Last Night

Rating:
Summary: i liked last night
Review: how many times has the hypothetical question been asked about "what would u do if it was the end of the world?". almost never is the answer, "well i would be a hero and save the world." this movie is not like "armagedden", or other apocalyptic films. instead it shows various popular more practical answers to the hypothetical question. whether it be spending time with family, spend time alone, fufill a fantasy (sexual or non), rioting, committing crimes, its all in here. wonderful performances by don mckellar (who also wrote and produced it), sandro oh, and my personal favourite sarah polley. i must admit i watched this movie because i am a huge fan of polleys, but it turns out i stumbled on a wonderful realistic film. highly recommended

Rating:
Summary: Not with a bang, but with a whimper...
Review: I certainly hope this film finds the cult audience it deserves. End of the world tales have seldom resonated as realistically as LAST NIGHT does, not with mushroom clouds or disaster film heroics, but in ways you would imagine actually occuring. Some choose to turn the film's enigmatic end of life as we know as an ironic last hoorah, with New Year's Eve style parties in town square and hellraising. Others sit alone with their wine, vinyl playing in the background, oddly accepting of their fate. The images of people staring into the abyss will stay with you long after the movie's final fade to light.

Rating:
Summary: How would you spend your Last Night?
Review: I confess the only reason I bought Last Night was the whole premise on how the world would end. During the beginning of the film, I thought that I had wasted my money, but as the movie continue I really began to get into the movie. The lead actors Sandra Oh and Don McKeller (who also directed) were truly great!They were able show real emotions about what was about to happen. The ending of the film was truely the best part.

Rating:
Summary: suprisingly good low-budget movie
Review: I didn't expect much, but was surprised. How would you spend your last hours? Worthy of a rental before you buy.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant film, available in WS in Canada only
Review: I love this film, but I'll avoid going into why, since everyone else has already described how great it is. The new Lions Gate American DVD is just a reissue of the old Universal DVD. They are both Pan & Scan (Boo! Hiss!)

Just recently, a widescreen version has finally become available. It is only available in Canada, and is released by Alliance Atlantis. Be careful, as there is an older Alliance Atlantis disc that is Pan & Scan, like the two American discs. You can get the new disc at amazon.ca, where the ASIN number for the widescreen disc is: B0002XGJSW

Note that it has no bonus features and is not anamorphically enhanced. Also, the image quality is no real improvement over the dull, washed out look of the existing discs. It also costs about twenty-five dollars plus shipping, nearly double the cost of the American disc. Widescreen, however, is certainly worth it for me. I'm ordering mine.

Rating:
Summary: Charming little movie about the end of the world
Review: I saw this movie in Film class, and typically when I'm forced to watch a movie the joy is taken out of it. Last Night was different, it was a complete joy. It's real, witty, charming, and touching as it follows the lives of various complex, real, and interesting characters.

Don't go into it expecting a Deep Impact style, special effect filled movie about asteroids of explosions. It's an analysis of character done with precision and care for every detail. A must see.

Rating:
Summary: About Last Night...
Review: Last Night [my favourite movie] works so well at evoking many emotions (pity, suspense, sadness, gladness, etc.) but I am not surprised because it is written and directed by one of Canada's finest, Don McKellar.

It is set in Toronto on the very last hours before the world ends, and follows different people (all connected in some way) and how they choose to spend it. It is very dark, yet funny at times to watch as these people deal with the last 6 hours of their lives....what would you be doing?

Although this is a Canadian flick, you may recognize some of the people in it'.Don McKellar (co-wrote 'The Red Violin', was in eXistenZ, Waydowntown, and 'Twitch City' a hilarious and innovative television show directed by another Canadian gem, Bruce McDonald)'Sarah Polley (Road to Avonlea, eXistenZ , and Go)'David Cronenberg (yes, the ingenious director!)'Callum Keith Rennie (Memento, eXistenZ, and Hard Core Logo)'

The DVD itself doesn't offer many extras (well at least the one I own), but I am still happy to have it in my collection. So should you.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful and Grim
Review: Most films dealing with apocalyptic themes, especially nowadays, likes to use a ton of flashy special effects and thundering soundtracks to convey the imminent demise of our planet. Fortunately for viewers who want something a little more thought provoking, other films about the end of the world occasionally slip through the cracks. One of these films is "Last Night," a chilling, low budget piece of cinema from Canada. "Last Night" doesn't have huge asteroids slamming into the planet, or killer plagues turning the human population into dust, but it does have heavy atmosphere and compelling performances from several actors and actresses you have probably never heard about. The movie even casts famous horror film director David Cronenberg in a major role. If you tire easily of the big Hollywood action/apocalypse films, turn to something like "Last Night" to get your Armageddon fix. About the only problem I had with "Last Night" concerned the play list on the radio station as it counted down the top 500 songs of all time. Personally, I didn't recognize very many of these tunes; I would have picked a few numbers that are more upbeat myself.

"Last Night" distressingly describes the last six hours of the last night the human race will ever see. Set in Toronto, Canada, the movie closely follows the final hours of several individuals, including a reclusive loner and his family, his best friend, an Asian woman desperately trying to reach her husband before the catastrophe arrives, an energy executive and his secretary, and a former high school French teacher. Perhaps surprisingly, most of these people sedately go about the last moments of their lives as though it isn't a big deal. The reason for this maddening calmness rests with the fact that the entire planet has known for some months that the end is coming, so most of the hysterical behavior you would expect to see has already worked itself out of most people's systems (Not everyone accepts their destiny. The streets are dangerous in places, with gangs going around tipping over buses or shooting and robbing people, but many people are staying at home quietly planning their final activities). What remains is a slightly sad resignation of the inescapable as each individual in the film goes about his or her personal business.

Duncan, the energy executive played by Canadian director David Cronenberg, spends his last few hours calling all of his customers to promise them that the power will remain on until the bitter end. Patrick Wheeler, the main character of the film and the loner who wishes to spend his last moments of life alone, makes an appearance at a family Christmas party where some of his pent up bitterness about a life cut short seep out in vitriolic comments to his parents and sister. His friend resorts to playing sexual games, trying to sleep with as many women of different races and physical attributes as possible. One of the women he conquers is his former French teacher, played effectively by a still sexy Genevieve Bujold. Bujold's appearance marks one of the most absurdly comic moments of the film when she quizzes a confused Patrick on his French speaking skills. The best performance in "Last Night" comes from the remarkable and beautiful Sandra Oh, who plays the Asian woman looking for her husband. She soon comes into Patrick's orbit, and seeks his help so she can carry out a grisly pact she made with her spouse. Oh, perhaps better than anyone else in the film, truly conveys the utter helplessness of the unfolding situation.

There seems to be some difficulty among viewers concerning what exactly will destroy the human race in this movie. I find this a bit odd because the ending gives a clear hint, and if that isn't enough, the fact that the sun still shines at midnight should provide a further clue. But what destroys the earth isn't as important as what the characters do regarding their impending fate, and that fate hangs over every action in the film like a black pall. Occasionally, the time flashes on the screen as the characters move another hour closer to doom, giving the whole film an incredible sense of claustrophobic tension. Arguably, the best line in the film comes from Patrick and his oversexed buddy, when Patrick says "See you later" and his friend replies without missing a beat, "No, you won't." Moments like these continually pull the viewer back into the unbearable agony of the film's central premise: There is no hope here, no magical hiding place in the mountains or under the sea where someone can avoid their fate. The ending is never in doubt in "Last Night."

If I had to compare "Last Night" with another film or book, I would say that Nevil Shute's "On the Beach" closely resembles this film in its psychological exploration of an unavoidable apocalyptic disaster. I noticed I was quiet and reflective for some time after watching this film, always a good indication that a movie or a book touched me in some way. Regrettably, the DVD of "Last Night" is a bare bones edition. All you get on the disc is a theatrical trailer and the film. I think a commentary would have been nice, at the very least, but ultimately the movie succeeds without any further elaborations by the director or writers. Hopefully, this great movie will see a reissue on DVD soon.

Rating:
Summary: The End As It Should Be
Review: No fire and brimstone, no biblical monsters, no masshysteria...not even a crazy old person screaming to all to save theirsouls. This is the story of the last night on earth. For the past few months the people of earth have known that the world would end at this midnight, obviously having something to do with the sun...which even at 11:59:59 shines as brightly as midday. Around the city of Toronto, a family sits down to Christmas dinner, though it is not Christmas. A man working for the gas company (David Cronenberg) calls everyone in Toronto to let them know that their gas will be on for as long as possible. His wife (Sandra Oh) desperately attempts to get home after her car is vandalized by looters. A man elsewhere in the city attempts every sexual fantasy he has ever considered. When another gentleman (McKellar, who also directed) who has every intention sitting home alone listening to music up until the end runs into Sandra, and they wind up spending their last hours together.

There has never to my knowledge ever been a film like this one. No drama, no hysterics, this movie shows the world as it most likely really would end were we to be made aware of it a couple of months in advance. It makes you sit down and think for a moment about who you would like to spend your last hours with. Family, friends, lovers? Who would be important to you during the last six hours, and how would you wish to spend it with them? I couldn't fathom of it, but McKellar, who also wrote this story, does a brilliant job of it. This movie is amazing and beautiful and rarely tragic. It is definitely worth your time and definitely worth the purchase. It's food for thought, and a brilliant accomplishment by McKellar. If you like him, check out some of his other work such as Exotica and eXistenZ. END

Rating:
Summary: An Apocalypse movie that's not what you expect
Review: Picture this: the world ends at midnight. You've known this for the past three months. It is now 6 p.m. and you're in the City of Toronto, on the last night of the world. What do you do? Who do you share your last hours with? This is the only movie I've seen which says that civilization doesn't completely break down into anarchy and chaos as the end approaches, and the whole movie is made all the more eerie because of it. Great performances by all included make this a great Canadian movie. It is directed by and stars Don McKeller, who also co-authored 'The Red Violin'