Aftermath

Not exactly the best film and the filmography surplus, but this film still manages to pull viewer into a story that is, simply put, sad. The sequence of events takes characters through many years of deep regrets and pain, showing us that one event can leave an indelible mark on us. Despair and pain can lead even most average person, who lives completely average and peaceful life, to become furious madman in the hunt for something that will never be.

This is far from Oscar material, but it is a certainly watchable movie, which, in some moments, makes you think "what would I do?".

Arnold S. showed his "emotional" side, which to be honest is very warm, paternal and sensual but at the same time ... Well, look at the film. It is not a waste of time, but do not expect too much

When I watched this it reminded me of the Joker. A dark character study based on a true story of how people deal with grief. The ending is perfect too. Arnie is really showing his range here which is something his action hero contemporaries have not tried to stretch. Not sure how much of this is based on truth and how much is fiction but it's totally believable. Truly tragic all around.

The tragic story of the film makes you think that it has the wrong actors in it, but Arnie himself proves you wrong. His stoic demeanour really makes you feel for his character.

The double story and how it comes together is a bit messy at times but overall it is compelling until the end.

Decent, not amazing, but worth a watch

Aftermath was not what I expected at all. It's strongest moments were early as the story of the crash unfolded. It was terrifyingly mundane, just another work day for Jake in which a very understandably human mistake was made. Only, this mistake resulted in the collision of two passenger planes and unspeakable tragic loss of life. Arnold Schwarzenegger does a fantastic job portraying the strong, older man who loses his family and lacks the emotional equipment to process it. Scoot McNairy is perfectly cast and conveys the guilt and depression of Jake with heart wrenching power.

Unfortunately this story becomes less and less interesting as it progresses. perhaps that's a credit to the filmmakers for not adding dramatic power by adapting it too much. But, ultimately at the end I felt a sort of, "That's it...?" If you're a Schwarzenegger or McNairy fan, you might enjoy it. Otherwise, Aftermath fails to deliver.

My take away from this film wasn't so much the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger, (whom I simply admire as one of Hollywood's best) but how does one deal with and guilt and grief. From the viewpoint of the Air traffic controller, I totally understood his guilt, blaming himself for the mid-air collision and carrying such a heavy load of lost life on his conscious. I don't know about anyone else but whenever I turn on the news and hear of hit and run drivers, who may have taken a life and didn't stop at the scene of the incident to see who they hit I always ask God to give them a burden of guilt and shame that they turn their-selves in. This ATC bore his guilt but tried to restart his life, although I didn't think it was his entirely his fault, but the burden of guilt took its tool on him and his family. The grief of a lost loved one can also be heavy on ones heart, that you can never know how a person will handle such pain. Did I condone what Arnold did to the ATC? Hell no, but I understood his pain, because all he wanted was an a apology from the airline. Overall a thought provoking conversation film, you know the kind you have after you leave the theater. Not a film for everyone, but a definitely a conversation piece.