I've just come in from the cold after seeing Hereafter (Clint Eastwood) at the Rivoli. Unfortunately I can't say too much that's positive about this film, except that the CGI affects to create a tsunami sequence at the beginning of the film, including close-up shots of the collision of water and objects on individuals living and working near the edge of an island paradise, especially on the female protagonist was believable and impressive.
Graphic footage of the tsunami that wiped out so much of Fukushima prefecture in March this year preceded this film's release and I imagine it would be difficult for a viewing audience not to dredge up emotions about that event whilst watching this film. Strangely enough the 2005 London underground bombings was also used as a way of referencing real world events in a film that engages with unreal or surreal experiences.
Hereafter broaches the issue of how mortality is experienced by three different people, and circulates to some extend around George Lonegan (Matt Damon) a reluctant psychic, who perceives his gift of being able to contact the dead as a curse rather than a blessing. But really, this is not a supernatural film nor a thriller, described as such in the media.
It rakes over old ground and doesn't offer any more to the ongoing polemics associated with psychic phenomenon, psychic readings and the hereafter than we were already aware of. The bright white light or auraic light field intensities seen around distant blurry people presumably dead friends or relatives, features in several scenes.
However, on two separate occasions during the film I did recall The Adjustment Bureau for within Hereafter there's just a slight hint of that little niggling question we have about how one simple act can change the course of history. There must be something in the air and the more I think about it, it appears to be related to ethics; for the often selfish behavior of people within the film impacts so heavily on the lives of the ones they love.
Having said all that, the two hours of viewing disappeared quickly and at no time was I bored. I did however, find the ending abrupt and predictable.
Graphic footage of the tsunami that wiped out so much of Fukushima prefecture in March this year preceded this film's release and I imagine it would be difficult for a viewing audience not to dredge up emotions about that event whilst watching this film. Strangely enough the 2005 London underground bombings was also used as a way of referencing real world events in a film that engages with unreal or surreal experiences.
Hereafter broaches the issue of how mortality is experienced by three different people, and circulates to some extend around George Lonegan (Matt Damon) a reluctant psychic, who perceives his gift of being able to contact the dead as a curse rather than a blessing. But really, this is not a supernatural film nor a thriller, described as such in the media.
It rakes over old ground and doesn't offer any more to the ongoing polemics associated with psychic phenomenon, psychic readings and the hereafter than we were already aware of. The bright white light or auraic light field intensities seen around distant blurry people presumably dead friends or relatives, features in several scenes.
However, on two separate occasions during the film I did recall The Adjustment Bureau for within Hereafter there's just a slight hint of that little niggling question we have about how one simple act can change the course of history. There must be something in the air and the more I think about it, it appears to be related to ethics; for the often selfish behavior of people within the film impacts so heavily on the lives of the ones they love.
Having said all that, the two hours of viewing disappeared quickly and at no time was I bored. I did however, find the ending abrupt and predictable.
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