Hereafter | 2010

Genre: Drama
Author : Srivathsa

Synopsis: Eastwood's lesser movie, but worth a watch.

"Hereafter" is perhaps, the veteran Clint Eastwood's only film that deals with the paranormal. However the solitary way it is supernatural is that, the protagonist communicates with dead people. If not, it's entirely an emotional drama on individuals, who have witnessed death, one way or another. Eastwood is known for his organized and pertinent direction and his "Hereafter", even though; nowhere near his best, it is an enduring and watchable drama.

"Hereafter" kicks off with a stunning, baffling and heart aching tsunami recreation. Following the mode of Alejandro Inarritu, the movie revolves around three stories. The opening scene sees a French journalist, Cécile De France (played extraordinarily by Marie Lelay), making it to death (well, almost) and coming back to life again. Somewhere in London, twin brothers, Markus and Jason (played by the McLaren brothers) are trying to cover up for their mom's drug/alcohol addiction, but get separated by death, when one of them, meets with a mishap. In America, a blue –collared man, George Lonegan (played by Matt Damon), has a connection to the after life. "Hereafter" is all about how all these three characters intervene.

First of all, Kudos to the visual effects team for the mind-boggling tsunami sequence at the beginning. As in any Eastwood's picture, the movie is lucidly dark and well cinematographed. The old timer surprises us with his ever shining direction. There is no particular moment, where the film falters, but, when the credits roll, there is a sense of hushed dissatisfaction, bizarre for a Clint Eastwood movie. That's most likely because, with the deftly built characters on one hand, there are shaky characters, aberrantly fashioned like Melanie (Bryce Dallas Howard). Even then, "Hereafter" scores in nearly, all the other parts.

"Hereafter" is pretty capricious and a story about the dead people, that doesn't exactly deal with scares (like the visually stunning Gasper Noe's "Enter the void"). It is about compassion, people and their love for each other. The film poignancy, dealt with straightforward recitation.

"Hereafter" deserves respect for Eastwood's deft direction and also a slender bitter nod for its patchy composure..

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Kapil Singbal | 5/25/2011 2:18:58 AM
Hey Srivathsa,



I agree when you say that this isn't Clint's best effort and surely it ranks no where closer. Also the ending leaves you some what dissatisfied. But the honesty with which the characters are portrayed lift the movie up from the mundane and offcourse Clint's eye to the detail is evident everywhere. Though I would want to say I did like the part where Matt Damon's character makes a bitter disclosure to Melanie. That was my favourite scene of the movie along with the Tsunami scene offcourse. :)

Srivathsa | 12/8/2011 8:52:05 AM
Hi Kapil,

Thanks for the comments and I totally agree with you.
And yes I loved that scene of disclosure to Melanie....