Hereafter is a romantic drama with a gratifying ending if you are not looking for answers to life after death questions. This movie does not address near death experiences head on, but rather explores ways that different people deal with the experiences in their lives afterward.
This movie review contains spoilers, reader be warned. The spoilers might be excused, however, as it gives hope for a confusing plot that might otherwise leave the audience wondering if there is a point to the movie at all.
The Plot of Hereafter, the 2011 Movie Starring Matt Damon
The plot is a little confusing for the audience seeking immediate answers or wanting a supernatural thriller. This movie is not a thriller, it is a gentle romance that deals with real life reactions to near death experiences and life after death.
The movie Hereafter has three plot lines of three different main characters whose lives coalesce finally at the end. One is an American blue collar worker who is an ex-psychic seeking to regain his life back by choosing not to use what some call a gift but he calls a curse. Another is a French journalist who has a near death experience (NDE) herself, loses her boyfriend and almost loses her job. She ends up using her journalistic skills and personal NDE experience to write and publish a book. The third main character in Hereafter is a young boy who loses his identical twin and is having a terrible time of overcoming the loss. The loss of his twin is exacerbated by the loss of his mother to a rehabilitation center and he is sent into a foster home with strangers.
The end of the movie is tactfully done which is gratifying for viewers sitting through the fairly chaotic, confusing plot. The ending is a subtle romantic culmination, delicately accentuating the human connection of those living and de-emphasizing the after life experiences.
The Cast of Characters in Hereafter
Matt Damon plays the blue collar American, George Lonegan. George's almost-girlfriend, Melanie, is played by Bryce Dallas Howard. The scenes with Melanie and George are played with good chemistry, but we don't see very much of Melanie in the movie. Jay Mohr plays Billy, George's brother.
Cecile de France plays the role of the French journalist and author, Marie Lelay. Frankie and George McLaren play the identical twins, Marcus and Jason. The boys play a significant part of the movie, and they play their parts soulfully.
See the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) for a full list of Hereafter's cast and crew.
This movie is passable entertainment for a date, a movie night out with friends, or for rent when it comes out on DVD if you are bored. I would give Hereafter a 3.5 stars out of 5, awarding it an extra half a point for approach to the subject matter and excellent casting and chemistry on screen amongst the actors.
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