get some air. I had lost my first love to a hit-a&-run so the "special effect" scene locked my diaphragm, which stoped me from breathing, full stop. It took me a while to view it again (in it's entirety) since I now new when to look away and, being able to feast on the epic soundtrack, the spectacular photography as well as the romantic pace from the direction, it has become, to me, a true classic. Thank you Andrew for taking the time for featuring it so eloquently. D
Wow, your story is amazing. Hope time has been kind to you friend.
thank you man this movie really touched alot of emotions inside of me that I forgot I had. at her fathers b.day party when he gave his speech when he paused and said I don't want anything more 65 years don't they go by so fast it made me think of my own life unfortunately I just saw this movie last year I'm 50 years old now and when you are a man over 50 and you have lost so many to death you start to feel your own mortality you start to realize that there are so many things you could have done differently so many things you left unsaid and many things you shouldn't have said and for a while it makes you sad to know you left these things undone so you try to go on from here and be a better human being! I felt all of that during and after this movie. when her father said after a pause that seemed longer than it was I don't want anything more and you knew at that moment he really didn't want anything more! it was very moving and when Joe came to her and she somehow knew this was goodbye and asked him if he would come back did he want her to wait for him it was at that moment you realized he really did want to stay! and the fact that he was death was the only reason he had to go you felt bad for him as well God forbid we feel sorry for death the one who takes our loved ones from us but this movie made you feel bad for death. I really felt what she was feeling! when he walked off towards he father because she also knew something bad was about to happen to her father! I don't know how anybody could say this wasn't a good movie it actually makes me feel a certain way when I read about people saying this what are they
(heart)🧠 dead? but then not everyone will see things the way you do it's not being (heart🧠) dead they just see things different! and at the end when Joe black walked over to her father and you knew what was about to happen and her father asked Jordan should I be scared and Joe replied no not a man like you it was then you knew even he would be ok! I actually cried! at that moment and just when you thought the emotional roller coaster 🎢 was over here comes Joe black walking over the same bridge 🌉 he just took her father away from her on but you soon find out what Joe ment when he said you'll always have the coffee shop as it becomes clear to her that it wasn't joe black it was the man from the coffee shop! that she liked so much! man a beautiful movie that really grips you emotionally I agree whole heartedly peace ✌
A powerful film indeed!
I have been obsessed with this film forever. Thank you for your perspective.👍
This movie made feel things i never felt before. Claire Forlani stole my heart, i was in awe of her beauty the whole film. The ending made me very sad, goodbyes are always hard.
I see most people complaining about the length of the movie, but it was never an issue for me, i wanted the movie to go even longer. Meet Joe Black will forever have a special place in my heart.
I don't think this is about Death, I think it's about Love. Wisdom, a life lived with no regrets, and leaving your lifes work behind. If it was all about greed Hopkins character would have let the company be sold off, what does he care? He's going to die anyway and he can't take it with him. But he wanted to leave a legacy of his life's work, to have it mean something.
And Death, in falling in love, instead of taking Susan before her time because he wants her and he can, he does the right thing , the LOVING thing and he lets her live her natural life, AND he gives her the gift of the young mans life she met in the coffee shop who DID die and was supposed to die. So that life was spared out of love for susan again. And Hopkins character had to teach him that love was about sacrificing what YOU want for the sake of the other person, the one you love. (which actually ties in to what the young man in the coffee shop was saying he would do for the right woman before he died).
Hopkins loved his company, his wife, his children, his life. He spent as much time as he could with his family when he found out he was going to die, making sure he wouldn't have any regrets, that his children knew they were loved, imparting final wisdom. He also had a great relationship with his daughters who lived close enough as adults to still have regular family dinners. So this wasn't NEW, he already had a great relationship with his family and they loved him enough that they stayed close to home even as adults with their own careers. Wish my kids would still have a weekly family dinner with me, I'd love that.
I'm not sure how you think the movie is about Death. Also it's a remake of the movie called Death Takes a Holiday, only in that film, while Death was in human form, there were no deaths on Earth. And he is Death, the ultimate authority below God, he is not on equal ground with Anthony Hopkins character at all. He is letting Hopkins live a bit longer as long as Death is "entertained" and learns more about the better parts of humanity. He has the Power to end the experiment at any time. And Hopkins character knows he is living on borrowed time, feeling quite powerless maybe for the first time in his life. Unable to really tell anyone what was really going on.
This movie is one of my favourite movies …the entire story is beautifully done. The emotional connection Susan has with Joe and of course her father is breathtaking!! If you have not seen this I do highly recommend to watch it. The ending is sad 😢 yet so beautiful , Anthony Hopkins speach is short but something that stays in your mind. ‘65 years don’t they go by in a blink’.
Watch the movie, and have a box of kleenex close by.
I really hope you enjoy it! Everything does fall into place!! Stay healthy and happy now and always!
LA 2021🇨🇦🙏🌷
I love how Relatable deaths character arc is. As a person who often has a hard time feeling emotions and in a way feel like the way death acts in the inside, the whole thing of being somebody you are not and being loved for that idea is very hard hitting. Coming clean is super hard but when death does in the movie it is just such a relief.
He does care about his family.
I completely forgot about this one! Must see it again.
My all time number one greatest movie. PERIOD.has every thing. It is my CLASSIC.
This is such a completely beautiful exploration of what it means to be human, life, love and death.
And my god, Anthony Hopkins performance!
I have never understood why it isn't more beloved (alright, I know, 3 hrs)
It deserves way more love!
So many powerful, amazing moments.
Great essay!
Thank you 💜
Watched this last night, I'd forgotten how moving some of the scenes are with Joe and Susan, in this film! I was balling my eyes out, I really enjoyed the film, will watch it again, it was so sad!
Why did this masterpiece get panned by critics ??
I was about 17 when I first saw the movie and still fell in love with it, now 32 the movie makes more sense.
I adore this movie! But the scene where Anthony Hopkins (love him) feels the Death for the first time is my favourite. That voice is so powerful... Brad Pitt as the powerful Death is breathtaking, as the silly Death is adorable and as the romantic Death is dreamy. In this movie Brad Pitt is just gorgeous! That music is of haunting beauty.
PeAnUt BuTTeR 😂
I love the movie but why 😂
The moments in this film are so relatable, specifically about love, letting go, loneliness and that intangible feeling.
Whenever I watch this movie, time is never a consideration.
When Bill is talking on the helicopter about love, that whole speech made my hairs stand up on end. “I want you to get swept away, I, I want you to sing with rapture and dance like a dervish”. Or when Claire confronts Joe after her breakup, she saw Joe the way I wish I would’ve been seen, “So tell me Joe... How come a man as attractive, intelligent, well-spoken... diffident in the most seductive way, and yet... powerful... is all alone in this world?” Or Quince talking about love, and how he knows his wife loves him. “It’s not one thing Joe it’s an idea, it’s…it’s like you know each other’s deepest darkest secrets. You're free to l - love each other completely, totally. Just no fear. So there's nothing you don't know about each other, and it's okay.”
Amazing writing in this film and phenomenal performances from everyone
Claire forlani “ the most beautiful woman on earth “
I sure have to agree with you on that. Soooo Beautiful.
💯💯💯
At that time yup but now nah
It's the way she stares. It makes me want to be in love.
Such a brilliant film. I never felt how long it was, I’ve seen it thrice just during Pandemictime
This movie is in my top ten movies of all time. It is long but well worth it. The soundtrack is amazing. Sit back with your wife or girlfriend and check it out you won't be disappointed.
Same exactly same
Like, agreed I mean lol
It didn’t need to be 3 hours long, and it’s strange how she somehow figured out exactly what he was at the end
But other than that this is...such a criminally underrated movie
the last hug between Susan and her dad filled my eyes with tears
Your commentary is heartfelt, sincere and illuminating. It measures up to this film. Thank you.
Glad to have seen this movie at 20yrs old. I genuinely felt like I learned something of value by the end of the movie.
I have watched this movie many times and finally added to my DVD collection . Love t so much. Also the serene music is so beautiful.
I quite enjoyed the film and it is rewatchable regularly.
Thank you so much for making this! I just saw it for the first time last night and had ALL THE FEELS! You’re right it doesn’t get the love it deserves!
This is one of my top movies of all time. The music in this movie is incredible!!
An undercover masterpiece.
Whenever it appears, I’m compelled to watch it to the end.
I adore this movie. Ask me my top 10 and it may not appear, but when I see it, Im absolutely spellbound.
I've been running into Meet Joe Black in the last few days on UA-cam (thank you algorithms, for once?) and today it offered me your review. Well done Sir, well done. ^.^
To tell you how good this movie was, I usually take about a week to watch a movie and I usually come on UA-cam to watch reviews after seeing a movie I like. This movie took me one afternoon and I was surprised when I figured out it was three hours when you mentioned it because I was so invested.
You were doing such a wonderful job until you got to Anthony Hopkins' character. Don't you understand that even Death explains it in the movie that he picked him because he was the perfect guide for him because of his excellent life and his life was excellent because of the way he lived it. He was perfect. His problems were external, his life's work was being stolen by his daughters boyfriend and most trusted partner and Death was banging her too. He didn't have a character arc. He was perfect at the beginning and died perfect at the end. "He needs to care more." what a load of horseshit.
His character arc was giving him the realisation he didn't have really that much time at all. Allowing him to reprioritise. It's a small arc yes, but still an arc.
Yeah i do not believe with the authors analysis on Anthony Hopkins neither from the way he put it.
I really don’t understand what you’re getting at here…
You are right Shane. Anthony Hopkins was chosen by Death because he lived such a righteous good life.
If this show doesn't take a tear to your eye well you a harder person than me😊 love the story never even realised till you pointed out how long it is shows me how much I enjoyed it and will watch it again and again great performances by cast great writing directing script cinematography and my fave of all Thomas Newman soundtrack amazing thanks for making this video Meet Joe Black 10/10
One of my favorite films. I watch it every few years and enjoy it thoroughly each time. I vote for another video without worrying about spoilers.
122k views with just 515 + 1 new subscriber. You deserve a much bigger following because you present everything in such a real and genuine way.
Well I could say many things about this beautiful and also inspired movie. It has a sense of interest that you never know when or how Joe Black is going to take over . A movie that doesn't matter how many times you see, it feels that you're missing something and have to see it again and again.
One thing that stood out as I watched this film is the music in the background was use so well to emphasize emotion. But there was a whole lot of the film that had no background sound at all. Not very common but the amble use of pregnant silence worked well.
I have to respectfully disagree with you on one thing - Hopkin's character WAS close to his daughter Susan even though he wasn't close to the rest of his family.
I agree. I think he was closer to her because she is his youngest daughter and her older sister, Allison, seemed--maybe to Bill (Hopkins character) like she had a more stable life being that she was married. I guess Hopkins character, Bill, was hoping that she (Forlani's Susan) would be able to get to where Allison was, thus asking her if she loved Drew, (Pitt's opposition)... Still, as I recall, Allison tried so hard to get her daddy's appreciation because she thought she wasn't good enough in what she did.
I sometimes come to UA-cam to watch some of the scenes, when I need to return some of the meaning back to my life. I'm not sure if this film will reach all people but for the ones it does, it moves your soul. The music, the actors, the topic synergize powerfully. Easily in my top 5 movies, ever. "Everyting gwarn be irie."
Beautiful essay Andrew, appreciate your pace mirroring the classic, undervalued film. whenever it appears on the TV, 3 hours seem to disappear!
Thank you for this video. Such an underrated movie it has amazing performances imo and a music score to match. It took me for an emotional and introspective journey about life and death that not many movies did before or after. It also has one of the most unique perspective on Death as an entity that I have seen.
The sarcasm in this video is perfect.
I try
I thoroughly enjoyed your essay! After seeing this I had to watch it... Thank you.
Please post more movie essay. I will keep a eye out for them. New subscriber. 👍🏽
Watched this in treatment with a group of guys
We all cried
Great movie
This movie ONLY exists because of Claire. Not Brad. Not Anthony. HER!! Her passion is overwhelming!! Played absolutely beautifully. This should be called "Meet Susan".
Sound like a true simp
I have always held this movie in EXTREMELY high regard!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!
I watched this only days ago, and I liked it so much! The acting, the lines, the cinematography, and the musical scoring are all superb. It really has the makings of a classic!
I never got the idea that death came to earth to better anthony hopkins life before he dies. I think the whole idea is that death, being so impartial to the feelings of others takes a life as his own to better understand humanities. What happens to both hopkins and death along the way are just collateral, and i think thats what makes it all the more brilliant.
One of my favorite movies! Thank you for the review
I am 26 years late of watching this movie. I was familiar but never had the urge to see it till this year. Man, I can't believe I didn't get to see this earlier. Just one of the best movies ever made. Give you lessons about this thing called life.
It is a movie worth watching , it has all the elements and draws you in...
Mr Sindt, wonderful . . . I agree with you--your analysis, your love of the film and that this film is important, that somehow it is important to everyone if only they would open themselves to it, get past the surface, accept the spiritual nature of this film, and life. Thank you.
Thanks for doing this review. I love this movie.
I think most people's first thought when they hear Hopkins is Hannibal. Shame frankly. Cried a little during this video after his speech. Was shocked hearing its 3 hours long. Boy does it put that time to use. Gives the cast room to live in their characters. All of them do a fantastic job of it. The one sister and her husband were a real treat. When I first saw them I thought they'd be kind of throwaway light comic-relief types. They are not that. I think the light touch of supernatural is perfect. It stops Joe from being too inhuman.
This movie is perfection. The story, the plot, the script, the dialogue, the cast, the soundtrack is just pure brilliance! I saw this back 99 when I was 19. I'm 42 now and watched it again in Netflix with the subtitles on, just made me appreciate it more. Definitely in my top 5 films of all time.
A wonderful movie.
I loved this movie so much I went to see it in the theater four times. The last time was a matinee. When the bus struck Brad Pit, two young girls screamed and burst into tears.
I used to work all night 12 hour shifts in the Sleep Lab, trying to get men with sleep apnea to wear CPAP masks, so they did not die prematurely of a heart attack or stroke. I literally tried to hold Death [or worse] at bay four nights a week for years.
One night my radio station featured the entire Meet Joe Black sound track album... uninterrupted.
As I worked setting up two polysomnograms, 27 electronic computer monitoring leads each, Thomas Newman's exquisite music played in the background.
I found I could visualize every scene. I also found the root of my love for the movie was the astounding music. The compelling plot and amazing acting were only part of the appeal.
I grew up with religious beliefs similar to those of the author of Death Takes A Holiday, so I was not put off at all by the spiritual aspects of this work of art.
Thank you for showcasing this work. Meet Joe Black is a truly powerful film.
I have to say, this is the best movie I've seen in my life, the one little detail that made me uncomfortable was the way they sometimes greeted at each other with a kiss in the lips, other than that this movie is a masterpiece.
I'm also impressed by the fact that they worked out the death among the living concept without the CGI that exist nowadays, and I have to admit that's part of what made this movie so beautiful, we don't get movies like that anymore, these days people would rather overuse the CGI or other advanced technology effects, it gives me the idea that the events presented in the movie could actually happen in real life, incredible.
Anyway, I'm glad I took the time to watch it, thanks for reading me.
This movie touched me deeply. When the Angel of Death chooses truth and integrity over his own longing for love which included being deceitful and taking someone else's love, when he realizes that the object of his love was in the love with the original guy, he is true to his love for her in that he gives her what he believes she truly wants - a life here on earth with the guy in the restaurant. Anthony Hopkins, in his human wisdom, inspires him to take the higher ground and we have compassion for him as he lets go of his "love". Integrity wins out - I love that.
I remember the movie "Death Takes A Vacation" which was good but this movie is better. It's more emotional, and gets deep into the reality of facing death.
Yes this is a remake of Death takes a Holiday, only in that movie, while Death was on a break, nobody was dying worldwide. It got suspicious after awhile. I don't recall the particulars of how it ended. I think my copy of Joe Black might even include a DVD with the earlier movie on it, but I don't watch that I just watch the Joe Black version. It is perfection. I'm not so sure it's about Death, I think it's about Love. Even Death falls in love and makes the sacrifice of true love by not taking what HE wants, but letting Susan live because that's was best for her, and he even lets Brad Pitts character live and he was supposed to die. So he gets a 2nd chance, so he can be a gift to Susan. I wish we knew his real name. Must have come with a wallet...
Your description of this movie is absolutely beautiful this my favorite movie including the soundtrack it's breathtaking .... it touches your soul a must watch movie for everyone
I love the pace of this film. Romance is great, dialogue and screenplay is great.
One of the best films , and the best analysed ! Possibly, one needs the patience to sit thru those three hours to appreciate the finer aspect of wonderful acting by all the lead characters!
A movie you feel like you should hate, but you love it anyway.
This is such an underrated movie!
I love this movie. One of my top 10 of all the movies I've ever seen. Brad Pitt's performance is definitely a big part of it. How he pulls it off is a little bit inscrutable--but he wavers between the ultimate authority of Death and a dewy all-too-human innocence in such a way that we're drawn in and willing to buy every bit of it. (It doesn't hurt that he's at the peak of his beauty here.) In his scenes with Anthony Hopkins there's never a doubt that we're watching two equals at play. And Claire Forlani's performance, though mannered, is his ideal counterpoint. The Thomas Newman score is, need I say it, perfect. Okay, I'm gushing. But I love it!
Joe black is brads most underrated role to me. He does things with his physicality and his eyes here he rarely does anywhere else. The way he flashes anger standing toe to toe with Hopkins in those scenes is pitch perfect. Actually that’s it. The whole performance is him almost perfectly calibrated. Mega watt smile, the child like wonder, the anger, the petulance, the understanding. He just hits each note precisely.
I totally loved this film, so many things I could mention but all I can say it was amazing
This was beautiful. You deserve more views.
I enjoy your view point and the way you speak very matter of factually. Keep up the good work
Good grief, I never knew it was almost or 3 hours long but it sure was worth it and I loved every bit of it and gosh was I sad when I thought Brad was gone for good but well you got to watch it😍😍
A must watch movie and the soundtrack is beautiful
Great job, I really enjoy this film. I saw it again on dvd a few weeks back. Definitely underrated.
Andrew,
this is the most heartfelt an impressive review I've ever heard and I am choking up as I say this. I can't wait to get the movie and watch it as long as it is I think it'll make it be a life changer for me and I thank you for the letterbox mentioned I'll look into that I can use something to change my life right now I have a sense that you're going to be a key to do that :-)
One of my favorite films of all time. I love the pace...never feels like three hours. It's sumptuously filmed, superbly acted, stunningly scored by Thomas Newman. A wonderful film for the patient soul who wants to observe, feel and rejoice.
Totally agree!