deepster24

(2012-04-29 15:32:18)

Worth watching

Rather enjoyed this film at the Rome Film Festival last night. Theatmosphere of New York by night and the soundtrack itself made it worththe half an hour delay getting in! The main performances are strong,Keira puts in a surprisingly convincing interpretation as the wife whomeets her previous love the day her husband is out of town with afemale colleague he likes. It discusses the nature of love, betrayal,marriage and sentiment in a thoughtful way, without the usual labellingof people as cheaters and victims. It should encourage us to realisethat life and relationships are more complex and that ultimately,nobody really belongs to anyone (however much we might like to think wedo). It's a shame these days that we only get to see the lives of thebeautiful, very well-to-do folk (in their wonderful apartments, sippingon fine wine) on the big screen as if temptation within marriage was aluxury that only the wealthy and obscenely photogenic can afford.Anyway, universal themes are dealt with well and it's good fodder for along conversation afterwards.

(2012-04-28 23:59:10)

Real People, Honest Emotions

This review is from: Last Night (Amazon Instant Video) So many movies today count on intense drama and tragedy to "entertain." This movie explores real emotions and real people. It is tender and thoughtful and moving and will make everyone in a relationship think about past loves and the current status and health of their relationship. The camera work is sublime and lends to the depth and substance of the film. Keira Knightley is a delight, as are the other actors. You don't dislike any one of them; they all just make you feel and think. Highly recommend.

(2012-04-28 08:09:01)

Subtle Tease That Doesn't Quite Deliver

This is not a terrible movie. At times it captures both marital and sexual tension in subtle ways. However, some of the dialogue is unrealistic (say, when Keira Knightley says to her former lover after two minutes, "Tell me something that counts"), and the film as a whole doesn't have enough substance to fill 95 minutes. I'd think of it as a short story trying to masquerade as a novel. The overall effect is something akin to a tease: Will they be unfaithful, or won't they? The question is fine, but by the end, you don't care that much because the film hasn't revealed any fine nuances beyond what you get in the first 10-15 minutes. Sam Worthington is a little like a statue in heat: You can somehow tell that he wants Eva Mendes, but he's so wooden that he's almost funny.

brock

(2012-04-28 03:36:24)

Open-Ending!!!

In trying to comply with the "Tips & Guidelines," I must say that I disliked and liked this movie. My reason for not liking it is simple - finish the story! Of course it's finished, but with an ending open for us all to wonder. Well, wondering or not, it's a good story full of emotions that can be related to by young married couples and the acting is not too bad itself! Thumbs up to Keira Knightley, as always she's a stunning actress who never disappoints. Overall it was interesting enough for me to have written my first review, but still - I like others, just wish more was revealed.

george karpouzas

(2012-04-27 12:47:20)

Brief Encounter in a modern setting

This movie is about the dilemmas that follow the temptation ofinfidelity in a modern middle-class setting. The actresses are fine andvery much attuned to their roles, the wife played by Keira Knightley,charming, easy-going but essentially scrupulous and the temptress EvaMendes, attractive, tiger-like but essentially cold-blooded andmanipulative. To those two women, two men correspond, who in a sensecomplement them. Sam Worthington, the husband plain, common and finallyprone to temptation and Guillaume Cannet, flamboyant,charming andlecherous. Knightley and Worthington are decent middle-class peopledriven to temptation by the sinners Mendes and Cannet.It is a modern morality tale, ending in remorse and return to thefamily hearth. In that sense it is a rather conservative rendering ofthe topic. The depiction of New York and Philadelphia is striving forthe general view not detail, and in that sense it is an averageportrayal of big metropolitan centres in the U.S.There is a lot of talking but this is how civilised people sin. Theyneed to theorize in order to talk away their scruples. It is a realistnot naturalist movie.There is a couple of supporting characters, who are very light and easygoing and seem to be the model of a more bohemian lifestyle, comparedto the protagonists. Anyhow the protagonists are very much burdened bythe momentary infidelity, as all people who follow middle-classmorality, to quote Alfred Doolitle from "My Fair Lady" do.Also the way, they pay attention to detail and try to find meanings andmetaphors in gestures and movements of every-day life, is veryrealistic manifesting the obsessive tendencies of a lot of educatedpeople.Recommended.

(2012-04-27 03:00:25)

A new favorite.

This review is from: Last Night (Amazon Instant Video) With actors like these, there's no doubt that the acting is wonderful. The tone of the movie is perfectly set with the subtle soundtrack and otherwise perfect settings. My favorite part about the movie is that, though it seems somewhat surreal, if you have experienced anything like this, then you know that it's a realistic movie. It's hits the nail on the head with precise emotion and exemplary acting. A new favorite.

(2012-04-26 01:06:45)

Bonds and Commitment and Temptation

LAST NIGHT is a tightly woven tale that explores the psyches of four people in one fascinating evening. This is the initial directing outing for Iranian-American writer Massy Tadjedin ('The Jacket', 'Leo') who also created the story and the script: the film is so fine that we doubtless will be hearing more about her. Joanna Reed (Keira Knightley) is a beautiful young writer married to commercial real estate developer Michael Reed (Sam Worthington) in what appears to be a happy marriage despite the struggle between two careers. Michael takes Joanna to a company party and there she observes the soft spoken Michael paying attention to one of his co-workers, the sensuous Laura (Eva Mendes), an act that Joanna feels indicates unfaithfulness or at least suspicious behavior on Michael's part. The seed of doubt is planted, Michael is leaving for a business trip to Philadelphia the next morning with his coworkers Andy (Anson Mount) and Laura, and there is friction between Joanna and Michael that Michael's reassurance cannot overcome. The next day as Joanna sops for coffee she encounters an old flame from her time spent writing in Paris - Alex Mann (Guillaume Canet) - and they agree to meet that evening. Chemistry resurges and that evening as Alex and Joanna dine with Alex's publisher Truman (Griffin Dunne), both are questioned by Truman about their past affair, Joanna admits she is now married, and Alex is in a relationship in Paris. The couple leaves and circumstances lead them to return to Joanna's apartment where they face their feelings. At the same time as this evening is developing Michael and Laura enter a seduction dance: Michael is faithful to Joanna but the emotionally bruised Laura persists in her attempt to pull Michael into her web. The manner in which each of these temptations resolves and the aftermath is the brilliance of Massy's writing and direction: this is a story written very much form a women's vantage and that fact allows each of the characters to become very well defined and credible. The quartet of actors is well matched: Knightley continues to mature as a fine actress, Sam Worthington breaks out of his stodgy shell to allow us to see a man driven by fidelity and tempted by lust, Eva Mendes takes Laura to a higher dimension of being, and Guillaume Canet is undeniably an Alex who few women could resist: he has true star power. The method of pairing the development of the one night by flashing back and forth between the progress of the two couples in the dance of seduction vs fidelity is extremely successful. This is a thinking person's movie and an introduction of a writer/director who already has shaped the beginnings of a successful career. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, June 11

krassitta

(2012-04-25 14:13:05)

Don't waste your time

Dear movie fans, This was the worst movie I have ever seen. The actingwas the level of a school theater workshop. I felt sorry for GuillaumeCannet (who I like) and the dog performing in the movie, who actuallydid a very good job, but had to suffer all the bad acting as well.Keira Knightley did a very bad job, not a surprise though, makingalways the same faces and using this pitch voice, as in every othermovie she plays in. I thought the decor (NYC) will save the move andgive some positive atmosphere to the whole, but ... NOPE.I don't understand what the other viewers with positive feedback foundin the movie. There was no feeling, no sensuality and I honestly didn'tfind anything moving in this movie / performance.I am sorry I spent 2 hours of my evening watching this.

John DeSando

(2012-04-17 06:26:17)

Will they or won't they?

Most who have had the infidelity temptation will be absorbed in thedetails of Last Night, a drama about a husband and wife each withsomeone else for one night, the same night. Will they or won't they?Director Massy Tadjean minimizes the clutter of NYC to give a SophiaCoppola Lost-in-Translation and Somewhere minimalist feel, which islargely to settle in on the small, disturbing decisions hithertofaithful people must make when the time arrives. And the consequences.Joanna (Keira Knightly) and Michael (Sam Worthington) are successfulprofessionals three years married, but with a seven-year itch campingout in the form of his co worker Laura (Eva Mendes) and her ex-loveAlex (Guillaume Canet). The suspense is the reality of the film, an uncertainty about whetherthey will sleep with their partner pro-temp. The larger question iswhether we will care about their decisions given how privileged,pretty, and petty they are as self-indulgent vacant personalities. Thehigh-end lofts and fashion accessories don't help gain sympathy.The deliberations concerning whether or not to do it are covered bycross-cutting between each couple as they sound out their reservationsabout the act and their love of the mate they are deceiving. Theunderscored music is the typically modern movie tinkling piano withlittle or no accompaniment. I still like the stripped down effect thatallows script, actor, and director to lay out the tensions.The drawback to all of this smart sensuality is a dearth of smartdialogue. I prefer heightened ideas, more like the repartee at dinnerwith Joanna, Alex, and another couple (Griffin Dunne and StephanieRomanov). But then I'm a fan of the swift verbal kicks in screwballcomedies, so I'd wish for the entire film to be wisecracking. I mustremind myself this is hardly a comedy.It's adultery less in the Graduate, Match-Point spirit and more in theperils of Little Children or the cruelty in Closer. Come to think ofit, though, Casablanca is in the metaphorical mix as well. Meanwhile,no use trying to make comparisons because each film about adultery isas unique as individual adulterers. Adventurers all --with Nemesis theusual traveling companion.

wiedzmapokladowa

(2012-04-16 12:59:53)

Beautiful in its honesty

It's rare when a film's rating actually starts to climb the more peopleget to see it, so I'm really happy because Last Night totally deservesit.A lot has been already discussed in other reviews, let me comment onthings which haven't been covered yet. *** Possible spoilers ***Apart from main themes of the film: "Which is worse - physical oremotional unfaithfulness?", "Can suspicion give rise to infidelity?"and "What do we regret more, doing something or blowing the only chanceand not doing it?", I love the way Massy shows the irony of gettingwhat one wants. Or rather the way it happens in real life: when we getit, it's not quite exactly WHAT we wanted and usually not WHEN wewanted it. Joanna is the perfect example of that. She wants Michael tolove her, spend more time with her, and to be his sole object ofattraction. When he realizes how much she means for him at the end, andhe himself wants to give Jo what she wanted, she couldn't care less...now she's all about Alex. She gets exactly what she wanted but toolate.And then there is this theme of temptation and how people are fightingit. Massy Tadjedin shows all the hypocrisy of this notion. Temptationis not something awful that people FIGHT, it's something pleasurablethat they actively SEEK. Very often anticipation of a deed is moregratifying that the deed itself. This is what temptation is. It'salmost like foreplay. People love toying with an IDEA, playing allpossible scenarios in their mind, modifying it, perfecting it. And atthe same time they have this conceited view of themselves as beingnoble because they are "resisting" the ACT. But the truth is that iftemptation really was something horrible that we have to fight with allour might, we would do all we could to avoid putting ourselves in suchposition. Joanna would never go out with Alex, Michael would never endup in this pool with Laura. They did that not because they saw that asa challenge and wanted to examine the strength of their character, butbecause they wanted it, because it was (almost) as good as fulfillingtheir fantasies.Finally Joanna and Alex are writers, and as such are used to living inthe world of heightened emotions. Drama is their air. They are bothaware, maybe her more than him, that fulfillment quenches the urge,while longing is more powerful and eternal than desire. What seems likean almost unbearable sacrifice on her part, in fact may be her way NOTto give up this love.***Spoilers end***Acting is fantastic from everyone.I am Joanna in real life, and I didn't sense a single false note inKeira's performance. It's heartbreaking because it's so true.I've never been the greatest fan of Eva Mendes but she won me over inher last scenes.The only character of the four I've never been is Alex, but GuillameCanet – if not exactly helped me understand his behavior – at leastmade me feel sympathetic to him.Finally Sam Worthington was tasked with probably the hardest and mostungrateful job. Firstly, his Michael, unlike Alex, is not the kind ofman women fantasize about, but the kind they end up marrying. If Alexis caviar, Michael is bread –the unexciting, taken for granted one, butone who's essential, who provides safety and stability for neuroticJoanna. That this unpretty, almost starchy affair probably constitutesthe most exciting thing that has happened in his life of late, borderson poignant. On top of that, the two couples move to the steps of adifferent dance. While Joanna/Alex let their bodies speak with more andmore broad gestures through the night, with Michael/Laura it becomesmuch more vital what they do NOT do or say. Once they both know exactlywhere they are, each step becomes like walking a minefield - one wordor gesture too many from him, and Laura may mistake it for a sign ofhis readiness to go where he still hasn't decided whether to go or not.So as the film unfolds, the plot requires this quiet and uncomplicatedguy to go progressively more restrained and subdued. And still,constrained by these tight borders of the character, Worthingtonmanages to give his Michael subtle variety: at the opening partyMichael has this adorable innocence of an attractive guy who'scompletely oblivious that he is; he is the real, most earnest self inthe moments of intimacy with his wife; and finally when Laura makes herintentions clear he becomes self-conscious, visibly uneasy andunaccustomed to being the one who's appreciated and admired for once. Ifeel pity for him that this really solid performance doesn't seem toresonate with critics, but at the same time I'm grateful that he chosetruthfulness over the urge to show off as an actor.Special mention - one doesn't get more charming than Griffin Dunne. HisTruman stole every scene he was in!One last word about writing.Massy Tadjedin directed the film based on her own script, and I thoughtthat she would be very "protective" of every line. I had a chance toread it and I still vividly remember the first 20 pages or so becausewhat the characters say there are verbatim the conversations I oncehad, same words, just a different language. But in the film, almost allof it is gone. It's incredible because the feeling is the same, butinstead of dialog it's all done with gestures. And this is what makesit so much more gratifying - we're given the chance to watch, decipherthe subtleties of body language, recognize the patterns we know fromour life. Fantastic!I'm really looking forward to her next film.

(2012-04-14 12:39:32)

Awesome TONS OF SUSPENCE the whole thing is drama

This review is from: Last Night (Amazon Instant Video) THis movie was awesome the whole way through! But the ending sucks. Expect a really entertaining and supensful romance but don't expect the ending you want!

(2012-04-14 03:04:39)

last Night

This review is from: Last Night (Amazon Instant Video) Kiera knightly normally has selected excellent movies to star in. I found this one very dull and boring-a complete dissapointment

(2012-04-11 20:15:34)

Surprisingly fabulous

This review is from: Last Night (Amazon Instant Video) Was not expecting much. But really sophisticated and detailed. Clearly a vision of a good artist. Her first movie, but I'd see anything she makes.

taya_apec_cemim

(2012-04-11 15:26:42)

A married couple stays apart for a night and love issues come in the way

I enjoyed this movie because it shows real life.There are manydifficulties and temptations in a relationship, especially a marriageand that could be a start for someone to watch it.Sometimes it's goodto get an idea of what really is going on in reality.We are so used tosee a happy end and foolish problems and many may not appreciate theplot .I believe though that the end is a little poor, but maybe on theother hand it lets the viewer decide what would he do in thecircumstance that was presented, because the characters can relate toevery common man or woman.I also liked very much the chemistry ofKnightley and Canet, but in my opinion Worthington and Mendes were notreally the best choices, not that their act wasn't good, it just didnot hit the eye. I also loved the location!

hoplonite1

(2012-04-06 17:27:09)

Like a one-night-stand, a one-time viewing

A very promising start; a super cast and an inspired, delicate, astutedirector; what else does one need for success? The atmosphere and slowdevelopment is not a problem and the music is a great help, but... thescript is drenched in remorse and uncertain intent. The real problemlies with the limited complexities and this is truly evident in boththe build-up and the ending. You see this film once and that's all: nopoint in ever seeing it again (unless you've got a crush on Keira,Guillaume, or Eva). Half-way through one could guess (we did, in fact)that the writer was a woman and, in this case, this was not acompliment. Pity about the excellent cast, the atmosphere and thesoundtrack. Good directors should stick to directing and leave thewriting to good writers. Massy has the touch, so why not trust someonebetter to write the story?

impactplayas0

(2012-04-06 10:17:19)

this was a decent movie

this was a decent movie about a topic that probably isn't talked aboutenough between couples......I enjoyed the acting and such, but I'veseen this movie done better in Stanley Kubricks Eyes Wide Shut .... avery powerful movie about the same issues in this one.....it seems likethey even kind of use one of the scenes from Eyes Wide Shut ... whenNicole Kidmans character tries to pick a fight with Tom Cruise.... samething here but to a lesser extent, and less extreme (Kiera picks afight with Sam Worthington). Its still a good movie... i enjoyed it alot. Of course there are diffences between the two movies.... but thetopic remains the same

ebmarshie

(2012-04-04 20:38:32)

Thought-provoking and emotionally involving - http://ellenreview.wordpress.com/

'Last Night', written and directed by Massy Tadjedin, is a film thatexplores the issue of fidelity and in particular the differencesbetween emotional and physical betrayal. A married couple, played byKeira Knightley and Sam Worthington, apart for one night, are temptedto be unfaithful. Worthington's character, Michael, is physicallyattracted to a co-worker Laura, played by Eva Mendes while on abusiness trip. Meanwhile, Knightley's Joanna runs into an ex – Alex,played by Guillame Canet.Over the course of the night we see Michael and Laura move closer tophysical intimacy and Joanna and Alex think back over the failure oftheir relationship and the reasons for it. The film causes the viewerto consider the value of marriage and the relationship that the unioncreates. A friend, Truman, points out to Alex that he could never takeaway the years Joanna has spent with Michael, because that is whatmarriage is – time invested, time that cannot be forgotten, lost, orreplaced. It is this central relationship between Joanna and Michael,and the commitment of marriage, that is tested and explored throughoutthe film.The question posed, explored, but never answered is: at what point issomeone unfaithful? When is that line crossed? Going for dinner?Kissing? Sleeping in the same bed? Having sex? Each audience memberwill judge Michael and Joanna in their own ways against their ownvalues, and it is one of the film's main successes that it does notattempt to answer the question for us. The ending is beautiful andperfect for the film – left open for the viewer to fill in, or not, asthey wish.The reason I found the ending so beautiful is because I had genuinelycome to care for the characters – particularly Joanna and Alex, thanksto wonderful performances from Knightley and Canet. Their chemistrythroughout is powerful, making their story both realistic andheartbreaking. The chemistry between Worthington and Mendes is lesspalpable, which is problematic, considering their attraction issupposedly purely physical and completely undeniable. Worthington'sMichael is oddly unengaging, which does make it difficult to believe inhis relationship with Joanna, but this is the only weak link I found inthe film. Some viewers have decided to see his character as anextremely masculine man who cannot be outwardly emotional, which couldexplain his performance, but which doesn't quite fit with the script.I finished the film and wanted to watch it again – I got the sense thatthere was more to read into, and more to see on a second viewing. 'LastNight' truly is thought-provoking and emotionally involving. One toseek out, watch, watch again, and come to your own conclusions on.More reviews at: http://ellenreview.wordpress.com/

dione-r-choto

(2012-04-04 13:27:35)

A night apart becomes the determining ground for a young couple as they battle trust and being trustworthy

There is nothing exceptional or remarkable in anyway about either theplot or characters of this movie, yet it is that which should bedetrimental that becomes the greatest appeal of the film.Not lacking in realism, it rings with a certain truth that is bothfascinating and entertaining. Basically outlining the fundamentals ofmen and women in general when it comes to cheating of any kind, thereis an examination of the somewhat finer points of the feminine and maleillicit trysting alike. The basic psychology of it all.Emotional cheating versus physical cheating. As well as digging out theroot causes of indiscretion - various insecurities and self-projections(as in the case of Joanna, who we later learn may have been projectingher vague guilt of unresolved feelings for an ex, increasing theviciousness of her own emotions, and the most basic of them all; simpleallure, being attracted to someone physically who is readily availableat an opportune time (Michael with his colleague).Another interesting aspect was that of the female seductress (EvaMendes). It portrayed to a large extent what motivates such womenthemselves (i.e. deeply embedded insecurity and loneliness as well aspast hurts that are far from healed being common factors), also lookinginto how exactly such women tend to feel after the "encounter" is over(cheap, used, not at all happier or more fulfilled than they werebefore).This post-encounter phase, so to speak, is an aspect of the film ingeneral that is intriguing, presenting a very basic question: Forsomeone that truly does love their spouse or significant other, isheat-of-the-moment illicit passion ever worth it at the end of the day?A thought-provoking and sincere script.

keepdown

(2012-04-04 19:05:22)

the movie that haunts ur mind

-----------------may contain spoilers----------------------------i didn't think i would actually like this movie. really, i had noexpectations for it as Sam Worthington is the lead actor......but keiradid such a beautiful job and the whole movie just flows like a tranquilpiece of music. some may think i overrated this movie, but thestoryline is just so close to the real world that a lot of ppl wouldprobably be able to relate to, and find themselves stuck in the sameholes like our two leading characters (thus the high score, for keepingit real) i couldn't stop thinking about the movie after i came home. Istarted to think about relationships, and started to think about whatcounts as cheating. physically? mentally? or both? have i ever cheated?has my husband ever cheated? would we ever cheat? questions haunt me(in a good, get-you-think-things-clearly kind of way), and that's why ienjoy this movie so much. it's wasn't something that you laugh for 90minutes then back to your everyday life. It's something that isworthwhile to actually "think" about.------spoilers! the following is the PLOT!--------------------------keira and Sam plays a married couple, both in the middle of anabout-to-be affair sort of thing. Sam is very attracted to hisco-worker, Eva mendes, and goes on a business trip with her. and Evatried in every way to seduce him, no matter how many times Sam said no,he's married, blah blah blah. eventually Sam gave in and they slepttogether, but the next morning he regrets it so bad and went straighthome to see keira, without giving an important presentation.keira knows something might be going on between Sam and Eva and threw afit when she knew Sam and Eva are going away on a business trip. butthen Sam comforts her and she calms down. the next day keira ran intoan old ex-bf sort of person, Guillaume Canet (which i think looks a lotlike Patrick Dempsey!), and they were reconnected. Throughout the daythey had lots of fun and remembered all the good time they had in thepast. it's clearly that they still have strong feelings for each other.they kissed, but they didn't sleep together (altho i can see they bothREALLY want to, but keira said if she did, she would never be able toface her husband again). then Guillaume has to leave U.S. and go backto Europe. the two had an emotional farewell.the next day, keira sat next to the window, crying as she smokes acigarette in the most beautiful way that i have ever seen (not thatsmoking is encouraged). Sam came home early, keira was shocked. Samthought keira was crying for him, but she is actually crying overGuillaume.keira walks toward Sam, without any emotion but tears in her eyes. Samhugs her and told her he loves her. keira just stood there, in deadsilence.

johanschutten

(2012-04-03 22:12:16)

The power of Lust

This is one of the best movies I've seen this year (2011). The actingis superb, but the best part of the movie is it's truly powerfulstoryline.Last Night handles about a married couple, Joanna and Michael Reed, whoget in a small fight after Joanna finds out her husband is attracted toanother woman. Their ways get separated for a few days, days in whichboth get tempted to cheat one another.The whole movie handles about the themes lust and faithfulness. Whatwould people do when they get tempted to cheat their respected otherhalf? Everything in and about this movie is screaming one big questionmark: what would you do if you were them? The answer could be verysurprising after you've seen this one...