Do you know Joe Black?

Meet Joe Black? (original title: Meet Joe Black) is an American film about 1998 directed by Martin Brest and starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins and Claire Forlani. It was distributed by Universal Pictures. It is a new version of the classic film Death Takes a Holiday from 1934. The musician Jon Bon Jovi was based on the story of this film to compose the lyrics of his song "Thank You". For Loving Me & # 34;.

Synopsis

William "Bill" Parrish (Anthony Hopkins). Honest man, great telecommunications magnate, very wealthy, with a lot of power and influence, loved by his two daughters, Susan Parrish (Claire Forlani) and Allison Parrish (Marcia Gay Harden). One day in his mansion on the outskirts of the city, when he wakes up, he hears a mysterious voice inside his head that tells him: & # 34; Yes & # 34; . That phenomenon leaves him restless for some time without understanding what it is. As time passes Bill strikes up a conversation with the haunting voice who replies: "Yes, that is the answer to your question". Despite the initial confusion, William discovers that his question tormented him for a long time & # 34; Am I going to die? & # 34;. Bill then discovers that he is at death's door.

Far away, in a coffee shop in the city, is Susan, a beautiful young doctor who happens to be one of Bill's daughters. As she eats breakfast, Susan strikes up a conversation with a handsome stranger (played by Brad Pitt). A special connection between the two young people immediately jumps out. After that magical encounter, both must continue on their way, however neither of them is capable of confessing their sudden crush. For this reason, while they walk away, they both turn repeatedly trying to cross their gazes with each other, but this does not happen since they both do it at the wrong time. Finally, both lose sight of each other, believing that they have not been reciprocated. A moment later, the young man crosses the street abstracted by his thoughts and suffers a tragic accident that ends his life when he is run over by several vehicles.

The next day, Bill hears a voice calling to him from a living room in his mansion. The voice is of death that has personified itself by taking over the body of the handsome young man who captivated Susan that same morning in the fortuitous meeting in the cafeteria. Bill believes that his time has come, however death grants him an "impasse", telling him that it will not take him to the afterlife as long as he guides him in his desire to know what it is like to "be human". #3. 4;. Bill agrees to such a strange request and introduces the strange character in his death.

But things get complicated when death is reunited with Susan. Bill, trying to justify the presence of the mysterious young man, creates a fictitious story around him and they improvise the name 'Joe Black' for him. to baptize the mysterious young man. Susan, at first is excited about the reunion, but it doesn't take her long to realize that Joe's behavior is not the same as that of the mysterious young man in the cafeteria, because for her it is as if they were two different people. However, the attraction between the two arises again, death succumbs to the influence of the young man she possessed and human feelings flow between them until they fall in love.

During the days that follow, Bill and Joe share their daily lives to the point that Joe accompanies Bill in his day-to-day work at the office, thereby introducing him to the history of his company and the important situation in the one he finds himself being persuaded to let her merge with his biggest rival. The person most responsible for this merger is Drew (Jake Weber), Bill's right hand in his company and who later discovers that he is a traitor who manages to deceive the board of directors, achieving the dismissal of Bill and the sale of the company. to his rival.

In later days, Joe visits Susan at the hospital where she works as a doctor and there an encounter occurs with an old woman who recognizes death behind Joe's identity. During the conversation with the old woman, she complains about her pain from the tumor in her belly. At that moment, Joe discovers the value of her compassion and decides to ease the old woman's pain. Later, Joe returns to the hospital to visit the old woman, already convalescing, and after having a conversation she makes Joe understand that she has fallen in love with her, but he explains her intentions to take Susan with him. The old woman tells Joe that this decision is harmful since it means the death of Susan and that it goes against the fundamental principle of love. Finally, Joe reflects and after that he decides to kill the old woman to relieve her of her suffering.

As events unfold, the last day of Bill's life arrives. A few moments before the ceremony of her last birthday begins, Joe feels the need to confess to Bill her infatuation with Susan and her decision to take her with her to the other world to have her with him forever. Enraged, Bill confronts Joe about that decision,

Bill becomes aware of the crossroads he is at. He only has a few hours to live, his daughter has fallen in love with a young man without knowing that it is really about death, who in turn intends to take her to the afterlife. As if that were not enough, Bill's legacy represented in the company that he founded as a young man and grew with hard effort, will end up being sold to his biggest rival, who also intends to destroy it later and all thanks to Drew's betrayal..

Despite adversity, Bill remains true to his essence and they will make Joe reflect on the true meaning of love and all that it encompasses, especially honesty, sacrifice and the fact of never hurting people. loved person. Bill speaks with such intensity about his love for his daughter and what she feels, that his words sink into Joe's mind, making him understand that Susan has not really fallen in love with him but with that young man in the cafeteria and that his love for Susan involves the sacrifice of giving up the desire to take her with her in order to allow her to live a full life. Though he doesn't confess to it at the time, Joe has made up his mind about it.

Later, Joe decides to give Bill an unexpected gift by helping him regain control of his company. To do this, they set up a trap for Drew (Jake Weber), meeting him in Bill's office and making him believe that Joe is actually a tax inspector who has been secretly advising and investigating the merger procedure between the two companies, detecting in the process various irregularities on the part of Drew by being in cahoots with the rival company. Drew ends up confessing the facts without knowing that he is being listened to live by the company's board of directors, who unanimously decide at that moment to fire Drew, reinstate Bill in his management position and break any merger agreement with the rival company.

Satisfied and happy, Bill reconciles with his destiny and decides to dedicate his last hours of life to his daughters Allison and Susan who await him along with the rest of the guests in a spectacular and endearing last birthday party. Bill takes the opportunity to dedicate a few words to everyone present in an emotional speech where he thanks them for helping him have a splendid and wonderful life.

During the party, Joe meets Susan and they both confess their love for each other. Susan is willing to follow Joe, but despite her initial intentions, Joe has finally understood the true meaning of her love and gives up taking her with him, saying goodbye to her. Confused by her feelings, she perceives that after that moment she hides a farewell that goes beyond what she imagines.

Bill later says goodbye to his daughters, letting them know how proud he is of them and how happy they've always made him, after which he shares one last dance with Susan. Meanwhile, in the distance, Joe waits for Bill while he watches him dancing with his daughter. At that moment Joe sheds a few tears for the first time.

Before a spectacular fireworks display, Bill approaches Joe and the two have a last conversation in which Joe admits that he has finally decided not to take Susan with him. A grateful Bill is concerned about Susan's new fate, thinking of her sadness when she discovers that her father has died and neither Joe nor the mysterious young man from the diner will return to her life. However, Joe gives her a reassuring response, "Don't worry, those things can be fixed.

Joe takes the opportunity to thank Bill for being around and for all he has learned. Bill finally feels at peace to start the march. At that moment they both take a last look at the world around them and start the path of no return, leaving the place. For a moment, however, Bill stops and asks Joe "Should I be afraid?", to which Joe responds with a resounding "A man. Not like you." Bill smiles silently and they both resume the path towards the afterlife with a firm step.

As they walk away, Susan sees them in the distance and tries to chase them, realizing that they are gone forever. She fails to catch up with them and the two men disappear behind a small hill, however Susan's face changes completely when she sees that behind her the hill emerges the figure of the mysterious young man, who walks towards her.

Somewhat confused by the situation, the young man does not remember any of the events that have occurred from the moment of his death until his return, he is not even aware of how he got there. Then a bewildered but pleased Susan seems to have finally understood that she is dealing with her true love. Although sad (for the loss of her father and her Joe), a new stage opens before her and the spark between the two young people resurfaces.

Cast

• Brad Pitt like Joe Black.
• Anthony Hopkins like William Parrish.
• Claire Forlani as Susan Parrish.
• Jake Weber like Drew.
• Marcia Gay Harden like Allison Parrish.

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics, with most praising the performances but criticizing the film's three-hour length, slow pace, and script. Roger Ebert gave it three stars out of a possible four, but he expressed his displeasure with the peripheral story lines and the ending, which he considered too long. He concluded that despite its flaws, "there's a lot of good in this movie."