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Joe Black

CBUB Wins: 0
CBUB Losses: 0
Win Percentage: 0%

Added by: agustinaldo

Read more about Joe Black at: Wikipedia

Official Site: Universal Pictures

Meet Joe Black is a 1998 American romantic drama/fantasy film produced by Universal Studios, directed by Martin Brest and starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins and Claire Forlani, loosely based on the 1934 film Death Takes a Holiday (originally by Paramount Pictures, but now owned by Universal through EMKA, Ltd.).

The movie opens with an introduction to the guide, Bill Parrish (Anthony Hopkins), who doubts that he will live for many more years. Indeed, he is approached in his home and work by what he thinks are hallucinations, wherein Death himself has come with the intention of escorting him to the afterlife. Bill, touched by his dream-like brush with mortality, expresses his desire for his daughter, Susan (Claire Forlani), to live a life with passion. She is considering marriage, but her father is not favorably impressed by her relationship. When she asks for the short version of his impassioned speech, he simply says, "Stay open. Who knows? Lightning could strike!"

Shortly after hearing this advice, Susan meets a vibrant young man (Brad Pitt) of whom she is instantly enamored. Immediately after this encounter (and unbeknownst to her), the man dies in a collision with two cars. Death returns to Bill's home in the form of the young man, explaining that Bill's impassioned speech has piqued his interest after an eternity of boredom. Given Bill's "competence, experience, and wisdom", Death has chosen him and tells Bill that in return for a delay, Bill shall be his guide on Earth. Notably, during his time on Earth, Death's personality alters to become mildly curious, ruminative, and gentle, having been worldly, sardonic, and arrogant until he revealed his appearance.

Death then places himself at Bill's right hand under the name 'Joe Black' and establishes his place in Bill's home and work, instructing Bill to reveal his identity to nobody. This last task is complicated when the Board of Directors of Bill's corporation are urging a union with a larger company at the instigation of Susan's fiancé (and Parrish board member), Drew (Jake Weber). After a tense board meeting wherein Bill advises the board against the merger, Joe ventures into the city to explore it. He visits Susan at the hospital where she works as a doctor and in doing so, observes the human aspect of mortality, which was apparently unknown to him. A dying Jamaican patient recognizes him as a spirit; upon learning that he is Death, she asks to be taken to the afterlife. Joe instead soothes her pain and promises to take her later.

Joe Black has not been a contender in any CBUB matches.