Last Night
It's not the end of the world... there's still six hours left.
At the stroke of midnight, the world is going to end. With time running out, a crazy group of big-city dwellers is determined to go out with a bang. Terminally shy guy Patrick Wheeler (Don McKellar) lets a beautiful stranger (Sandra Oh) use his phone and quickly makes a love connection. Craig, his over-sexed best friend, auditions half the girls in town for the ultimate one night stand - and winds up with his former French teacher. And while a droning gas company representative calls every last customer to sincerely thank them for their patronage, everyone else goes wild in the streets. It's the party to end all others when one man's romantic rebirth collides with the last night on earth.
Member Reviews
This film didn't know what it wanted to be - Nikki
On the one hand, it asks you to take its premise and treatment seriously. On the other, its characters react to the end of the world with a generally flat affect. Some are distressed but in a middling, half-hearted way. There is some anarchy but nothing too menacing. Mostly, though, it was boring treatment of a wishy-washy exploration of our existence.A Thoughtful Exploration of Death - Stitch
Agreed, this is an unusual and decidedly intellectual examination of how a diverse selection of characters prepare to die. And be aware that an End of the World theme carries different baggage for those of us in the final quartile of life compared with those in the first two (most of you). This is not meant as a criticism but it may help explain my reaction...I was not cerebrally entertained. But I was much affected by the humane, realistic and kind treatment of a harrowing topic. Many scenes will linger.
This is a film you can laud for its intelligent perception and dialogue. And compared to some other topical attempts such as Children of Men with market-savvy tidbits of possible salvation, the attraction of Last Night is its refusal to divert our attention from the finality. The second is its sympathetic focus on a mix of ordinary people organizing their last rites. Consequently I could readily identify with them and relate to their emotions, personally evidenced by my pervading feeling of sadness at the conclusion.
The production did not enjoy a Hollywood budget and consequently has a rough feel. But this inadvertently well served the theme. Imminent death does marvelously focus the mind on essentials. And here the outstanding cast and superb direction added an almost eerie sense of realism, stripping it to observation of very fundamental human behavior.
Steering the film emotionally was Don McKellar; his transition from dispassionate avoidance to basic humanity was credible and softly inspirational. An ordinary hero. Add to this my first exposure to Sandra Oh. I will watch for her again.
By now you can sense I was impressed by Last Night, and deeply moved. For an older and more romantic version of the same theme, see On the Beach, Stanley Kramer’s adaptation of Nevil Shute’s superb novel.Surprise! Its a good CANADIAN film! - Filmgal
Canadian cinema gets such a bad rap for producing low budget films which are often too weird or terrible to watch. Last Night is an exception to the norm. It's not just a good Canadian film, it is a good film, period.
Last Night is about the last night on earth. While you are never told the exact reason why the world is ending, you join the story in the last 18 hours before the world ends at the stroke of midnight. The characters have already accepted their fates so instead of panic or impending doom, characters in the film have already dealt with these issues. A variety of characters played by talented Canadian actors come in and out of eachother's lives as they await their final moments. part drama, part comedy, love, death, family, relationships and are all woven into the story of the film.
The film is well-written and directed with a bevy of Canadian stars: Sarah Polley, Don McKeller, David Cronenberg, etc. The film can be a bit slow at times- it's about the characters, not an action flick about the end of the world.
Worth a rental for just about anyone 15 and up.
Member Reviews
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This film didn't know what it wanted to be - Nikki
On the one hand, it asks you to take its premise and treatment seriously. On the other, its characters react to the end of the world with a generally flat affect. Some are distressed but in a middling, half-hearted way. There is some anarchy but nothing ...A Thoughtful Exploration of Death - Stitch
Agreed, this is an unusual and decidedly intellectual examination of how a diverse selection of characters prepare to die. And be aware that an End of the World theme carries different baggage for those of us in the final quartile of life compared with those ...Surprise! Its a good CANADIAN film! - Filmgal
Canadian cinema gets such a bad rap for producing low budget films which are often too weird or terrible to watch. Last Night is an exception to the norm. It's not just a good Canadian film, it is a good film, period.
Last Night is about the last ...