Collateral Beauty

PG-13

                                                                         Starring: Will Smith, Helen Mirren, Edward Norton, 

                                                              Michael Pena,Naomie Harris, Keira Knightly,

                                              Kate Winslett and Jacob Lattimore

                                                      Running Time: 1 Hour and 34 Minutes

I was always intrigued by the previews of this movie and I thought it looked like it would be a good story, so I really wanted to see it. I had no clue how the story would play out, but once it started, I was hooked. Will Smith stars as Howard, he works for a high-powered advertising agency in New York City. He finds himself retreating from his duties after he is overwhelmed by personal tragedy. He had always worked closely alongside his team members which include; Whit (Edward Norton), Claire (Kate Winslet) and Simon (Michael Pena). They really love one another and they were more like family than co-workers.They are all trying desperately to keep up with the game when Howard is getting more and more lost trying to deal with his own issues. As time goes by, he is becoming incapacitated with his grief and completely shuts off from his team and the outside world as well.

Each of the team members are having their own personal issues as well, but they are still trying desperately to hold it together and win more accounts to keep their jobs.

Whit is suffering because he was unfaithful to his wife and his young daughter wants nothing to do with him and it is tearing his heart out. Claire is becoming frustrated because her biological clock is ticking by and she wants desperately to fall in love and have a family of her very own. Simon is working hard to take care of his wife and child when he receives devastating news about his own  health and is trying to cope the best that he can.

Howard  writes three letters, one to Love, one to Time and one to Death, trying to receive answers to his heart wrenching dilemma.

He comes into contact with three individuals, Brigitte/Death  (Helen Mirren)., Amy/Love (Keira Knightley) and Raffi/Time (Jacob Latimore). When he is finally able to connect his letters to these three individuals, he begins to understand how these three actually do connect and work in harmony together. Every one of these characters were dynamic. They all had a great story of their own!

I found this movie to be so intriguing and so interesting that it just consumed my every emotion. There is so much depth and beauty to this story. I have to admit, this was a tough movie to watch and I think it would be difficult for anyone experiencing any kind of tragedy or or the loss of a loved one recently.

Parents be advised: This movie is rated PG-13. I don't believe children under the age of 13 should go to this movie. I think the subject matter is too intense and the grief sequences are difficult to watch. Much better left to older teenagers and adults. There was nothing objectionable outside of the fact that there was one F-bomb dropped.

I am giving "Collateral Beauty" four bags of popcorn.