What is the Collateral Beauty?
At the beginning of the year, I had the opportunity to go watch the movie Collateral Beauty directed by David Frankel and written by Allan Loeb. This is not exactly the type of movie I enjoy watching at the theater but the trailer was rather promising with the cast: Will Smith as the main character, Edward Norton, Kate Winslet, Keira Knightley, etc. Moreover, the philosophical concept of the movie, addressing the themes of love, time and dead, was also attractive. So, it was with no hesitation that I accepted the invite to watch it.
Synopsis
Howard Inlet, brillant advertising New Yorker, is in deep depression since the death of his daughter. His colleagues and friends are increasingly worried about him, especially as the company is not going as well as before. They then decide to develop a very original (almost wacky) stratagem to help him heal from his depression…
Love, time, death
The screenwriter in the Collateral Beauty is inviting us to reflect with Howard and also his friends on these three concepts (love, time, death) that he even personified. It is almost like a philosophical journey from the issues of mourning and depression. “We long for love, we wish we had more time and we fear death”, says Howard Inlet. Yes, indeed, it’s true for most of us. Maybe, in that movie, the screenwriter is trying to help us answer to the question “Why?”. The answer is obvious. So, we then ask ourselves: “What is life?”
If I had to answer this question directly, I would say that life is absurd without hope. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Jn 14:6, tells us Jesus. Nothing less! “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Jn 10:10. These are powerful words that surpass me still; amaze me always and whose meaning never ceases to deepen as I advance in life.
One member suffers
Each one experiences his or her mourning in a certain way, but where are the limits? Is there any limit? We are not alone. We are interdependent and connected beings. The Collateral Beauty movie portrays it very well: Howard is in depression, and all his entourage is affected by that. It reminds me of one Saint Paul verse: “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.” 1 Co 12:26. From our successes and failures depend directly or indirectly lives. As well as from our holiness or sins depend souls. Then let us try to be holy to bring more love and light into our world.
"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." Mt 5: 13-16
Enjoy the movie!
Trailer:
My opinion: It is not as powerful as I expected. I find the actors’ game very fair, the subject and the approach are good and the end is…interesting. However, it feels like something is missing. What is the Collateral Beauty? It is up to you. ;-)
