The problem is that a movie with this provocative title at least ought to have a point of view, but Eastwood has confessed in a television interview that he has no idea about what happens after we die. All we get here is the standard fare that because so many people have had remarkably similar near death experiences that there must be some meat on this bone. Eastwood posits the questions, but provides no additional answers or any new insight with the script written by Peter Morgan. 

This film is almost completely about the here and now of those left behind rather than offering anything new about the hereafter. As a result, this film lives or dies on the strength of its lead actors to breath life into their characters. On that score, it is more successful with solid performances throughout including a thoroughly captivating performance by the lovely Cecile De France ("Avenue Montaigne," "L'auberge espagnole," and the 2004 version of "Around the World in 80 Days" starring Jackie Chan). 

Similar to the Oscar-winning film "Crash," but more with a bump or a nudge than a crash, the three lead actors in this ensemble cast are slowly maneuvered by the tragedy of their life experiences to meet at a London convention. While Matt Damon is the putative star of this film (for American audiences, at least), De France carries the heart and the soul of the movie with her intensely sweet portrayal of a woman who has had her life changed forever by her near death experience. Rounding out the trio after Damon and De France are Frankie and George McLaren, two young British twins who also play twins in the movie with the one losing the other in a traffic accident.

The movie starts off on a happy note with French television investigative reporter Marie DeLay (Cecile De France) vacationing at an idyllic Indonesian resort with Didier (Thierry Neuvic), her television producer and also her lover. The timing of their vacation couldn't be worse, however, as it is December 26, 2004, and they are at the wrong place at the wrong time. The Indonesian Tsunami crashes over the island, obliterating everything in its path. While shopping for gifts at the numerous vendors lining the street, Marie is swept away by the onrushing tidal wave. She tries to save a young girl, but she loses her in the ferocity of the rushing torrent. Fortunately, Marie is later rescued, but not before she experiences a profoundly moving near death experience. 

Returning to a Paris television station after her leave of absence, Marie finds herself strangely disconnected from her work. Receiving another leave of absence ostensibly to write an exposé about the former French Premier Francois Mitterand, she instead uses the advance to interview experts about near death experiences and then she writes a book about her own memories while near death.

Halfway around the world in San Francisco, George Lonegan (Matt Damon) is a tortured soul who has a genuine gift to contact the "dearly departed" after touching the hands of their loved ones. This was his former very successful "career," but he hated the pressure and the emotional drama, so he left it to find anonymity as a dock worker. Now pinching pennies, he has to put up with his brother, Billy (Jay Mohr), who is always pushing him to get back into the "business," with him serving as George's manager so that he can also ride the gravy train. 

George finds that his reputation follows him, and Billy is no help as he is always bringing bereft souls to him for guidance. No one else can understand his desire to live a normal life and even have someone to love. He has the pleasure of experiencing a budding relationship with Melanie (Bryce Dallas Howard) at a cooking class, but then she starts to pressure him for a reading. 

The third story opens at a London flat with Marcus and Jason (Frankie and George McLaren), who are two close brothers and sons of Jackie (Lyndsey Marshal). She is a druggie and alcoholic who uses her sons to shield her from suspicious guidance counselors who make unannounced house calls to see if she is actually in rehab. 

Returning from a local druggist with a prescription for his mother that might have some street value, Jason is set upon by young toughs. Fleeing from them by running across the street, he is hit by a car and killed instantly. This tragedy is experienced nearly first hand by Marcus, as the two are in constant conversation over their cell phones. Marcus is horrified by all of the noise and then the sudden silence from his beloved brother. 129 minutes and rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, including disturbing scenes of disaster, accident images, and brief strong language.