Review of Meet Joe Black (1998) by Mason B — 03 Apr 2010
I have to say that I enjoyed this film, but it kinda ruined itself by spending to much time being a romance.
The first half of the movie makes me thinks that the filmakers were trying to make a comedy, realized it wans't funny, then tried to do the rest as a drama. There are several scenes where you wonder if they were trying to make you laugh and it simply wasn't funny.
Why is this movie a romance? It would have been several times better if it had been more about a man dealing with death and his family and less about death falling in love. Brad Pitt and his love interest don't have chemistry, and Anthony Hopkins is not on screen enough.
The director has the patience of a saint, and he expects the same of the audience. There are alot of pauses for dramatic effect, but they take so long you start to wonder if the actors have forgotten the lines. This movie really needs to hurry up. I agree with the critics when they say that the movie has problems with pacing. The story simply doesn't merit its three hours.
The acting is good. Anthony Hopkins, as always, delivers a great performance as the man facing death. Brad Pitt is interesting in his performance as death itself, and you really believe he has never interacted with a human being. He also, amazingly, pulls off a Jamaican accent.
This movie has an interesting premise and good acting that overcomes its flaws.
This review of Meet Joe Black (1998) was written by Mason B on 03 Apr 2010.
Meet Joe Black has generally received positive reviews.
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