Last Call

Rating:
Summary: GREAT FILM - SAD TRANSFER
Review:
I originally watched this film on Showtime during its premiere broadcast. It was shown in a letterboxed format.

However, someone at Showtime chose to author this DVD in pan&scan.

The film really loses some of its intimacy betweeen the characters, and much of the wonderful production design. What was sharp and clear in widescreen is now slightly blurred, also.

Bad choice for a really wonderful film. Perhaps Showtime will re-air it in the future in its original format and I can record it off-the-air.

Real shame. Dumb decision, Showtime. HBO gives us their original film content intact, why don't you?

Rating:
Summary: such a wonderful film
Review: Another great movie that I stumbled upon. I cannot believe that there was not more written about this one. The beautiful Neve Campbell delivers a remarkable performance and Jeremy Irons along with Cissy Spacek ensure that you will be taken on a highly interesting ride.

Jeremy Irons - arguably the best living actor - truly becomes "Scott" in this harrowing display of creative downward spirals with momentary glimpses of genius.

Instead of glorifying or overly romanticizing the subject, the director paints a picture of the subtle and not-so-subtle relationship dynamics among the characters; particularly the struggles of Fitzgerald and his lovely, devoted and talented assistant.

This is one of those rare finds in the world of movies that falls under the radar but once discovered, becomes a treasure to the viewer.

Very nicely done.

Rating:
Summary: The Last of Fitzgerald
Review: This movie is an interesting docudrama about the last years of F. Scott Fitzgerald as he was writing "The Last Tycoon."

Starring as F. Scott Fitzgerald is award winning actor Jeremy Irons. While I have the greatest respect for Irons as an actor I just didn't feel he pulled off this part. Irons has an evilness that seems to hang around his characters and Fitzgerald never struck me as evil only severely flawed and tempted. So the brooding and self-deprecating Irons never allowed the vulnerability of Fitzgerald to shine through in this role, but he sure plays a mean drunk.

Neve Campbell plays Fitzgerald's faithful and infatuated secretary, Frances. Campbell is pretty good in this role but cowers against the strength of Irons at times. She pulls off the period well conforming enough to the standards of women working during the late 30's. Also appearing off and on as a negative force in the film is Sissy Spacek as Zelda Fitzgerald. I thought the film would have been much more interesting with a little more Spacek and some of Zelda's drama.

I enjoyed this film only because it provided a bit of an inside look into the downfall of the great F. Scott Fitzgerald. It always seems that the greatest minds of artistic people suffer from exactly what makes them brilliant, a very vivid imagination that ends up haunting them into a deep black hole.