This film, like Van Sant's "Gerry" and "Elephant", polarizes it's audience. The "Death Trilogy" films, as they're called, uses long takes and empty frames to portray loneliness and doom. These films are generally hated because Van Sant takes script no longer than about 15-20 pages and turns it into a full length feature. So while you're in the film you understand and experience the emotions of depression so much more than that of a film in which the character has to constantly state how sad he is.
The film is about a musician named Blake (Michael Pitt) who lives sheltered in the woods within a stone prison of a house. Based off the story of Kurt Cobain, Blake is at the end of his ropes. No true friends, too many drugs and more attention than anyone needs. He is a virtually silent character who just passively takes in all around him, seemingly emotionless. Yet we know through Pitt's subtle acting how every time he is forced to face the life he's living or is hounded for money from his "friends", it hurts him and us as well. Through the course of the day we meet the people that hang around Blake's house, a Phone Book salesman, twin Lutherans, a detective in search of him and Blake's mother. Each giving us a little more of his character, in fact, I believe that more can be learned from Blake's character from watching the people around him. He is so emotionally numb, that when we hear Asia Argento's character react to Blake waking her and her boyfriend up, pointing a gun in her face, wearing a dress and a winter hat. She simply states, "Oh, it's Blake." We understand that 1.)He has been in trouble for some time now. and 2.)None of his "friends" seem to care as long as they get a bed in his secluded mansion.
I found this film very entertaining, but can understand the hate for this film. It's very slow paced and really, not a single take is shorter than 45 seconds. But if you were to watch this film, with the same script but with Michael Bay directing, you would have a 15 minute short film with no real depth. What makes this so powerful, is that by the end, we feel like we've spent a day with this guy and know a great deal about him. All in all I loved the film, and it is beautifully directed by Van Sant, one of the few directors who can entrance you with a 5 minute slow tracking shot. The film is more than just a story, it's an experience. A great example of powerful visuals driving a story. "Last Days" truly captures what I can only imagine Kurt Cobain's last few days on this earth were like.
7/10
The film is about a musician named Blake (Michael Pitt) who lives sheltered in the woods within a stone prison of a house. Based off the story of Kurt Cobain, Blake is at the end of his ropes. No true friends, too many drugs and more attention than anyone needs. He is a virtually silent character who just passively takes in all around him, seemingly emotionless. Yet we know through Pitt's subtle acting how every time he is forced to face the life he's living or is hounded for money from his "friends", it hurts him and us as well. Through the course of the day we meet the people that hang around Blake's house, a Phone Book salesman, twin Lutherans, a detective in search of him and Blake's mother. Each giving us a little more of his character, in fact, I believe that more can be learned from Blake's character from watching the people around him. He is so emotionally numb, that when we hear Asia Argento's character react to Blake waking her and her boyfriend up, pointing a gun in her face, wearing a dress and a winter hat. She simply states, "Oh, it's Blake." We understand that 1.)He has been in trouble for some time now. and 2.)None of his "friends" seem to care as long as they get a bed in his secluded mansion.
I found this film very entertaining, but can understand the hate for this film. It's very slow paced and really, not a single take is shorter than 45 seconds. But if you were to watch this film, with the same script but with Michael Bay directing, you would have a 15 minute short film with no real depth. What makes this so powerful, is that by the end, we feel like we've spent a day with this guy and know a great deal about him. All in all I loved the film, and it is beautifully directed by Van Sant, one of the few directors who can entrance you with a 5 minute slow tracking shot. The film is more than just a story, it's an experience. A great example of powerful visuals driving a story. "Last Days" truly captures what I can only imagine Kurt Cobain's last few days on this earth were like.
7/10