MEET JOE BLACK
US, 1998, 178 minutes, Colour.
Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Claire Forlani, Jake Weber, Marcia Gay Harden, Jeffrey Tambor.
Directed by Martin Brest.
This is long movie and moves at a leisurely, even grand or grandiose, pace. It is sumptuously designed and costumed. For those prepared to go with these decisions of the film-makers, it is a matter of surrendering to this story of a millionaire whose time has come to die and of Death who, before he takes his victim, wants to experience what it is to be alive.
With a Hollywood and audience preoccupation with angels and the afterlife during the 1990s, this is a story about being ready for death, for accepting one's life and venturing beyond it. Anthony Hopkins is a (good and nice) media magnate who comes to a greater realisation that wheeling and dealing is a very temporal and temporary activity. (He also has a very convincing heart attack scene.) Brad Pitt is photographed glowingly as a nice and breezy young man whose body Death appropriates for his journey among New Yorkers to find out about life. Claire Forlani is Hopkins' daughter and the main reason why Death chooses this particular environment.
Under the gloss and the desire to explore themes of death, some of the plot-lines (especially death's passion for peanut butter) are more than a touch corny, even sentimental. But, all in all, it is a meanderingly pleasing entertainment - with a message. It is a remake of the 1934 movie, Death Takes a Holiday, starring Fredric March (at only 78 minutes) which was remade as a telemovie in 1971 with Melvyn Douglas.
1. A film about death and love?
2. The idea of Death incarnate, body, male,, unaccustomed to human life, wanting to learn, getting to know people? Death coming for Bill and the old lady in the hospital?
3. The mansion, lavish interiors, the grounds? The business world, offices? The hospital, corridors, the wards? The cafe and the streets?
4. The musical score, the songs at the party, the lyrics corresponding to the action on screen… I only have eyes for you, anything goes…?
5. Bill, Anthony Hopkins, 65th birthday, the meaning of his life and achievement, his love for his wife, mourning her? Alison, older, organising the party, her marriage to Quinve? Susan his favourite? His relationship with Drew, the work? His being part of the family? The business career, media, discussions about the merger?
6. Susan, love for her father, the relationship with Drew, no passion? Her work as a doctor, at the hospital? Having a coffee, the charming stranger, talking, the effect on her, his leaving? The audience knowing about the accident, Susan not? Joe, appearance, a different person, yet her loving him?
7. Joe, Brad Pitt and the touch of the fey? The way he was photographed, his hair, suit, smile, courtesy? His arrival, his body, characteristics, talking with Bill, explaining the situation? Bill and his heart attack? The deal for secrecy? Joe and his presence at the meals, awkward? The clash with Drew? Going to the kitchen, with the servants, liking peanut butter? The lavish room? His language, vocabulary, learning?
8. Going to the Board meeting, Bill allowing him in, eating the cookies, Drew and his negative reaction? The issue, the merger? Bill and his refusal, supported by Joe, Drew’s reaction?
9. Drew, the meals, his anger with Joe, interrogating him? At the Board meeting, taxes and death? The revelation of what he was doing behind-the-scenes, with the merger, explanations to the Board? Gathering them behind Bill’s back, his explanations, getting Quince to talk, Joe as the adviser? The vote, the member-friend rebellin, talking with Bill? Bill’s arrival, the process of the meeting, the speeches, the vote, Bill being ousted? Quincey and his being upset, talking with Joe, urging him to be frank with Bill, his explanation, Bill’s understanding, calling Drew, the Board meeting and their listening on the phone? Joe as an IRS officer, the explanation of what Drew had done, tax dodging, the plan to split the proceeds from the merger? The vote of the board, Drew’s defeat?
10. Alison, love for her father, feeling loved by him, understanding favouritism? The meals and her happiness, the question of cake, her being upset? Bill and his eating the cake? The organising the party, the detail, the most lavish party? Its success?
11. Susan, Drew not liking her relationship with Joe? Joe falling in love, the kiss, the sexual encounter? Going to the hospital, the encounter with the West Indian lady, his return, the discussions, helping her to die?
12. Bill not wanting Susan to fall in love with Joe? His stern talk with her? Bill talking with Joe, the explanation, Joe realising that he wanted this love for himself, Susan not knowing who he was? Talking with Susan, agreeing to leave?
13. The party, the music, the visitors, cake, Happy Birthday song, Bill’s speech? Goodbye to Alison, to Susan, Joe waiting and the two going off? Joe’s comment that Bill had lived a good life?
14. The young man returning, not knowing why he was at the party, not remembering? Recalling the scene at the cafe, Susan appreciating who he was – and their walking off into the future?
