Meet Joe Black (1998)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Martin Brest

Writers (WGA):

Ron Osborn (screenplay) &
Jeff Reno (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

13 November 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

He's Expecting You.

Plot:

A media mogul acts as a guide to Death, who takes the form of a young man to learn about life on Earth and in the process, fall in love with his guide's daughter.

Plot Keywords:

Death | Love | Media Mogul | Birthday | Wealthy

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Brad Pitt	...	Joe Black / Young Man in Coffee Shop
Anthony Hopkins	...	William Parrish
Claire Forlani	...	Susan Parrish
Jake Weber	...	Drew
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Allison
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Quince
David S. Howard	...	Eddie Sloane
Lois Kelly-Miller	...	Jamaican Woman
Jahnni St. John	...	Jamaican Woman's Daughter
Richard Clarke	...	Butler
Marylouise Burke	...	Lillian
Diane Kagan	...	Jennifer
June Squibb	...	Helen
Gene Canfield	...	Construction Foreman
Suzanne Hevner	...	Florist

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for an accident scene, some sexuality and brief strong language.

Runtime:

178 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Iceland:L | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Hong Kong:IIA | Hungary:14 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:7 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Aldrich Mansion - 836 Warwick Neck Avenue, Warwick, Rhode Island, USA

Company:

City Light Films

Trivia:

The trailer borrows music from the score of Apollo 13 (1995).

Goofs:

Continuity: In the coffee shop, Claire pours cream into her coffee three times, and puts sugar in twice.

Quotes:

Joe Black: I can't believe you people. I come for you, and you want to stay, I let you stay and you want to go.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Will & Grace: Sons and Lovers (#3.22)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World

In short, an excellent and not too long film

Whenever this film is aired, I'm drawn to watch it. The pace, like life, is slow. Some people find this to be a problem. I feel sorry for those people; maybe they've been so saturated by "fast food" films and reality TV that they think that's the way life is supposed to be. Unlike life, the film has no "wasted space". So, while it may seem too long for theatre viewing, it's plenty short for sitting back in an easy chair for three hours and just letting it draw you in--with the excellent dialogue (including the Patois), excellent performances by truly talented actors, and above all the [again] excellent score by Mr. Newman. If you're a romantic not just about love, but also about life, then treat yourself and watch it.