Meet Joe Black (1999, VHS)

Meet Joe Black has gotten pretty much panned. It even sits at a 3 star over-all rating here on Epinions as I type this review. Why? I've just watched it again and I gotta say it just keeps getting better and better with each viewing. I love this movie!

I can't believe you people. I come for you, and you want to stay, I let you stay and you want to go.

What you have here is a story about DEATH. Not about dying per se, but about DEATH himself. Ya see, DEATH wants to know what it means to experience life. He's supposed to be claiming a corporate big wig, but decides to make a deal instead. If Bill will show DEATH the ropes to living, then DEATH will allow to live a bit longer.

Just one wee hitch: DEATH falls in love with Susan, Bill's daughter. There's a whole lot more back story going on here, but that's the basic jist of it all. Not quite a remake of 1934's Death Takes a Holiday, but certainly very inspired by it, which in turn was inspired by the play of the same name by Alberto Casella.

Now, Nick..he thinks they should have gone more into a kinda 'man faces mortality' kinda thing. I disagree. This was never meant to be that. It was meant to be exactly what it was... not how man faces death, but how DEATH faces life. Perhaps I was able to grasp that because of all the Disc World novels I've read by Terry Pratchett. This thing with DEATH wanting a holiday was not new to me. I love the idea! I found it to have been executed well here.

When I introduce you, and I tell them who you are, I don't think anyone will stay for dinner.

Brad Pitt is DEATH. He's taken the body of some guy.. a guy that Susan just happened to meet right prior to his getting hit by that darned car. DEATH takes the name Joe Black for his adventure among mortals. Pitt is one of those pretty boys that guys hate just on principle. Phooey. Pitt is cute as hell, no denying that.. but he can act too fellas. Get over the pretty face and just watch. He isn't just all about the surfer boy looks with the great dimples. He's also about nailing the part. He was an excellent choice for this role... hell, any role! I liked him in The Mexican and Kalifornia too. Hey, if DEATH looks like Brad Pitt when he comes for me, then I say come on and bring it! yeah baby!

Anthony Hopkins is Bill, the money mogul slated to die. Hopkins gives nothing less than his all in this movie, but he always does. Silence of the Lambs would not have the hit that it was without him. He brings that same level of professionalism to this one. He's just so good at playing things close.. he doesn't have to raise his voice for you to know that he means business.

Claire Forlani is Susan, Bill's daughter the doctor, and the love interest of DEATH. This is another winner. Forlani has unconventional good looks and can act up a storm. You know exactly what is going through her mind by looking at her eyes. It's almost eerie. You may not know the name, but you know the face. think Mall Rats and The Rock.

The supporting cast is nothing to sneeze at either. You have Jake Weber as the scoundrel Drew, Marcia Gay Harden as the other daughter, and Jeffrey Tambor as her husband Quince. Fine jobs by all here. They just play off each other like they were born and raised in the house.

You're not Death. You're just a kid in a suit.

This 1998 film was directed by Martin Brest who also gave us Scent of a Woman and Beverly Hills Cop. Great job all around here. Lighting was right on the money, the cast was excellent and performed to their utmost under him. I have no complaints whatsoever.

This one runs a long 178 minutes and is Rated PG-13 for an accident scene, some sexuality and brief strong language. Bah. That's a gentle PG-13. No harm for any age here. The only draw back to the length is that if you rent a VHS, you have to get up and change the durned tape midway...and Blockbuster does not have this on DVD, which ticks me off. heh.

I do highly recommend this one. I know some people scoff and whine that it's been done before. Nick called it a chick flick mushy romance and would give it 3.5 stars max. what do men know? It wasn't about that! It was about DEATH learning to live. Watch it. Lock your man in the closet if ya have too. That way, you have the added benefit of drooling over Brad Pitt uninhibited too!

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This review has been part of Susi and Di's Bring a Buddy To The Movies W/O, in which me and my buddy Yourcloud are to review the same movie.

You can read my Buddy's take on this movie here.

Other brave participants are:

SurgRN911 & SusiDee34
Yourcloud & DrDevience ~ That's us!
Stephen_Murray & not decided yet
Psychovant & SoxFan
Mimi369 & SusiDee34
Artbyjude & Granniemose
jankp & tfrentz
skbreese & telynor
jeremy1456 & rock_on
ifif1938 & DrDevience ~ That's me again!