Meet Joe Black (DVD, 1999)

I liked this movie from the very beginning perhaps because of its star power and lush photography and fantastic music. Actually, "Meet Joe Black" is weird.

It starts out with Bill Parrish (Anthony Hopkins) having a heart attack close to his 65th birthday. On a second front, his grown daughter Medical Dr. Susan Parrish (Claire Forlani) is meeting a great new guy with no name (Brad Pitt)in a coffee shop. They have a nice chat, part outside, and he is killed by a passing car. She doesn't know it.

The two plots--actually there are three--merge when Bill Parrish continues to have heart attack symptoms and hears weird voices in his head. Finally, the weird voice announces that he is Death and futhermore appears in the body of the mysterious stranger (Brad Pitt). Death takes the name Joe Black and makes a bargain with Bill Parrish: Bill can remain living as long as Death is enjoying himself. That means that Joe Black becomes the constant companion of Bill Parrish, who is really a corporate bigwig.

Now the third plot: Bill's company is entertaining a merger with Bontecou Enterprises. One of the key players in the merger is Drew (Jake Weber), who is corrupt. He uses the constant appearances of Joe Black to make Bill Parrish look weak and incompetent. He even goes to the extreme of having Bill terminated as chairman of the board. But the merger hasn't happened yet.

The second plot continues with Death (I mean Joe Black) falling in love with Dr. Susan. She thinks that Joe is the mysterious stranger, and Death lets her think so. Joe even talks about them going away together. Isn't that weird?

This movie lasts 178 minutes, and it actually takes that long to unravel all of this plot. I will say that it has a sort of happy ending.

Many critics have panned this movie. But if you give it a chance, it does make sense. Think of Joe Black as a vampire that is courting your grown daughter--and you are the only one who knows the truth. Think how horrified you would be; that is Bill Parrish's dilemma.

Trust me in this: this movie is eye candy with great actors doing a super job with lush photography and fantastic music. It is a great ride if you just can enjoy the fantasy and allegory.

I love Meet Joe Black because the movie has Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt as the Leading Stars in this Movie! Anthony Hopkins as; Bill Parrish who has it all. Oh Bill the Lucky Guy..... Wealth, Success, and Power meets Brad Pitt (Angel of Death). The journey these two actors travel throughout this movie is extraordinary and filled with mystery and intrigue.

I decided to buy it because I had the money and I love the movie! I love all the actors in this movie!

First, I loved the cast which includes Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt. Not a
weak actors among them. The story has a beginning, middle and end. Not
a predictable movie but and enjoyable ride. Some of the plot may seem
unbelieveable but with great acting is possible to get swept away. I recommend this movie highly and plan to see it many times over.

The most heartwarming story of the celebration of life and death ever written. An unbelievable performance by two of the most talented actors to ever grace the "big" screen! Anthony Hopkins gives the performance of a lifetime that only he could give. Brad Pitt portrays the sheer innocence of the angel of death come to walk among us on earth! A real tear jerker - so grab the Kleenex!

A Fantastic film with Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins doing some of there finest work. A story of Happiness, Sorrow, Love, and Deciet with a special lesson on how to live a full life. Absolutely entertaining like a good novel you cannot put down.