Review of Hereafter (2010) by Renzo V — 11 Feb 2014

"THREE LIVES INTERSECT BY THEIR BELIEVE IN THE AFTERLIFE".

- 'Hereafter' is a 2010 supernatural drama film directed by Clint Eastwood (the Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Million Dollar Baby) and produced by Steven Spielberg (Jaws, Jurassic Park). When I saw the trailer, I really wanted to see this film. In 'Hereafter' we follow three people who each have to deal with death and the afterlife. It starts off very dramatic and visually spectacular, but it loses me along the way (even gets a bit boring at some point). Too bad, because I really liked the idea, the atmosphere and the three different language-setting (American, English and French). Starring Matt Damon (The Bourne Trilogy, Elysium), Cécile de France (Soeur Sourire, Haute Tension), Bryce Dallas Howard (The Village) and introducing the McLaren-twins.

On assignment in Thailand, French TV reporter Marie Lelay (de France) is shopping on a street market, when the tsunami hits the mainland. Trying to help a little girl, Marie is taken by the flood and nearly drowns. She has a near-death-experience and has visions of the little girl she wasn't able to save. Back in France her employer gives her some time off to write a book on François Mitterand, but instead she writes about the afterlife.

In San Francisco, George Lonegan (Damon) is persuaded much against his will to perform a psychic reading to a client of his brother. George has the gift to communicate with people in the afterlife, but doesn't want to do it. To escape his brother's plans, he reads a lot of Charles Dickens and attends an Italian cooking class where he meets the flirting Melanie (Dallas Howard).

Jason and Marcus are twelve-year-old brothers (McLaren) who live with their drug addictive mother in London. To avoid that child protection takes them away from her, the boys work together as a team and protect their mother. One day, mom asks Jason to go to the pharmacy. On his way he is attacked by a group of boys. Running away from them, he is struck down by a truck in the street. Dealing with the loss of his twin brother, Marcus is placed into foster care.