Notebook Reviews: MEET JOE BLACK

Martin Brest – 1998.

Meet Joe Black may have flopped hard on its cinematic release, but this Martin Brest directed romantic drama is rather excellent. The film’s three-hour running time might be ponderous for some, but Brest’s film unveils itself at a beautiful pace. 

The film’s cast is uniformly excellent, especially the central trifecta –  Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins and Claire Forlani. They emanate a wonderful amount of heart, emotion and pathos. They all do so much with so little. 

Meet Joe Black might deal with a heavy theme (death) but there is humour scatatterd throughout Brest’s picture. The film looks beautiful – Emmanuel Lubezki cinematography is sumptuous (as is the set design) and Thomas Newman‘s musical score is glorious.

Meet Joe Black is well worth your time.