Heaven

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.

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....

A condescending and obnoxious documentary that's sole purpose seems to be depicting the religious as a bunch of crazy people. Irritating use of cross-cutting between old film clips and interviews appear to be done for comedic effect. The camera angles as canted in every scene with either the subject seen askew or with their heads stuck in the bottom corner of the frame. By the end of this film, I had a migraine and had to take a nap. Just awful.

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 ****

There is nothing average about these quirky, heart-wrenching, hysterical interviews with average folks, famous folks, heart-wrenching folks and hysterical folks in quirky settings answering age old questions about Heaven...(How Do You Get There?) (Is There Sex in Heaven?)

Everyone's point of view matters. Everyone's point of view becomes comical, if only for the deeply held sincerity of such a wide variety of beliefs.

My favorite quotes...

"Because I believe, and I believe, and I *Know*..."

"It's like he gave you a pair of shoes, and they were beautiful, but they were not my size. And that's how it is in Heaven."

"There are signs in the sky lotsa times Diane, lotsa times."

"And then Jesus flipped over into my living room."

The interviews are interspersed with unique, and some rare, film bits. I have over the years been able to discover and enjoy many of the films these were taken from, so that's a bonus as well.

I remember seeing Diane on the David Letterman show way back when promoting this film.... giggling that there were lots of kissing scenes. Little did i know when i raced out to buy and support her work that i would fall in love with (almost) everyone in the movie, too. I have cried for these people. I have laughed at and with these people. I've quoted this movie at least a thousand times.

All these years, and 3 VHS copies later, i can only hope that people are still discovering the beauty that is Heaven.