Hereafter (8/10)

Clint Eastwood is a masterful director. He doesn't make bad films, but they all vary in shades of good. From last decade there are the good ("Changeling, "Invictus" and "Flags Of Our Fathers"), his very good ("Gran Torino and "Million Dollar Baby") and his tour de forces ("Mystic River" and "Letters From Iwo Jima"). There are others but these are the notable ones. From "Mystic River" and on he has been one of the best directors working. "Hereafter" is another worthy installment and would pile into the good category.

"Hereafter" is built up with incredible care. It's three different stories of people who have some connection or want one to the afterlife. All the stories are great and are well acted, but that's not where the strength of this film lies. It's in its consideration for the afterlife. It blends a mix of science and spiritual meaning. It's not trying to sway people to believe in Heaven but is saying that people do go somewhere after they die. Those who have the connection or have seen are almost outcast by both science and religious groups in the film. It takes you on a ride of understanding, one that does not try to cast judgement or favor to any faith.

However by film's end it kind of rushes things. Matt Damon's character is a psychic and can talk to the dead. He begins talking to a girl (Bryce Dallas Howard) in his cooking class and she finds out by accident. He doesn't want to deal with it anymore and after much deliberation, he talks to the girl's dead loved ones. She is upset over what she hears, says she will see him later, cries outside his apartment and is never heard from again. It wrapped up the three main characters stories, but many others were left out in the cold. I was really interested if Bryce Dallas Howard's character would accept Matt Damon's gift. Hereafter may not wrap up everything, but it has fantastic scenes and a tenderness that make it still all worth it.

8/10
Recommendation: It's classic Eastwood and touches on a new topic in films. It's interesting but not necessarily exciting (besides it's marvelous opening. That scene probably should have beaten "Inception" for best special effects at the Oscars.)