In 7 words or less: Matt Damon sees dead people. A bit.
What's it all About? The story covers 3 disparate characters whose lives are touched by death, leading to some highly unlikely crossing of paths. A french journo who drowns but is recovered, a London twin boy whose brother dies after being hit by a van and the main man himself; Matt Damon, a guy with some serious psychic juju. After a few years being exploited by his brother for cash he has jacked it all in and is trying to live a normal life by working in a factory. Unable to form lasting relationships because of his ability to see too deeply into people's minds, he lives alone eating dinner by himself every evening and falling asleep listening to Charles Dickens audiobooks.
Best bits? The opening scene of the tsunami hitting Thailand is pretty gut wrenching. Marie Lelay, a French journalist is out looking for gifts for her boyfriend's children when she is swept away by the tidal wave. She experiences death first hand and is then resuscitated by rescue workers. This scene was pretty terrifying and an exciting start to the film. When she is in the water being thrown about and held under and bashed on the head by debris you really feel it.
The relationship between Matt and Gwen Stacey from Spiderman 3 was a great way of showing why he's alone after all these years, even though he's so cool and good looking. It's played out quite slowly as they partner up at a cookery class until he finally gets her back to his crying chamber (apartment) and his secret is revealed! She begs him to 'read' her but instantly regrets it and he never sees her again. This was a good insight into the character and there's no unlikely 'they get together in the end bit'.
The little boys acting was fairly bad up against some Hollywood heavyweights, his only credit before this was a bit part in BBC's Casualty, but kudos for giving it a go.
Matt Damon's Dickens fascination was fairly hilarious, it culminates in him going to a book fair and meeting his hero Derek Jacobi (who reads the audio books). It's never made clear if Matt has ever read a Dickens book or just listens to them on CD, but he definitely knows the answers to all the questions on the Dickens tour.
Did it make you think thoughts? Clint Eastwood is still making films at the age of 81?! Wowzers! I'm never really a massive fan of his films, while he has made some absolute corkers I think a lot of them are over-rated because he is Hollywood royalty, but respect is very much due all the same.
Would you watch it again? Probably not.
Rating (out of 100%): I'll give this one a 'medium' 73%
