MovieChat Forums > Collateral Beauty (2016) Discussion > My take on plot SPOILER

My take on plot SPOILER

posted 8 years ago by Cuse52
6 replies | jump to latest

I've been reading a lot of your reviews. Unless my husband and I got it all wrong, Love, Death, and Time were not real people. Like in the hospital scene when Death was sitting next to the ex-wife and told her about Collateral Beauty, comforting her about losing her daughter.

Love appeared to Whit and led him to the 'theater' where he 'met' the others. They only appeared to the 3 friends and to Howard. His wife couldn't see them when she looked back on the bridge even though she had seen Death at the hospital, when she needed support. They were there to say good-bye to Howard. The photographer couldn't see them so there was nothing to remove from the pictures.

Love, Death, and Time not only helped Howard recover from his grief, but helped the friends as well. Whit (Love - to mend his relationship with his daughter), Claire (Time - whether or not to have a baby) and Simon (Death - to tell his wife so they grieve together). I'd like to see it again to pick up on all the hints.

Let me know what you think.

[–] omoxus 8 years ago

You actually paid attention. I don't get it why people thought it was a fake out. They actually were appearations that used Howard to help everyone they're all "connected". At one point I thought Howard was going to tell them he hired the actors for them.

I am the Alpha and the Omoxus The Omoxus and the Omega

[–] earthmanny 8 years ago

you're correct.

[–] Vins_gurl18 8 years ago

This was exactly the epiphany I had when leaving the theater myself. They not only helped Howard, but also helped everyone else (the 3 other co-workers) they came in contact with.

They helped each person in a unique way.

Death was always with the guy who was dying, and was with the mother when she lost her child in the hospital.

[–] Black-Kettle 8 years ago

I liked the movie, but I did find one thing amusing. Harold is talking about how platitudes mean jack when you lose a loved one, but this whole movie seems to be a giant platitude. But I do realize that sometimes, that is all that is needed.
In general, I feel that the majority of the people did misunderstand this movie. They were putting their outside logic into this movie. It is easy to judge using logic when you are on the outside looking in, but emotions are not logical.

[–] gcarras 8 years ago

Interesting point, and I've seen the movie four times.

PROFILE PIC:Courtney Thorne-Smith.

[–] Orki72 8 years ago

I didn't get the part of Sally Price. Was the private investigator involved in this "heavenly scheme"? And if so, how could she be the involved in the divorce of Whit? And did the three haven't seen the footage of Howard which was shown at the meeting? I think these were major plot hole. I think it would have been a great movie because I didn't expect the Madeleine/Howard thing. The whole concept with the Whit/Love/Daughter, Claire/Time/Kid and Simon/Death/Family triangles was well organized and written, but the plot falls down like a Domino effect because of these few mistakes.