MOVIE REVIEW - Hereafter

Hereafter is a very interesting movie. It makes it just quite possible that a single movie can be both good and bad at the same time.

Hereafter is the latest Clint Eastwood directed movie that is a very interesting idea, and for the most part a very good story line. Matt Damon stars as George. George is a young man who lives in San Francisco who has been given the ability to be psychic. And he is dead on so. Just s simple touch of hands, can give him a very accurate picture of the other persons past. He views this as a "curse." As it makes it virtually impossible to have relationships with others. The "curse" always gets in the way as it has obvious serious ramifications.

Then Hereafter weaves in two other stories from the other side of the world, of troubled souls who are seemingly in need of George's "curse". One is a little boy who is tragically dealing with the death of his twin brother. Plus, he has a drug infested young single mom that has been sent away to rehab. Then there's a young woman who somehow survives a tidal wave, and comes back from the dead. She cannot shake the feeling of being in the "hereafter." The entire picture puts these three on a collision course. And you are wondering what will happen when they all intersect.

Great idea, and for the most part this is wonderfully told in typical Eastwood fashion. This movie looks great, with a wonderful understated music track, and really nice performances. Damon is great, as are most of our supporting cast members. But to be honest there is something missing here. Something glaring missing. And it gets in the way. It just doesn't pay off like it should. I can't even say it has a bad ending, there's just something missing. As I though about it for while I think this I found the main trouble.

The way this movie plays out, it has the feel of a small, little 85 minute movie with a small budget, and stars you don't know. Like a small Indy pic. Charming even. But Hereafter is none of those things. It's a big budget flick, with a big star that times out over two hours, and many will walk out feeling like there was no real payout. Oh, the moral of the story is nice and all, but in the end, Hereafter is a bit hollow. Although it's darn good movie making along the way. A real contradiction.

Hereafter. For many this will be a bit disappointing. But it sure looks good being so.