Filmology Rating: 1.5 out of 4

When a successful New York advertising executive named Howard (Will Smith) suffers a great tragedy, he retreats from life and hides from the pain and the sorrow. His concerned friends try everything to reconnect with him and get him back to normal but nothing seems to work. As therapy, Howard try seeks answers from the universe by writing letters to Love, Time and Death. Unexpectedly, he receives answers in a personal form.

Collateral Beauty is going to be one of the most spl...it films of the year. I saw this movie a while ago and it’s taken me a while to write this one. Honestly, that was ok with me because I wasn’t in a hurry to write this review because for me, this movie was a dud. This is what I mean though; Collateral Beauty will be a hit or a miss with people. While I personally did not like this film, I could tell that many people in the theaters did like it. Many tears were shed and people had good remarks leaving the theater…. I was not one of those people.

If you are someone that goes to the movies to just have a good time and not really view movies critically, then I think you will be able to enjoy this film. However, for movie nerds like me that like to break down films and think a little more critically, you will most likely think that this was one of the biggest wastes of potential that you have ever seen.

I really don't want to go into long detail of why this movie is bad so I'm just going to bullet point it for you guys.....

- Side characters are more interesting than the main character.
- Side characters who are the “friends” are actually terrible friends.
- Main character Will Smith was ok at best for majority of film.
Good towards the end.
- Speaking of the end and the big reveal…. It makes no sense.
- Directing was terrible, writing was terrible, and story was
extremely flawed.
- Musical score was over the top in how it wanted to direct your
emotions, it didn’t work.
- Oscar Nominated cast for some good ole Oscar bait… yeah that
failed.
- Do I need to say more?

Was there anything really good about Collateral Beauty? Well sometimes there was some nice cinematography going on. That was nice I guess. Sometimes there was a good joke here or there for comedic relief. Other than that, sadly not a whole lot. There were times that I was getting a little more into the film but then it lost me very quickly when another plot hole came up, and another, and another. Then I kept thinking about ways on how I would fix the movie so that it was actually a well rounded and emotional film like it was trying to be.

This movie really made me sad because it had so much promise. That’s all I have to say. I'm sad now. Ok goodbye.

Rating: Let It Burn

-Nick

I walked into Collateral Beauty expecting a modern day Frank Capra film.  For those who are unaware Capra directed classics like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It’s a Wonderful Life, basically wholesome entertainment that makes every audience member have a full heart and a sense of goodwill once done watching.  Nothing about Collateral Beauty will make your soul sing or your heart fly, it might actually make you go deep into a dark depression with no end in sight.

Howard, played by Will Smith, is still grieving the loss of his daughter two years earlier and his company is on the verge of bankruptcy.  Howard’s business partner Whit, played by Edward Norton, is terrified that he might lose the business that he helped build, so he recruits Claire, played by Kate Winslet, and Simon, played by Michael Pena, to help come up with a way they can either help Howard get out of his deep depression or take the company away from him.  The trio quickly realize that it would be rather easy to prove that Howard is insane after finding him writing letters to Love, played by Keira Knightley, Time, played by Jacob Latimore, and Death, played by Helen Mirren .

I have to believe that David Frankel, the director, and Allan Loeb, the writer, had the best intentions while making this film.  But as the proverb goes “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.”  Frankel has directed good films before like The Devil Wears Prada and Loeb has even written some entertaining films like 21, but neither one of them can capture basic emotions like love and loss.  This film feels completely hollow and shallow, the fact that Howard’s “friends” would make him feel that he is insane is horrid.  Next time you and your family gather for the holidays try to remember that at least one of them is crazy and get them to sell their home, see how they handle the situation.  Collateral Beauty is supposed to be the big holiday film of the season and I cannot believe anyone is marketing this as a feel good movie.  Shame on everyone working at New Line Cinema for conning the world into making people believe this is an uplifting film.

After watching the film I cannot comprehend what the term “Collateral Beauty” actually means.  “Make sure you notice the collateral beauty” is a line that is mentioned a few times in the film and I cannot think of any way that it’s related to the plot, especially in the final moments of the film when the film tries to be overly profound and makes its  giant statement in which everyone should go out as apostles and tell the world of the message.  Lets try to break this down; some definitions of collateral according to Merriam-Webster: 1.) serving to support or reinforce; 2.) belonging to the same ancestral rock but not a direct line of descent; 3.) parallel or corresponding in position, order, time or significance.  The only one that would make sense for this is to support; so it would mean support beauty.  So the message of the film is suppose to be to support the beauty in the world which would mean to spread a good kind word to everyone yet once again Howard’s friends only look out for themselves and care very little for the world around them.  While I don’t believe they are ever told the phrase “Collateral Beauty”, I cannot imagine that they would agree with the phrase whatever it might mean.

Collateral Beauty has an all star cast that is completely wasted in this film.  Will Smith to me lately is a sign to stay away from a movie, I disliked Suicide Squad and Focus and thought he was ones of the weakest elements of Concussion, he hasn’t been making the best career moves lately but, for some reason, is still considered a big movie star.  While I find it appalling to laugh at the misery of others, the performance from Smith cannot help but get little chuckles out of the crowd.  This film completely wastes Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, and Keira Knightley and I found my heart breaking while watching the film.  These are all world class actress who are trying their best but when they are given next to nothing to work with you can only expect so much, a lesser actress would have made the performance comedic but once again they are trying to make the mess of a script work.  

I do think that a good cheesy holiday film could be made with this cast but it would need a page one rewrite and Allan Loeb fired from the film.  The sadistic part of my brain wants to recommend this to people just because of how crazy of a film this is but I would feel horrid telling anyone to waste hard earned money on this film.  If you have a love for terrible films then you should check this out when it hits home release but if you are in the mood for a great holiday film that celebrates all that is good in our world skip this because it will make you feel a sense of immense anger as to how cruel some people can be.

Rating: Skip It

-Jonny G