Hereafter (2010)

To some, Clint Eastwood may still be better known as a gunslinging renegade than the man behind the camera, but this perception could not be more wrong.

With over 35 directing credits under his belt — including Million Dollar Baby, for which Eastwood took home Oscar awards for both Best Film and Best Director. It seems that this titan of cinema has hit his stride as a director. He continues his stride with his newest film, Hereafter.

Although some have labeled the film a "supernatural thriller," Hereafter can be more simply defined as a story about how individuals deal with death in different ways. The flick features three intercut stories that deal with the experiences of death and the possibilities of an afterlife.

The first of these follows the story of French journalist Marie LeLay who, after briefly drowning and experiencing death during a tsunami in Thailand, must sort through her visions of the hereafter. The second thread of the film focuses on American George Lonnegan who has a genuine connection to the afterlife, and his struggles with the responsibilities of his gift. The final strand of the story follows a young British boy named Marcus whose twin brother Jason is tragically killed, and his endless attempts to find some sort of reconnection with him. The three stories become complexly intertwined, and the characters become more and more involved in one another's lives.

The story itself proves to be interesting enough to capture your attention for the film's two-hour run time, but more than that, the characters have a feeling of such authenticity that it becomes impossible not to relate to their experiences and difficulties with death. The flow of the flick has a natural feel and the eventual meeting of the three characters feels completely organic and inevitable. The editing makes for an engaging story that exposes the conflicts that arise when delving into the possibilities of a life hereafter.

The casting is another of the film's strong points. Eastwood favourite Matt Damon plays the role of George, and although Damon lacks the emotional depth necessary to completely fulfill the depth and complexities of his character, his wry and witty cynicism give a darkly humorous touch to his scenes. French actress Cecile de France brings Marie to life with a genuine and touching performance. Watching Marie's struggles in dealing with her experience of death are both intriguing and engaging for the viewer. In a heartbreaking performance, Frankie and George McLaren play the dual roles of twins Jason and Marcus. The boys shine in the film's most emotional scene wherein the two boys are finally given the chance to reconnect.

If Eastwood's directing is something that you may have overlooked in the past, Hereafter is a good place to dive into his legendary body of work. Stunning, heartbreaking and beautiful, Hereafter is worth your time — just don't expect any gun fights in the wild west.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars