Review of Collateral Beauty (2016) by Karl R — 03 May 2017

A truly excellent film, and endless layers that come through as you realise more of what is really happening. The acting is good, and although I'm not generally a Will Smith fan, he plays the part well.

By the end of the film though, the dots become joined, and the thought processes begin. Moving and well thought out. The films is superficially about a grieving man, his withdrawal, and the attempts by his 'friends' to reach him.

As the films develops, 'Actors' for Death, Love, Time are sought to represent personifications of those entities. *Spoilers:* Each actor plays their part, forcing him to re-evaluate his state, and eventually he seeks help - but from whom? Who is the also-grieving woman that he connects to? And who are the 'actors'? Not real people, that is certain.

And who are the 'actors' there for...not just for Will, but each is really present for the people who hired them - the loveless, unfaithful man losing everything that matters; the dying man hiding his death from his family; the childless woman who feels her life was wasted; the people who's lives were devoted to the company.

A multi-layered film, which is touching and deserves to be recognised.