Meet Joe Black (1998)

I always enjoy watching this update of Death Takes A Holiday because Anthony Hopkins ably plays a successful if world-weary CEO who puts his family ahead of his corporation. When the spirit of Death comes to claim the soul of William Parrish, Bill responds with a proposition: If Death will give him a few more days to spend with his loved ones and arrange his affairs, he will personally introduce Death to "the ropes" -- the joys and pleasures -- of human life. Death accepts and takes a convenient body (Brad Pitt) and name (Joe Black). Death is supernaturally savvy about timeless things but being corporeal and carnal is new and heady stuff. Soon he's enjoying sumptuous meals and eyeing Hopkins' daughter (Claire Forlani). Hopkins must keep Joe's secret but he keeps no secrets from Joe, whom he introduces to his business partners as his trusted "associate," so naturally they wonder what the hell is going on with his estate planning. Meanwhile, Hopkins warns his daughter away from Joe ("He's no good for you"), but she persists in pursuing his hunkiness. FYI the romance is not conventional because neither is Joe Black. The previously stoic Death begins enjoying himself, believing he can act with impunity; Hopkins realizes he must tread very carefully to preserve his legacy. In the end, this otherworldly meeting of one mortal man with (not just his own but capital-M) mortality and Joe's creepy disingenuousness make Meet Joe Black work well for me. In addition, the script is quite literate and the cinematography is sumptuous as is the soundtrack. It is one of the great movies and will remain a timeless classic. I hope you like it just as much too (though if you can't reflect on your inner emotional landscape for 3 hours then please watch something else). I had to own this one. 5 stars.