Hereafter (2011)

Clint Eastwood is a movie icon. I just want to put this simple fact out there. If you're reading this and doubting that he's anything less than a genius, then just stop right now. 'Gran Torino' was one of my favourite films of 2008 and showed that Clint still had that moviemaking magic. Fast forward to 2011 and this time he's taking a seat firmly behind the camera for drama film 'Hereafter'. Is this Eastwood's swansong or a sign he should throw in the towel?

Well 'Hereafter' is an unusual film in that, it's really three films all rolled into one. We have Matt Damon as a retired psychic, a French journalist who survives a tsunami and a young boy whose older brother is killed. The link between these story arcs is where the film's title comes in. 'Hereafter' meaning life after death (the afterlife). Each of these characters have been affected by death in some way and the film attempts to show how it can change and alter the course of a person's life.

Now going into this I'd heard fairly negative things about 'Hereafter'. Most of the criticism is directed at the multi-layered plot - with some going as far to say that the film should have just concentrated on the psychic George Lonnegan (Matt Damon). While I agree this is the strongest of the three tales, I think it's unfair to disregard the other two stories, as they both have their merits. The weakest plot out of the three is the French journalist Marie Lelay (Cecile de France). The actress in question gives a fine performance but I didn't feel like enough time was invested in her character. It almost felt like the sections involving her were slightly rushed.

However, the story involving the young Marcus (Frankie McLaren), whose twin brother is killed (George McLaren), is a good example of how multi-narratives can work well. These two young actors and Damon's heartfelt performance lift the film above what would otherwise have been a fairly sedate drama. The questions that arise about the afterlife are nothing we haven't seen before. The ending is predictable but ties up any loose ends and you won't leave the cinema feeling cheated (unlike some films I could mention, *cough 'Buried').

'Hereafter' feels like it could have had the makings of a great film (given the director and lead). It just never quite reaches the dizzying heights it so desperately strives for. Still, I'm quite surprised it only received one Oscar nomination for Visual Effects. I still very much admire you Clint but maybe next time you could make a movie that doesn't make me feel like I've crossed over to another world (where you don't make excellent films).