Review of Hereafter (2010) by Oxana — 23 Aug 2014

After a quick, disastrous beginning (literally rather than figuratively since there was nothing wrong with the scene itself) that starts with 2004's tsunami in Thailand, we abruptly jump right to San Francisco where we meet George (Matt Damon), an ex-psychic who still has the gift/curse, but is unwilling to use it. His brother, looking out for his own interests (although pretending to respect his brother's wishes as well), pushes him for one more reading - which naturally turns into more since many people have a need to talk to their dead beloved ones.

The plot consists of three very different stories that in the end come together:

We have George in 'Frisco, who wants a normal life with a normal relationship in it, but can't quite grasp it.

There is Marie in Paris, who can't get a hold of her own life after experiencing death in the tsunami. Her life and career are slipping away, but she can't seem to settle down and let go of her experience which no one seems to take seriously. So, she has to find answers for herself; what is there after we die? What did she see?

Then there are the adorable twins in London, Jason and Marcus, who try to keep their lives together as their mother is hopelessly failing at everything. Trying to make things look good for the Child Protective Services, not wanting to be parted from their alcoholic, drug-abusive mother, they try their best to maintain a relatively normal life. That is, until Jason dies.

George's clumsy attempts are kind of touching. Marie's journey is interesting, but a bit boring too. Marcus', on the other hand, is the most touching story of them all; he misses his twin. His life just isn't the same. He and Jason were always there for each other. Now, he is alone, taken from his mother who is trying to put herself together and thrust into the arms of strangers.

The story's pace is slow, but things stay interesting. Three different lives in a very chaotic place meet quite unexpectedly in London, and while I didn't quite get the quick relationship with George and Marie (was it that she had already seen death and didn't want George to tell her about it?), the ending was pretty good.

Liked the style of the movie, and definitely recommending it for fans of "supernatural", spiritual things; this didn't take anything overboard. It was a fluent look at people who are lost and try to find an answer to questions that are greater than life itself.