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Visitors Review

Saad Khan 2012-05-25 12:50:31

Artistic and sexy, worth a watch

LAST NIGHT - CATCH IT ( B- ) Last Night is not a typical movie, its Artistic and sexy (more like atheater movie) about emotional intimate infidelity. Its shows howinfidelity doesn't have to be physical. Sometime people commitinfidelity by involving emotionally with the other person. KeiraKnightley is stunning & delight to watch as always. And best thingabout Last Night is we get to see her in modern setup, otherwise 90%she appeared in period movies. The cast is good but I've hard timeaccepting Sam Worthington as leading actor, I think he lacks thecharisma & always be a Blue Avatar. This actor is really dry doesn'toffer much besides stern face. Guillaume Canet Aka. Mr. Marion Cotilardis charming, it is my first time of watching him in any movie. EvaMendes is smooth and sexy.Last Night is an engaging movie with interesting ending, whichdefinitely worth a watch, if you are in mode of some thing emotional.

secondtake 2012-05-25 03:51:42

An overly simple plot, uncommitted acting (except Knightley), and small rewards

Last Night (2010)You might think a movie about a couple on the verge of having affairson the side would be good stuff just because it's so much part of lifefor so many of us. And this starts with the promise that our leadingman and woman, Sam Worthington and Keira Knightley, will have enoughnuance, guts, anger, complication, and acting prowess to make it even alittle bit special.Not quite. Knightley, away from her more usual period sets ("Atonement"and Jane Austen movies come to mind), is a really likable and ordinarygirl, really. And she does have presence on the screen, lighting up andhaving some nuance to her expressions. She holds up her end of thisset-up pretty well. Worthington, less so, for sure, though you mightargue that this is supposed to be a really everyday couple, regularfolk like you and me. Still, he has to make it worthwhile (or elsewe'll just talk to our cheating friends for entertainment).And then there are the other halves of the potential affairs--the womanWorthington's character mostly wants but wants to resist, and the manthe Knightley has previously been involved with and who she finds stillprovocative. But both of these secondary characters are drawnsuperficially and acted either without fire (Eva Mendes) or with drippyemptiness (Guillaume Canet). Most of all, with all this cast and with expensive filming (theproduction values are good, the photography quietly expert--watch thecareful focus at times), the story is just too simple. All we have,without giving away a thing, are these two parallel worlds, the man whomay or may not sleep with this woman (who does want him to), and thewoman who may or may not, etc. etc.In fact, the main couple has a chance to really deal with theirtemptations, and either lying or confessing, and with maybe findingsimilarities in having temptation not only at their fingertips butclawing at them without respect or regard. But no, just as somethingmight come around, there is silence. And the end of the movie. I thinkit's supposed to be striking and profound--that life just keeps goingand we all have our inner secrets--but what's so interesting or newabout that? I was much more taken with Clive Owen blowing up and reallytalking and thinking out loud when he found his wife, Julia Roberts,had cheated on him in "Closer." A deflating experience after a promising start.

fady_gamal 2012-05-19 23:23:10

A Good Drama

Being the first project for its director/writer, I think this filmdelivers very well. A cohesive storyline, a good acting performance,the pace is somehow slow but yet interesting. It gives you the chanceto live with and care for characters. The plot is very simple and theidea is not original, but you will not feel bored. I like this kind offilms that contain very little "happenings" and high load of emotions.I think music could have been used in a better way, and also the endingscene was not so satisfying. Keira Knightley was good and convincing,and Sam Worthington's character was somehow confused (maybe this wasintended). Guillaume Canet gave an excellent performance. Finally, Iliked this film and I highly recommended it for those who like to enjoygood drama.

2012-05-19 04:23:11

Good film leaves you to draw your own conclusions...

This is a beautifully constructed and well scripted film that exploresthe dilemmas in marriage, commitment and infidelity. The plot revolvesaround a successful middle class couple Jo & Michael (Knightley andWorthington), who are in the early years of marriage and living acomfortable life in New York City. As the story unfolds we are taken ona journey which touches on suspicion, jealously, sincerity andultimately betrayal. The message offered in this film can beinterpreted however you wish. There are number of issues addressed thathave ambiguous meaning and could be construed in a broad manner ofways, i guess that is one of the reasons that this film will appeal tomany different people and institute some heated debate.A number of ethical and moralistic questions are raised throughout theplot. In essence this is an everyday story of personal dilemmas,inviting the viewer to draw his/her own conclusions. Jo & Michael areforced to spend an evening apart, Michael goes to a work conference inPhiladelphia with Laura (Mendes), and while he is away Jo bumps intoher old flame Alex, who is on a one night visit from France. Alex'sannoying grin becomes troublesome to the viewer after the first fiveminutes.The viewer is initially led to believe that the story will evolve in apredictable fashion. Michael will go to Philadelphia and sleep withLaura, and faithful wife Jo will remain in New York and be portrayed asthe victim. With the introduction of Alex, however, we are led tobelieve that the twist will be that Michael will overcome thetemptation to eat the fruit of another woman, and that instead Jo willbe the perpetrator of disloyalty. Alex and Jo meet in the street andarrange to meet later that day with Jo obviously encapsulated by theirsudden and unexpected renaissance.As the plot evolves it becomes clear that temptation exists for bothparties, but the polarity of circumstances is startlingly different.Both Jo & Michael cheat, but to varying degrees of complexity. Thesignificance of Alex and the subsequent emotional bond that isestablished between him and Jo creates a stiff but equally terriblecomparison to Michael's situation. Michael is sorely tempted by Laura'sadvances and inevitably he falls head first into a pit of debauchery,sleeping with her after some fun and frolics in the hotel swimmingpool.Michael is unfaithful, based on his physical relations with Laura thatnight, but Jo is seen to have fallen head over heels in love with Alex,but manages to keep her knickers on long enough to avoid a catastrophicfall into the same pit of debauchery. One could be forgiven forquestioning which is worse. On the one hand Michael has committed theultimate betrayal, albeit based purely on physical attraction. But onthe other, Jo has fallen back in love with an old flame and emotionallycheated on Michael although nothing physical happened beyond a bit ofdeep throat kissing French style. The viewer is offered the opportunityto draw your own conclusions on who is worse, and the moral questionremains as to whether either should have happened at all.The film ends in a disappointing crescendo of question marks. Michaelreturns home early due to his huge guilt at having cheated on Jo. Jo isless than enthusiastic about his return and her demeanour and commentslead you to believe that she has realised that she doesn't love Michaeland that her love is actually with Alex. Michael notices her discardedposh going out shoes on the floor, and steps back to take a look at herface, still plastered with pretty make up from the night before. Hispuzzled look is typical of his whole performance and can becomprehended however you wish, then the film ends, just like that withno warning and too many questions still unanswered.This is an entertaining film which makes your mind work. There are somany different interpretations that practically everyone that watchesit will have their own opinions on the thought processes and decisionsthat go through each character. If you like a film that can spark somedebate amongst your friends then this is a good film for you.

2012-05-16 07:55:56

unimpressed

This review is from: Last Night (Amazon Instant Video) Neither good nor bad. The questions about trust and intimacy are far more interesting than the script, which is banal, boring, and without a single interesting quote. This is not enjoyable or memorable dialogue, like that in Before Sunset or Closer. The performances are not bad, but the actors have nothing to work with. The direction is uninteresting too. In this case, "indie" means simple like a basic t-shirt from The Gap. I should disclose that I'm not a fan of anybody in the cast (whereas I am a fan of most everybody in Before Sunset, Closer, and We Don't Live Here Anymore). The way Knightley smiles by sort of clenching her teeth kind of annoys me (I liked Never Let Me Go, but despite Knightley). Anyhow, the desire isn't even palpable. This may be one of the least sexy, scintilating films about infidelity ever. It's very pedestrian. Mainly, however, the problem is the writing. It's not realistic. In real life, people's speech is more lively and referential. Overall, this type of writing is an attempt to be "realistic" in a way that isn't actually realistic. Full disclosure: I turned it off after an hour. Also, I used to be an English professor, which doesn't mean I'm smarter than other people, but it does mean I've spent my life watching "deep" films, art films, and foreign films. This film is very bad, compared with all the good arthouse/indie films out there. It might seem refreshing and deep (and artistic), if you are accustomed to watching Vin Diesel movies. But it is also true that, if you eat at Burger King a lot, Olive Garden will seem like fine dining. However, If you're accustomed to eating at 3 and 4 star restaurants in NYC, Olive Garden seems like fast food. Anyway, to make the analogy, this movie is to really good arthouse/indie films what Olive Garden is to Gramercy Tavern. Nobody over thirty-five with a grad school degree will really like this movie. For the record, while Blue Valentine wasn't on the same topic, it was a better movie (even though it wasn't a masterpiece). It may all depend on how much you like Knightley. I don't understand her popularity. I like Winslett, Blanchett, and Beckinsale. I like Carey Mulligan too.

2012-05-15 18:38:50

Slow predictable one-line story

This review is from: Last Night (Amazon Instant Video) This movie is a good work as a "first" for a new director but nothing special outside that context. Its one-line story is fairly predictable and barely enough to fill up a TV sitcom episode, diluted up into amovie. The photography and music is four star, acting was also good except for the leading male. A big "Apple" logo on a laptop is an acceptable commercial but the long close up scene of a smoking leading actress is not OK in this day and age when even Phillip Morris is concerned about cancer.

2012-05-06 11:18:24

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

supadude2004 2012-05-05 16:40:24

Extremely Underrated Movie. Brilliant Performances From Knightley, et al

OK, what is going on please? Here is an excellent, skilfully crafted,intelligently paced and well structured movie with a most complimentaryscreenplay, and it should of course be rated at 8.x out of 10. Yet, asI write it is barely rated above average. Sorry, but I have to knockmyself on the head a couple of times just to check that I am now indeedonly seeing 6.7 out of ten for a most excellent relationship themedmovie.I am not at all sure what is wrong with most people who've rated thismovie "a notch above so so", save for the usual obvious problems whenit comes to matters of 'most people'... Nonetheless, I am reminded thatmost people often get it right: Matchpoint was correctly rated, TwoLovers was fairly rated, Before Sunrise also got the high rating it sodeserved. However, here is a movie which is every bit as excellent asthose named movies, albeit being in its own inimitable way different,yet it is still currently (Spring 2011) faced with the travesty ofbeing so unjustly under-appreciated.Please watch this movie if the themes of modern relationships, loyalty,trust, and betrayal are of any interest to you, and you should find, asI did, that its insanely 'above average rating' is well short of themark. For this movie is a near masterpiece as a study of such themes.The performances of the lead actors/actresses, its screenplay,direction, score, production are all first rate. Don't miss this movieif you've a brain in your head, and if themes concerning relationshipsare of any interest to you at all. I also rated Matchpoint, BeforeSunrise, & Two Lovers very highly, in case you're wondering if my wordis worth following. Then you should also find it to be worth a far morerealistic 9/10

collipal-1 2012-05-01 01:47:46

An unexpectedly excellent drama

I generally find the romantic dramas boring, because besides of thefact that they use to abuse of the same clichés over and over again,their intention of touching us or making us cry feels even more forcedand dishonest when it is not well handled, which is what happens inmost of the cases. However, I decided to watch Last Night because I hadsome free time. To my surprise, I ended up liking the movie very muchbecause of its detailed narrative, two brilliant performances and fordaring itself to raise interesting questions about the marriage, thefaithfulness, and the responsibilities from a couple.One of the things I most liked from Last Night is that the screenplaydoes not stay on the simple level of a moralistic fable, but thatinstead of that, it involves us gradually on the game of emotions,circumstances and decisions which will influence in the couple'sdestiny. The rhythm from Last Night is slow (but never boring), and thespectators who expect to find the runaway melodrama from films likeCloser and Eyes Wide Shut might feel unsatisfied with it. On theopposite, Last Night focuses its attention on the smalldetails...Joanna's expression when she imagines the road her life couldhave taken if she had stayed in Paris; the poaching looks from Michaelto Laura...what I wanna say with this is that Last Night is not acathartic soap opera melodrama, but a methodic and intelligentcharacter study with an emotional minimalism and thematic clarity.And we also have the extraordinary performances from Keira Knightleyand Sam Worthington. I think that Knightley brought her bestperformance so far in here, because of the amazing conviction andaplomb she shows in her character. As for Worthington, he shows a muchwider histrionic range than the one he displayed in the action andadventure films Terminator Salvation, Avatar and the remake of Clash ofthe Titans, and I hope to see him in more dramatic roles. Eva Mendesand Guillaume Canet also bring solid performances, but Knightley andWorthington definitely steal the show with their fantastic works.Considering that the romantic dramas generally bore me, the fact thatLast Night kept me fascinated from the beginning to the end, and leftme thinking once it was over, is something remarkable. In conclusion, Iconsider this film worthy of an enthusiastic recommendation because,leaving a few moments of a slight pretension aside, this is abrilliantly written, solidly directed and perfectly acted film.

timeout_alia 2012-04-30 13:03:21

May the small details in life never be forgotten!

The most important thing in life is to put yourself in the other's shoeand sense the consequences before you give yourself back into a love ofa past. That's what Joanna did, and that's what Alex would neverunderstand, especially that he lives unhappily. And that's what someonelike Michael would never understand because he is living happily. Whichputs a woman (like Joanna) in first place when it comes to being ableto think of all the choices she has; whether to be with someone, togive yourself to someone physically, to open yourself emotionally, andhow to survive all three in a certain moment.One sentence in the movie wasn't true, "I love him, and I love you too,and I love being able to tell you the truth". If Joana would loved oneof them even 1% more than the other, she wouldn't call the other"love". I cannot get that she is in love with them both, she is withAlex!Excellent Movie!

2012-04-29 14:21:30

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!

is24 2012-04-29 05:22:01

lovely!

finally own the copy of this film.It is one of those simple movies you can see now and again, as it isrelatable and easy. The cast seems to be in perfect sync, and so arethe technicalities of the film.Even though the similar stories were dabbled in before on screen, Iliked that all main characters had an ambiguity to them. Ambiguitiesare potentially dangerous and prolific subject for a filmmaker. It was nice to see Guillaume Canet again, especially since the lastfilm I liked so much, was the one he directed, a fabulous Ne le dis àperson.I look forward to see more work from Massy Tadjedin.

bminors18 2012-04-28 23:04:20

Makes you wonder....

I remember watching the preview when Eva Mendez was on the Jimmy Fallonshow. I really didn't think much of it. I stumbled on it while killingtime and found myself watching it twice in one day. It opened upavenues of topics between my husband and me. I think this movie is goodfor couples to watch. The director and actors did a wonderful job. Thebody language in the movie was so telling. The dialog was real, ittouch areas, we as couples otherwise would not talk about. Throughoutthe movie I found myself questioning myself, wondering perhaps whatwould I do? In today's world most people don't rationalize theiractions before doing them. This movie portraits what we unconsciouslythink about while consciously dismissing it. I really enjoyed thisfilm.

Kimmmmi 2012-04-28 12:45:59

Intelligent Movie - Superbly Done

Saw this movie at the Tribeca Film Festival and can say that I wastruly taken aback by the brilliance of such a simple concept. The movieabout a married couple amid marital temptation is very well acted anddirected. The film captures the vibe of the Tribeca lifestyle and thetrials of a young marriage. Sam Worthington does an amazing job as thereserved husband in love with his wife. The film is well-paced andbuilds to a crescendo of will they or wont they infidelities. Visuallythe movie is simple but the effects of overlapping pictures andconversations highlights the similarities of temptation and thedifferences between men and women. The story was truly amazing and thebest movie I have seen in 2011.

wilburowen-3-42221 2012-04-26 14:55:55

Ah, sweet mystery of life (and the tortures of monogamy).

8 only because it isn't "Citizen Kane.." smaller in size, smaller inintent, but large in the scope of its attention to detail within themaze of twisted morals and confused emotions we live in: we knowsomething is wrong, even when we are not unhappy; we just don't don'tknow what it is. And we certainly don't know what to do about itwithout tearing down the castle.... The realism of this elegant, smallfilm with its stunning ambiance centers around the pull of thepleasures of monogamy (home, safety companionship, having someone whoknows how you like your eggs to scramble some up for you in the middleof the night) versus variety, danger, and of course the one that gotaway.The face that appears in your head when your fantasies kick in,unbidden, is alas not that of the egg scrambler.Unless it is in a fleeting moment of sadness, at having had to choosebetween being "bad" by societal standards, and being good, stable,true. As with Joanna in the film: she was quite right to be hovering inthe corner, teary -eyed, as her husband found her at the last encounterin the film, which ended beautifully - the way such terrible, secret,silent conflicts of the heart, really end. NMB P.S. Another wonderfulthing about this film that is contrast with most American films ofsimilar genre, are the actual long, thoughtful, conversations that takeplace between and among the characters... interesting, evocative,moving... that establish that there are usually no villains and novictims, just decent, and in this case very bright people strugglingwith the realization that when one person in a couple gets what he orshe wants, the other may not be ready for the closing of the door. NMB

khan2705 2012-04-26 08:54:22

an average drama movie.

Set in New York City, Last Night is the story of a married couple thatwhile apart for one night, is confronted by temptation that may decidethe fate of their marriage. Joanna (Academy Award(R) nominee KeiraKnightley) and Michael Reed (Sam Worthington) are 7 years into asuccessful and happy relationship. They are moving along in their livestogether until Joanna meets Laura (Eva Mendes), the stunninglybeautiful work colleague whom Michael never mentioned. While Michael isaway with Laura on a business trip, Joanna runs into an old but neverquite forgotten love, Alex (Guillaume Canet) and agrees to have drinkswith him. As the night progresses and temptation increases for thecouple, each must confront who they are inside and outside of theirrelationship. Last Night is ultimately a film about choices - thechoice you make to be with someone, to give yourself physically andemotionally, and how to survive all three.this was the movie i didn't knew much about, i saw its trailer onYouTube and the little bit antisipation that kind of rised was just tosee one of my most favorite Hollywood actress Kiera Knightely performin this small movie and also the good looking Sam Worthington. wellthis movie belongs to just Keira. she did a fine job. this is a verysimple slow moving first feature about this couple who kind of aregoing through a low phase in their relationship. then they bothexperience a day or a night when each of them kind of make out withtheir former lovers. keira's character with a guy who she met in Parisfew years back and Sam with a girl he knew from college i guess and nowhis co-worker. Sam on a business trip get all that with her and duringthat Keira just run into this guy and they get closer too. so thismovie is based on this one night, last night as it say.well i usually like these kind of indie or off beat movies to watch atleast one every week or two because i like them and they usually hasthere own unique charm in them, they also are a change for me from theusual Hollywood flicks. this one, to be honest i didn't liked as muchas i should have or i thought i will but it was not bad or not verygood but just average. Sam worthington was looking good in thischaracter, a good choice for this role and i like him so much but ithink he could have performed better. he was just not there. keiraKnightely on the other hand performed reall well, she looked reallynice and appealing as always. she is an elegant lady. love her. wasbelow average in her role and was kind of above average, he smilesgood, i think i have seen him in some few movies.Direction of this movie is kind of not bad, an OK effort that shouldhave been better as their was this potenetial. screenplay could havebeen tighter and more even. beginning was good but towards middle itkind of gets off track but towards the end i kind of liked it. endingwas good, just adorable. cinematography was nice and other things too.this movie was slightly boring and uneven and the story was not wellwritten or well thought i would say that effected this movie so i willcall it an average off beat romantic drama that neeeded more than whatit had. characters were also not very likable or explained much. but ifyou are these actors fan or a die hard fan of these movies you willlike it.

2012-04-25 09:12:13

The tension in this movie kept me interested all the way to the end

This review is from: Last Night (Amazon Instant Video) I was surprised that I enjoyed this movie so much. It has an underlying story that I've seen before, but this particular film adds an element of sexiness and tension that I didn't find in films with a similar plot. You can really feel the anxiety and excitement of the characters. The entire movie is about a short period of time, but it doesn't feel slow or boring. Overall, wonderfully composed and a good choice of actors. I definitely recommend.

2012-04-24 21:59:55

Beautiful portrayal of what a twisted thing the human mind is

This movie was a little painful for me to watch. As someone who hasloved, and lost, it was really very poignant. As I imagine it would befor anyone who has ever lost a spouse, partner or even friend totemptation.The story revolves around one night, one married couple, and thetemptations they face. Jo (Keira Knightley) is reunited with an oldflame, and struggles to resist temptation as she spends one long andeventful night with him. Her husband Michael (Sam Worthington), who isaway on business with an attractive colleague, is also faced with thepotential to give in to attraction while also giving in to infidelity. The plot seems simple enough, but it is actually so much more complexthan that. It questions marriage, commitment and everlasting love. Itis a movie that deals with boundaries, moral issues and so much more-in so few words. A large part of the film, in fact, was filled with abeautiful piano composition and muted footage of their night. It wasdelicate, but also a little haunting. And while I do think the endingwasn't entirely satisfying in terms of entertainment, I think that whenyou apply it to reality- it was really rather accurate.Perhaps, like most movies I see and review, it wasn't worthy of everyaward in the world- but I certainly think this film was heartfelt andprofound: and definitely worth an hour and 15 minutes of your time.

2012-04-24 00:12:32

Last Night

This review is from: Last Night (Amazon Instant Video) I will say that the acting was very good, but the final scene left me cold. He actually cheats; she decides not too, and everything is hunky dory? Or maybe not, but after investing my time I expected something more at the end. Had I known the ending I would never have watched the movie.

2012-04-23 14:24:49

magnificent

This review is from: Last Night (Amazon Instant Video) Maybe it only speaks to those of us who have lost the great loves of our lives but this film captures the truth that women hold. The great secret love that we keep from everyone because we don't want the memory spoiled, or we know we can't be honest because it will hurt our current partner. Certainly, this film provides enough perspectives for everyone, but, as for me, I haven't seen anything that speaks so much to my truth as this film in years. Maybe since the first time I saw "The Way We Were" and realized it wasn't a happy ending.