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Amazon.ca Canadian Essential
Don McKellar is the triple threat of Canadian independent film: He wrote The Red Violin, starred in Highway 61), and made his directorial debut in Last Night, a wonderfully calm account of a coming apocalypse. With the end of the world set to arrive in only six hours, a small ensemble of Toronto residents (including one played by David Cronenberg, in a rare acting role) takes care of their final business. Without a fireball or a Bruce Willis in sight, the film gathers a remarkable, reflective sadness as the final hour approaches.
From Amazon.com
Apocalyptic visions can take many forms, from atomic to cosmic disaster, from cautionary tale to sardonic despair, comets, asteroids, plague. But when it comes to the end of the world, one expects fire or ice, bang or whimper. Rarely does this genre focus on the area between those two extremes, as it does brilliantly in Don McKellar's Last Night, a wry tale exploring the effects of the world's imminent demise on a group of characters in Toronto. No panic ensues, no looting, no gnashing of teeth or elaborate schemes to forestall disaster. Well, that may be happening somewhere, but certainly not in Toronto. Here the radio counts down the top 500 hits of all time. The clock ticks by the evening hours while daylight fails to wane. Everywhere, people prepare for the end in ways that range from the mundane to the winsome. The principal action throws together Patrick (McKellar), a dejected young man who plans on spending the end alone listening to music, with Sandra (Sandra Oh), whose plans to spend the end with her husband (David Cronenberg) are thwarted by lack of transportation. Meanwhile, Patrick's friend Craig (Callum Keith Rennie) is fulfilling every sexual fantasy he's ever had. Love the one you're with is the message here. The real star is the tone of the picture, which is distanced and ironic and masterfully maintained throughout. Sarah Polley and Geneviève Bujold appear in supporting roles. It's the directorial debut of actor McKellar (Exotica, eXistenZ), who also scripted The Red Violin. --Jim Gay
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Most helpful customer reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant film, subpar DVD, but finally in widescreen,
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This review is from: Last Night (DVD)
I love this film and if you've found this page, chances are you do too. This DVD finally presents the film in widescreen, but not in anamorphic, as the box incorrectly states. Also, there are no bonus features. Not even a trailer. Sad. This fantastic Canadian film deserves much better treatment. Still, at least you can finally see the film without having the sides chopped off like the previous Canadian DVD and the two American DVDs. Incidentally, be sure you buy this edition -- ASIN# B0002XGJSW, release date Septermber 21, 2004. It is easy to get confused because ithe new DVD has the exact same cover as the old full screen version, a really stupid move by Alliance Atlantis.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Last Night (DVD)
It's a good film, the context is a little odd : everything's going to end at midnight, everyone knows it, and there's no escaping it. How would we meet it?The acting is fine, the script and presentation are all good. There's a low-budget feel to it, still, some technical aspect... maybe McKellar used old recording equipment or something... that seemed inconsistent with the rest of the elements of the film. Whatever the case, it is still a "Canadian" movie worth watching. 1.78:1 aspect ratio, stereo sound.
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my favourite films,
This review is from: Last Night (DVD)
This came out after a string of Hollywood movies such as Independence Day, where the earth is threatened (by aliens, or a giant asteroid, etc.) and an American hero saves everybody. This film was a great contrast, in that it focuses on what people would do if there is no hero to save them. It takes place in Toronto, and follows various intertwined stories of people and how they choose to spend their last 6 hours. They all have known for months exactly when the end will be. How it is being destroyed is never mentioned, and is irrelevent to the plot, which is more about the characters and their decisions. It is a very human film, as you see a variety of responses to the coming end - some get more violent, some seek hedonism, some want to be close to their loved ones. Yes, it is by nature a bit dark but I didn't find it a "downer" of a film, I thought in the end that it's message what touching.
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