Meet Joe Black (1998)

A ridiculous movie in all aspects. If this movie should have worked, it would probably needed someone like Kurosawa to pull it off. A more dreamlike, bizarre setting. The Angel of Death, taking people's lives personally, doubting his own role and falling in love with a beautiful woman? Has he not seen beautiful women yet? A ridiculous question, about a scaring subject matter. This movie had to have been more dreamlike, absurd, to work at any level. Then it could have been a serious tale about loss and loss of life... But it becomes like a bad comedy instead. Do not waste your time on this.

A gorgeous and well written movie with some excellent acting; even pretty boy Brad Pitt shows he's able to act, occasionally. For me, the highlight was the beauty of actress Claire Forlani, who plays Susan Parrish. I swear when she smiles her eyes actually GLOW! I could could find only three minor faults with this movie. Pitt's character wasn't fully developed during the movie, but likely that's due to practical limitations to his ability as an actor. Second, it's longer than really necessary. Lastly, there seems to be an awful lot of mouth kissing going on between family members, especially Susan and her father! It made me uncomfortable and I kept hoping there was a good reason coming in the plot, but none was given. Maybe it was just so the other actors could get some lip time with the GORGEOUS "Susan" character. Who knows.

Outlined plot is Anthony Hopkins getting distracted by the voice of death, and realises more meets the eye when he comes across Brad Pitt as an animated corpse possessed​ by Death, then Pitt is smitten with the Daughter which causes problems.I don't mean to be rude but how on earth did this movie get the go ahead to be created for production? What is the point to it despite making people bored to death (pardon the pun). Anthony Hopkins is absolutely wasted in this movie and such an incredible actor that doesn't deserve to be in this mess. Jake Weber from American Gothic did do a good performance but even he can't save the movie, because the whole movie dialogue and weak slow plot is terrible. I read some reviews saying "oh don't get me wrong, Brad Pitt is attractive" for speaking the truth on how bad the film is, well I never found Brad Pitt attractive but I do appreciate interview with the Vampire, a river runs through it, Seven, and Kalifornia that illustrates good performances (even if he can't get rid of his lisp in each movie, watch out for the word "finish" and you will hear it), Meet Joe Black is a drivel mess. There is nothing meaningful​ in the movie or heartfelt about it, accept necrophilia between Brad and the CEO's Daughter (last movie like that was Weekend at Bernies but it sucks and we forgave it for being a comedy, this is a serious drama for goodness sake!) All you see is Pitt that turned into a boring zombie without bruises, isn't like the charming so and so at the coffee shop, that gorges on peanut butter that isn't old as time, stuffs his face like an infant, and mimics a weird Jamaican accent who might become a murder suspect to our Anthony and if not careful. I am not one of those gullible females fortunately, that is what makes judgement easy for me on this lame film. The only thing good is the photography and lighting but when it boils down to it, the movie is dead, just like the gazes and stares the actors give to each other in this nonsense. Forget it.

In this film, Death takes the body of a person to be able to approach William Parrish, a media mogul to whom she asks for information about human life. Speaking in these terms, it looks like an old tale brought to this day. However, although the idea is good and the film has truly beautiful moments, its far from perfect. The film is quite elegant and has a beautiful cinematography, full of warm colors and little contrast, as if everything developed in a late afternoon or next to a fireplace. The actors are veterans that we like to see working, the environments, sets and costumes are exquisite... its good, the film has quality! Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins make a good pair when they split the screen, being able to get the best of each other, as well as being both icons of male charm, each on its own way. Claire Forlani also made a good, very restrained but strong performance, although the romance with Pitt's character is as cold and impersonal as his character. I said the movie was not perfect, remember? Beginning with the actors, Pitt made several mistakes and did certain things he shouldn't. His character is always lacking in human warmth and, if Death really wanted to learn more about humanity, this was something that should have gradually emerged in this character, especially when he falls in love. Love is the most intense and transformative human feeling and this is never suggested to us... I don't know if Pitt accepts without criticism everything directors and writers say he has to do, but it's his duty not to let his character fall, so he should have had the perception of the mistake that would be to keep such coldness from a certain point. But there are more problems: the script has an excellent main plot but is too dense and there are too many subplots, and that only helps to get the film out of focus. The director, Martin Brest, did a good job filming but clearly didn't give great relevance to pre and post production. He should have scrutinized the script better, eliminating some things, as well as requiring the editing team to cut out what was left over. And there's plenty of leftovers in a super slow movie, which drags on for three hours without any need, with overly long or ancillary scenes. It's a beautiful movie, but it's tedious to watch because we just lost the patience needed to watch something so long and so empty.