Movie Review: Hereafter

George Lonegan is working at a construction job and trying to leave his past life as a psychic behind. George believes his psychic powers are a curse, not a gift, ruining every good thing that has happened in his life and leaving him an abject loner. A series of events weaves George Lonegan and two victims of tragedies together, eventually bringing them to the same place where they meet and share their experiences.

Matt Damon gives an excellent performance, if only he was given a better screenplay and more screen time to develop the character. The other actors, again, are left with little to work with in terms of storyline. In the process of the movie I wanted to learn more about Damon’s character, George Lonegan, but there were too many other characters drawing focus from the film.

Eastwood has never been someone I thought of as a good actor, but I do admire hi as a director. Unfortunately Hereafter suffers from a poorly written screenplay and a disjointed story. The tsunami scenes, art direction and camera work is very good overall. The pacing is very slow, which seems to be a directorial choice.

I can’t recommend the film as a whole, if you are a Matt Damon fan you might want to rent the film to see his fine performance, and the great supporting performances of Cecile De France, Frankie McLaren, George McLaren, Jay Mohr, Richard Kind, and Bryce Dallas Howard. Hereafter leads you into a dreamy journey but in the end is an unsatisfying trip into the beyond.

2010. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Starring Matt Damon, Cecile De France, Frankie McLaren, George McLaren, Jay Mohr, Richard Kind, and Bryce Dallas Howard.

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