A24 has had a very interesting year, from Eddington to Opus to If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. And what do all of these films have in common? They’re pretty repulsive. (And I mean that with love). Now, with Eternity, the infamous studio has released a gorgeous and hilarious treat- something that everyone can enjoy. While A24 tends to lean towards the weird and the wild, this is a sweet and classically framed film, one that beckons back to films that came before, such as A Matter of Life and Death (1946), and After Life (1998).
I had very high expectations for this film, between the cast and the concept, it seemed like a sure winner. And what a winner it is! Everything in this movie works well, from the exquisite set design to the emotional beats- it’s hard to believe this came from the same studio responsible for Hereditary and The Witch. At the same time, A24 has always been known to let filmmakers take their vision and run with it, and that’s what David Freyne has done with his joyous new take on the afterlife.
A tale as old as time
As humans with a penchant for drama, we love love triangles. We also love speculating about what happens after we die. Luckily for us, David Freyne and Patrick Cunnane have crafted a story that tackles both triangles and the afterlife.
In Eternity, Joan, our hero, is faced with an impossible decision. Upon arriving in the afterlife, she must decide whether to spend the rest of eternity with her first or her second husband. Yikes!
Playing the first hubby, Luke, is the dreamy Calum Turner, with Miles Teller playing the second, Larry. While Teller is obviously a handsome chap, Turner just has something about him- which becomes the topic of many a joke in the film.
There are many ideas and questions put to the test by this dynamite idea, and Freyne and Cunnane have a lot of fun exploring them. Movies are meant to help us make sense of our crazy lives, or at least, give us something to think about, while also entertaining us. This film is pure classic entertainment, with heaps of philosophical and metaphysical substance sprinkled in along the way.
Funny, funny stuff
Ok, so I can’t go on without mentioning the amazing characters Ryan (John Early) and Anna (Da’Vine Joy Randolph). These are the “Afterlife Coordinators” and they are clearly having so much fun playing these ridiculous roles. They’re two of the sassiest and most competitive characters ever committed to screen, and the interactions between them Joan, Luke, and Larry will just tickle you.
Whenever these two, or one of the two, are on the screen, there’s a laugh a minute, or maybe even a laugh every twenty seconds. But the energy that everyone brings to their roles is intoxicating and hysterical, and all of the characters are lovable, despite their unfortunate context.
While Luke and Larry compete for Joan’s love, Anna and Ryan are right there with them, just like the audience. They cheer the guys on, while interfering with the triangle, just as much as they sit back and watch the dramatic-hilarity unfold.
Freyne and Cunnane also have a lot of fun poking at the idea of the afterlife, creating a utopia-style limbo for lost souls to dwell in while deciding where to spend eternity.
What a wonderful world
Overall, the film is a testament to life. Just like all the greats! It’s A Wonderful Life, A Matter of Life and Death, After Life, and now Eternity.
These high-concept-fantasy-comedy-dramas are all here to reassure us that, (in case you forgot), life is indeed worth living. And you better live and love as much as you can before it’s too late. That being said, these films all also give us a glimpse into what may happen after we die- probably the scariest part of life.
Eternity gives a total screwball makeover to the afterlife, with big personalities and theatrics of the highest order. Larry, Luke, and Joan, all have a very hard time trying to figure things out, which goes to show that even after death, our lives are still just as complicated. Human emotion, relationships, love, and loss. We all deal with it, every day. And sometimes its damn near unbearable. This movie helps with that.
Life goes on
Honestly, I expected the story to get somewhat heavy, or near dark, at some point. Considering the themes of death, loss, ultimatums, and competitive romance, you’d think it might take a turn. While there are certainly many emotional scenes that work, so well (you will be misty-eyed), the film maintains a light and airy tone throughout.
Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the amazing set design and attention to detail going on here. The pristine and technicolor world that Ryan and Anna inhabit is decadent and old-fashioned, and so very aesthetically pleasing. From costumes to props and sets, there is something extremely pleasurable about these visuals.
With pretty people, pretty sets, pretty cinematography, and pretty music, you could say this is a pretty good movie. But I’d go so far to say its one of the best of the year, and heck, even one of the best of all time for all I care. Time has no meaning.
So, if you like movies, I’d be shocked if you don’t like this one. It covers a lot of ground in its almost two hour run time, and it is so much fun spending time with all of its characters. If you’ve got a beating heart, you’ll probably laugh and cry a bunch, which is really all you can ask of a good movie-going experience.
Eternity is now playing in theaters. Do yourself a favor, and check it out.
