Meet Joe Black (1998)

Overly long, bland
With two wonderful actors, I didn't think the movie could go wrong. Well, it did. First off, the movie was unnecessarily long. It truly didn't need to be as long as it is, it clearly drags in parts. I think if the length was shortened and some mundane pointless scenes thrown out, it would have been a pretty decent film actually. Now, the movie isn't horrible, its more of a snooze fest. Both Brad and Anthony give wonderful performances, as usual, but I just didn't feel anything. The movie is not really emotional, or dramatic, though I think it may be technically labeled a drama. It was hard to pay attention sometimes since parts of it were quite boring and felt unimportant to the story. This is one of those films that you wish was better than it really is. It has it's moments, but ultimately, its pretty bland.

Joe Black
This is an awesome take on how death and life can change in a blink of an eye and it keeps you guessing what will happen next.

Some films are simply more appreciated in time: The Grim Reaper learns about Life
A 3 hour movie can seem daunting! NOT HERE! This film never loses touch or lapses.
MEET JOE BLACK is a positively wonderful and uniquely engaging look at life and death.Bill Parrish (Anthony Hopkins) is a self made millionaire facing his 65th birthday and a possible buy-out/merger of his company that he has literally poured himself into,even at the expense of spending quality time with his grown daughters (Marcia Gay Harden and Claire Forlani).Susan,played expertly by Forlani,is the youngest daughter,bright,semi-engaged to her father's right-hand man (Jake Weber of MEDIUM),and a Doctor in her own right.Both Bill and Susan have their lives literally turned upside-down and right-side-up when Death,disguised in the body of a love interest that Susan has met (Brad Pitt),enters and assumes complete control,as The Reaper always has done,over present circumstances.You see,Death has taken a holiday from his daily grind of grimly reaping,and wants to learn a little about life now,at any cost.Brad Pitt is outstanding as Joe Black aka Death,(I have never been a Pitt fan,BUT this is a "nailed" role!), as he learns to inhabit the body of the man he has "taken" and experience and savour the "pleasures of earthly life"...peanut butter,finding out that taxes are as sure as death,a touch,a smell...even sex!).Both Pitt and Hopkins are comedically in sync and the outcome is genuinely humourous as Joe Black seems intent on "hanging on to life." The chemistry between Death and Susan is lovely,tender and engrossing.The looks of the eyes,the tentative touches and uncertain moves are perfection.Forlani and Pitt sizzle and convince. What these three characters learn is priceless and yes...I cried several times like a "girly-man" and enjoyed every last tear!
What is particularly impressive about this "tight" 3 hour film is the set design by Academy Award Winning designer Dante Ferretti (currently nominated for [[ASIN:B000TLTUL0 Sweeney Todd]] and his past achievements in great films such as [[ASIN:B00080ZG10 The Aviator (Two-Disc Special Edition)]], ,[[ASIN:B00005JKN9 Gangs of New York (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)]], [[ASIN:B00003CX8S The Age of Innocence]],[[ASIN:B00004RFFS Interview with the Vampire]],[[ASIN:B000E6ESKS Titus]] and [[ASIN:6305090580 Kundun]]).In other words, MEET JOE BLACK is an opulent and eye-catching film to view with it's attention to detail and sense of largess!
Put my top 3 soundtrack writer into the mix of this Martin Brest directed gem,the venerable Thomas Newman [[ASIN:B00005Y1YA Six Feet Under]],[[ASIN:B0000029LN Oscar And Lucinda: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]], and the clashing worlds of Life and Death are made cinematically complete with clarity,style and breadth.
Loosely based on the play/film [[ASIN:630522269X Death Takes a Holiday,(1934)] MEET JOE BLACK is IMO far more engaging and interesting than the old Frederic March film (1934)]].
This film grabbed me,performances,characters,soundtrack and cinematography and made me ponder Life and Death in a new and glorious way.This film rose to a TOP TEN BEST for me.It touched both the heart,the artist and the cynic in me.Today is a good day....CARPE DIEM,y'all!