The Five People You Meet in Heaven (DVD, 2005)

What "Color Purple" did for our disheartened souls in the 80s, Five People does for the unimportant and weak for our hard times in the here and now. Somehow, I missed this about the time I really needed to see it, but now I'm glad I did.

In this made-for-television film produced in conjuction with Hallmark and one of the best-selling N.Y. Times authors/producers Mitch Albom, John Voight takes his career to a totally new level in his role as Eddie, the 83 year old maintenance man at Ruby Pier Amusement Park who has spent his entire adult life (with the exception of Army Veteran in W.W.II)

The film begins with intertwined flashbacks that help us get acquainted with the now old Eddie (John Voight), the child Eddie (Callahan Brebner, and the Young Man Eddie (Steven Grayhm).

As Eddie's wartime experiences are dramatized along with his courtship with Marguerite, we learn how Eddie was crushed in early life by his unfulfilled dreams of his youth and his subsequent disillusionment with a bum leg.
Director Lloyd Kramer uses color to distinguish between the now and then: black and white for the past, blue for the present, and orange for heaven. The film allows us to realize that life is not a series of random events without meaning or purpose, but that everything happens for a reason and that it is important to communicate with those we may have hurt, forgive others, and refrain from superficial thinking and poor judgment.

Five People shows us just how important our lives really are, no matter how small and insignificant our parts may seem to others, are part of the vast web of interconnections that affects everyone and everything. The ripple effect plays out like a rock hitting a pond.

Eddie has an accident at work in which he passed over, He was smashed by a lift ride at the park while trying to save a little girl. He couldn't remember whether he had save her or not, just felt warmth, joy, love, and peace.

Eddie meets and talks with five people who were not easily identified as such, but perhaps the most influential people in his life that changed the outcome of who he was and why. Eddie was quick to anger and slow to reason and he painstakingly strove to grasp the reasons why these people happened to be so important to him in heaven.

As he gets and instant replay of traumatic events from the past, it soon becomes clear what they share with him. This knowledge allows him to complete and illuminate the past. Eddie first meets "The Blue Man" (Jeff Daniels), part of the sideshow at the park. The second was his Army captain (Michael Imperioli). The third was the original owner's wife of Ruby Pier (Ellen Burstyn). The fourth was his wife Marguerite (Dagmara Dominczyk) who died earlier in his marriage. Lastly was little Filipino girl named Tala (Nicaela and Shelbie Weigel).

Each shows him how he impacted their life or they his--and not always for the better. This film is quite moving and tender at many moments and very stirring at others.

John Voight played this role when he was 66 and he's 71 now. He's normally 6'3" and his younger version is actually on 5'10", however, he hunched over quite a bit and had pounds of makeup on playing 83. It was amazing to see him perform in this film, although I think he actually did have a stuntman in many takes to do the really hard stuff. Thanks John. Thanks for making a difference in many people's life. I'm so glad that you have the opportunity to do so many wonferful things.

I've got give 5/5

The Five People You Meet In Heaven is an adepatation of a book with the same title. Like most movie versions of books, it lacked the impact and substance the book has. Not that it was a bad movie, it does attempt to give a "feel good" meaning for life and death, just that I walked away from it feeling it lacked the punch the book had and it felt like a network tv channel's Friday night movie. If you have not read the book, this movie will be a good way to get a taste of the book, and I suggest you read the book after watching the movie. If you have read the book then I suggest you skip the movie version.

It was uplifting, it is feasible, it is interesting, I have not been to Heaven, that I recall, but I liked seeing him get answers to his questions / problems. He was just an ordinary man, he thought he was a failure but found out he was a hero to many people, that would be a good day.

I have known our lives are intertwined for years, that what we do and say has far reaching effects on others. I have learned people are watching me that I do not even know. I learn from watching others and how they handle various situations, some I like, some I would do different - but it gives me a "track to run on," others learn things they like and dislike from watching me.

I have not watched this DVD yet, it came on TV so I watched it there. I bought a copy for a friend, I thought why don't I get a copy of it for me as well - so I did, this one. I have seen this movie twice, both times on TV.

Who ever wrote it, directed it and paid for it - THANK YOU!

I am James Elmer :-)

This is a very thought provoking movie. Teaches us that no matter how insignificant or unimportant we feel, our lives do matter and each and every one of us touch the lives of countless others. You will find yourself teary eyed as certain events unfold. Contains some very memorable scenes, like the little girl with burns on her face and arms.

This is a story about a carnival worker who dies in a tragic accident while trying to save a little girl. One by one, he meets five people in heaven who's lives he touched while on earth.

Whether we realize it or not, we are all connected in the web of life. A very inspirational movie. It may make you shed a tear, but it is very, very good.

I listened to the unabridged audio book of this title, and it blew me away. The movie was at least just as moving. I actually listened to the audio book 4 times before I bought the movie. I am not sure of how the movie would be if I had not heard the reading. Some entire parts were missing, but did not seem to impact the story. It was amazing how old Jon Voight was made up to look. The interviews in the extras section were very enlightening. Mitch Albom is a great writer. The direction and screenplay for the movie is right to the point. I feel this is a must see movie. For all ages. It is not very availbable in video stores, so if you want a movie to take your emotions on a wild ride, this is a movie for you.