Heaven

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.

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 ****

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.

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.

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....