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When people usually think of death the image of the grim reaper in a black cloak with a sickle comes to mind. But what if you were talking to Death? Would you sweat and cringe at the thougth of what he means by every little comment? According to Meet Joe Black, if he looks like Brad Pitt and turns on a little charm, you might go as far as to date Death. And that can make for good entertainment.
Meet Joe Black stars Anthony Hopkins as Bill Parrish, a business tycoon who begins hearing a voice that tries to tell him answers to his questions concerning life. Bill’s character is a sensible and humorous sort, but afraid of his death. Little does Bill know that the voice is Death who is to take him away in a short time.
Bill’s daughter, Susan (Claire Forlani), meanwhile is on the lookout for romance and stumbles upon a charming man played by Brad Pitt. In a whirlwind conversation in a coffee shop, he and Susan hit it off. However, the man is abruptly, and somewhat violently, struck by a car after their encounter. Death finds the course of Bill’s life intriguing and takes the body of the young man—and enters Bill’s life.
Under the pseudonym of Joe Black given to Death by Bill, Joe tags along with Bill through the daily routines of work, rest and family. Following her father’s advice to seek out romance and be swept off her feet, Susan strays from her businessobsessed boyfriend and explores the mysterious Joe Black whom she was so impressed with earlier. However, Joe is now Death and not the man she met in the coffee shop.
Joe, being somewhat detached to the world of the living,, has awkward but humorous encounters with mortal life. He finds everything fascinating, such as peanut butter, cookies and especially Susan. All of Bill’s family is impressed with young Joe, except for Susan’s boyfriend who shows his greedy business intentions as the story unfolds.
Joe and Susan develop a deep relationship despite the fact that she doesn’t know Joe is Death, or that he will be leaving soon with her father.
With the approach of Bill’s 65th birthday Bill must face troubles at the office, his daughter involved with Death and also Death itself — which are surely problems faced in an atypical day.
The outcome of the visit from Death, however is not what is expected. Death is actually a good thing. By being placed at the right time, the idea of of death at the end of a content life creates a deep appreciation for life for those who experience the movie. With Bill’s successful life and Susan’s future ahead of her, a paradoxically happy/sad feeling is created.
Meet Joe Black holds up to the standards for a movie with not only artistic merit, but also impacts the feelings of the viewers. Meet Joe Black is good movie with a little of everything — comedy, violence, romance and meaning, with an emphasis on life.
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