Heaven

This was a complete waste of time. Diane uses "street people" (people chosen at random) to ask a scant few questions about their personal beliefs on Heaven. She might as well had interviewed people in a mental ward. The few theologists that she interviews are never allowed to show any intelligence. The atheistic/agnostic viewpoints are also shot to hell. Between the Q&A mini interviews we are bombarded by black and white cuts from old 1930's sci-fi and a man's voice screaming "Are you afraid to die?".

I would have preferred to have watched a serious debate between top notch doctors of theology and atheism. Most believers in God and Heaven will see this as poor representation of their beliefs, while the rest might pass the whole movie off as satire. Atheists and agnostic people probably won't waste their time let alone get past the title. If you edit out or fast forward through the b&w clips of nonsense the interviews last about 40 minutes.

Actress Diane Keaton takes her first stab at directing with this unassuming little documentary about the possibility of an afterlife. It's an odd one, with Keaton (off-screen) interviewing a bizarre assortment of people on the subject of death, God and Jesus, and what is ultimately in store for all of us. The use of old movie clips to spike the action is well-intended but never really pays off, and the picture runs too long and outstays its welcome. Has some arty appeal however, and portions of it look good in a retro/campy way, but it isn't very engaging or enlightening. The soundtrack features an interesting mix of music, including a song by the Dream Academy entitled "Heaven" (natch) that is quite beautiful. **1/2 from ****

Director Diane Keaton, has created a Gem in "Heaven".....it's one of those flicks that sneaks up on you......and years later, you remember.........

(16 years later).....for me....as a Producer/Director, producing a documentary which has a major universal appeal/connection.....Ms. Keaton's "Heaven" continues to inspire me..........to Dream BIG....while keeping it Simple......

Hats Off to you, Diane! and thank you kindly....for paving the way....

This is an effective odyssey into the religious beliefs of what appear to be mainly average people off the street, specifically regarding beliefs in "heaven". It also uses stock footage to good ends to illustrate its main themes, drawing from horror films, other old documentaries, Metropolis, etc. Most interviewees are harmless enough, if extremely naieve about fairy-tale types of "heaven", but the actual "ministers" are an arguably controlling, fear-mongering and hateful bunch. One woman claims all ethnic people will become white in heaven, but be allowed to keep their own names. Others have seen Jesus hovering around their homes, modelling different outfits in each room, before disappearing in the bathroom. If you've ever seriously wondered about the benefits of religious belief, what the ultimate "payoff" of those beliefs might be, and what sorts of average people harbor such beliefs, then "Heaven" amply illustrates the topic. Inventive, clever, outrageously funny, and touching and frightening simultaneously. Whether you're religious or not, this film is well worth seeking out.

Diane Keaton is brilliant in her ability to be funny and poignant . I was raised as a Pentacostal and it was a join to see someone not take religion so seriously without being offensive. She does manipulate the subject matter a bit but she is not cruel about it. The people she interviews are honest and quirky. I also

enjoyed seeing the vintage T.V. footage of 50s and 60s Christian faith healers. It was intriguing to see how little things have changed in the world of saving souls from evil. I wish that Ms. Keaton had made other movies in this genre. She

showed herself to be a lot more interesting than Woody Allen in the realm of

satire.