• GENRE: Thriller, Mystery, Horror
• ACTORS: Liam Neeson, Christina Ricci, Justin Long, Josh Charles, Chandler Canterbury, Celia Weston, Shuler Hensley, Anna Kuchma, Rosemary Murphy, Malachy McCourt, Laurel Bryce, Luz Alexandra Ramos
• RATING: R
• PARENTAL NOTE: Not intended for children. Nudity. Presentation of Death is contrary to Christian beliefs. Bad language and questionable situations. Some violence, but there is little gore or excessive blood. If a behind the scenes look at a funeral parlor (heavily fictionalized) makes you queasy, I don’t think you’ll enjoy the subject matter here.
• INTENDED AUDIENCE: This movie is intended for fans of the genre, and may not be appreciated by others.
• GENERAL PLOT: (No spoilers) A young woman has a fight with her boyfriend, and storms off in her car. She’s killed in a car wreck. Wait. Oh, yes–she’s killed in a car wreck. (?)





• REVIEW: I have no idea why the title of this film has a “dot” in the middle of the name, “After.Life”. This story presents a view of what happens to a young woman after she dies, but before her her funeral. If this concept doesn’t sound like something that would interest you, rest easy. That may not be what the movie is about at all. This is one of those movies that keeps you guessing as to exactly what is happening. The whole presentation is extremely creepy. Which is good for a horror movie. The lead roles in this film are played by Liam Neeson (Schindler’s List, 1993) as the funeral director, and Christina Ricci (Black Snake Moan, 2006[1. Black Snake Moan also stars the top grossing actor of all time, Samuel L. Jackson]; and Addams Family Values, 1993), as the possibly recently departed. I don’t know what corpses really wear while awaiting their funerals, but in the case of Christina Ricci’s character, it is not much. As the story plays out, you are never sure whether she needs to call 911, or just relax and accept her fate. In the end — and despite lots of leads and possibly false leads — there is a strong argument that the central question in the film is never answered.
• RECOMMENDATION:[2. If you wonder why zombie themes and horror films have space on a Christian website like K_Line Christian Online, please see my blog post on point] This is a horror[2. Although I label this movie as “horror”, some would call it a thriller or mystery.] movie. Many people will be highly offended by every movie in this genre. Additionally many people will be offended by the presentation of death in a manner contrary to Christian beliefs. Or maybe not. In any event, this is an interesting story, which is played out well. If you enjoy thoughtful horror, you should appreciate After.Life.
• RATING (out of 5 stars): ★★★★★

FOOTNOTES:

Now THAT’S entertainment! The Andrews Sisters introduced Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy in the 1941 Abbott and Costello film, Buck Privates. The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song.


ARTIST: The Andrews Sisters
TITLE: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

He was a famous trumpet man from old Chicago way
He had a boogie style that no one else could play
He was the top man at his craft
But then his number came up and he was gone with the draft
He’s in the army now, a-blowin’ reveille
He’s the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

They made him blow a bugle for his Uncle Sam
It really brought him down, because he couldn’t jam
The Captain seemed to understand
Because the next day the Cap’ went out and drafted a band
And now the company jumps when he plays reveille
He’s the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

A-toot a-toot, a-toot diddle-ee-ada-toot
He blows it eight to the bar – in boogie rhythm
He can’t blow a note unless the bass and guitar
Is playin’ with ‘im
He makes the company jump when he plays reveille
He’s the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

He was the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B
And when he plays boogie-woogie bugle
He’s as busy as a bzz bee
And when he plays he makes the company jump eight to the bar
He’s the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

Toot toot toot, toot diddle-ee-ada-toot-diddle-ee-ada, toot toot
He blows it eight to the bar
He can’t blow a note
If the bass and guitar isn’t with ‘im
A-and the company jumps when he plays reveille
He’s the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

He puts the boys to sleep with boogie every night
And wakes them up the same way in the early bright
They clap their hands and stamp their feet
Because they know how he plays
When someone gives him a beat
He really breaks it up when he plays reveille
He’s the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

Da-da, da-do-da-da
Da-da, da-do-da-da
Da-da, da-do-da-da
Da-da, da-do-da
A-and the company jumps when he plays reveille
He’s the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B

55 Wins (40 knockouts, 15 decisions), 8 Losses (5 KO, 3 Decisions), 1 Draw

In 1956, the undersized heavyweight became at age 21 the youngest man to win the title with a fifth-round knockout of Archie Moore.

But three years later, Patterson was knocked down seven times in the third round in losing the title to Ingemar Johansson at the Polo Grounds in New York.

Patterson returned with a vengeance at the same site in 1960, knocking out Johansson with a tremendous left hook to retake the title.

“They said I was the fighter who got knocked down the most, but I also got up the most,” Patterson said later.

(SOURCE: CBS News)

Professional boxing record

55 Wins (40 knockouts, 15 decisions), 8 Losses (5 KO, 3 Decisions), 1 Draw[12]
Res.	Opponent	Type	Rd., Time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	Muhammad Ali	TKO	7 (15)	1972-09-20	New York, NY, USA	Fight was for NABF Heavyweight title
Win	Pedro Agosto	TKO	6 (10) 3:00	1972-07-14	Queens, NY, USA
Win	Oscar Bonavena	Decision (unanimous)	10 (10)	1972-02-11	New York, NY, USA
Win	Charlie Harris	KO	6 (10) 2:41	1971-11-23	Portland, OR, USA
Win	Vic Brown	Decision (unanimous)	10 (10)	1971-08-21	Buffalo, NY, USA
Win	Charley Polite	Decision	10 (10)	1971-07-17	Erie, PA, USA
Win	Terry Daniels	Decision (unanimous)	10 (10)	1971-05-26	Cleveland, OH, USA
Win	Roger Russell	TKO	9 (10) 1:29	1971-03-29	Philadelphia, PA, USA
Win	Levi Forte	KO	2 (10)	1971-01-16	Miami, FL, USA
Win	Charley Green	KO	10 (10) 1:15	1970-09-15	New York, NY, USA
Loss	Jimmy Ellis	Decision	12 (12)	1968-09-14	Stockholm, Sweden	Fight was for WBA World Heavyweight title
Loss	Jerry Quarry	Decision (majority)	12 (12)	1967-10-28	Los Angeles, CA, USA
Draw	Jerry Quarry	Decision (majority)	10 (10)	1967-06-09	Los Angeles, CA, USA
Win	Bill McMurray	KO	1 (10) 2:37	1967-03-30	Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Win	Willie Johnson	KO	3 (10) 2:05	1967-02-13	Miami, FL, USA
Win	Henry Cooper	KO	4 (10) 2:10	1966-09-20	London, United Kingdom
Loss	Muhammad Ali	TKO	12 (15) 2:18	1965-11-22	Las Vegas, NV, USA	Fight was for World Heavyweight title
Win	Tod Herring	TKO	3 (10) 0:40	1965-05-14	Stockholm, Sweden
Win	George Chuvalo	Decision (unanimous)	12 (12)	1965-02-01	New York, NY, USA
Win	Charley Powell	KO	6 (10) 1:21	1964-12-12	San Juan, Puerto Rico
Win	Eddie Machen	Decision	12 (12)	1964-07-05	Solna, Sweden
Win	Santo Amonti	TKO	8 (10)	1964-01-06	Stockholm, Sweden
Loss	Sonny Liston	KO	1 (15) 2:09	1963-07-22	Las Vegas, NV, USA	Fight was for World Heavyweight title
Loss	Sonny Liston	KO	1 (15) 2:05	1962-09-25	Chicago, IL, USA	Lost World Heavyweight title
Win	Tom McNeeley	KO	4 (15) 2:51	1961-12-04	Toronto, Canada	Retained World Heavyweight title
Win	Ingemar Johansson	KO	6 (15) 2:45	1961-03-13	Miami, FL, USA	Retained World Heavyweight title
Win	Ingemar Johansson	KO	5 (15) 1:51	1960-06-20	New York, NY, USA	Won World Heavyweight title
Loss	Ingemar Johansson	TKO	3 (15) 2:03	1959-06-26	Bronx, NY, USA	Lost World Heavyweight title
Win	Brian London	KO	11 (15) 0:51	1959-05-01	Indianapolis, IN, USA	Retained World Heavyweight title
Win	Roy Harris	Corner Retirement	12 (15)	1958-08-18	Los Angeles, CA, USA	Retained World Heavyweight title
Win	Pete Rademacher	KO	6 (15) 2:57	1957-08-22	Seattle, WA, USA	Retained World Heavyweight title
Win	Tommy Jackson	TKO	10 (15) 1:52	1957-07-29	New York, NY, USA	Retained World Heavyweight title
Win	Archie Moore	KO	5 (15) 2:27	1956-11-30	Chicago, IL, USA	Won vacant World Heavyweight title
Win	Tommy Jackson	Decision (split)	12 (12)	1956-06-08	New York, NY, USA
Win	Alvin Williams	KO	3 (10) 1:58	1956-04-10	Kansas City, MO, USA
Win	Jimmy Walls	TKO	2 (10) 2:29	1956-03-12	New Britain, CT, USA
Win	Jimmy Slade	TKO	7 (10) 2:05	1955-12-08	Los Angeles, CA, USA
Win	Calvin Brad	KO	1 (10) 2:58	1955-10-13	Los Angeles, CA, USA
Win	Dave Witlock	KO	3 (10) 0:52	1955-09-29	San Francisco, CA, USA
Win	Alvin Williams	TKO	8 (10)	1955-09-08	New Brunswick, Canada
Win	Archie McBride	KO	7 (10)	1955-07-06	New York, NY, USA
Win	Yvon Durelle	Corner Retirement	5 (10)	1955-06-23	New Brunswick, Canada
Win	Esau Ferdinand	KO	10 (10) 2:49	1955-03-17	Oakland, CA, USA
Win	Don Grant	TKO	5 (10) 1:13	1955-01-17	Brooklyn, NY, USA
Win	Willie Troy	TKO	5 (8)	1955-01-07	New York, NY, USA
Win	Jimmy Slade	Decision (unanimous)	8 (8)	1954-11-19	New York, NY, USA
Win	Joe Gannon	Decision (unanimous)	8 (8)	1954-10-12	New York, NY, USA
Win	Esau Ferdinand	Decision (unanimous)	8 (8)	1954-10-11	New York, NY, USA
Win	Tommy Harrison	TKO	1 (8) 1:29	1954-08-02	Brooklyn, NY, USA
Win	Jacques Royer Crecy	TKO	7 (8)	1954-07-12	New York, NY, USA
Loss	Joey Maxim	Decision (unanimous)	8 (8)	1954-06-07	Brooklyn, NY, USA
Win	Jesse Turner	Decision (unanimous)	8 (8)	1954-05-10	Brooklyn, NY, USA
Win	Alvin Williams	Decision (unanimous)	8 (8)	1954-04-19	Brooklyn, NY, USA
Win	Sammy Brown	TKO	2 (12) 1:40	1954-03-30	Washington DC, USA
Win	Yvon Durelle	Decision (unanimous)	8 (8)	1954-02-15	Brooklyn, NY, USA
Win	Dick Wagner	TKO	5 (8)	1953-11-14	Louisville, KY, USA
Win	Wes Bascom	Decision (unanimous)	8 (8)	1953-10-19	Brooklyn, NY, USA
Win	Gordon Wallace	TKO	3 (8) 0:52	1953-06-01	Brooklyn, NY, USA
Win	Dick Wagner	Decision (split)	8 (8)	1961-04-19	Brooklyn, NY, USA
Win	Chester Mieszala	TKO	5 (6) 1:25	1953-01-28	Chicago, IL, USA
Win	Lalu Sabotin	TKO	5 (8) 1:30	1952-12-29	Brooklyn, NY, USA
Win	Lester Johnson	TKO	3 (6) 1:26	1952-10-31	New York, NY, USA
Win	Sammy Walker	TKO	2 (6) 0:47	1952-10-06	Brooklyn, NY, USA
Win	Eddie Godbold	KO	4 (6) 1:39	1952-09-12	New York, NY, USA

References