Indie Gems: Last Days

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Mr. Lonely

Blake (Michael Pitt) is a rock musician in Seattle who has reached a point in his career where he's wandering about, questioning the meaning of his existence. He walks through the countryside silently while his friends and band members (Lukas Haas, Asia Argento) search for him.

Director Gus Van Sant made this film when he realized making a documentary on Kurt Cobain would be too personal for his friend Courtney Love. Therefore, nearly everything about Blake is reminiscent of Cobain. The looks, the way he mumbles. It makes Blake's sadness even harder to take knowing Kurt likely felt it. 

This movie definitely isn't for everyone, but if you're a fan of Van Sant as I am, I would recommend it. I used to think Paranoid Park (which I loved) was the least accessible of his films, but this one is even more so. It's largely silent, when Blake does speak or sing, sometimes it's hard to understand him. Yet even with all of that you can't help but want to get inside his head. You know where the film is going to end just be reading the description, but that's okay. It makes for a quick and thoughtful viewing. 

Grade: B-

Watched on: Netflix DVD

Memorable Quote "...water for the blood of Christ?"

Comments

  1. thevoid99September 9, 2016 at 8:17 PM

    While I prefer Gerry of the three films in Van Sant's death trilogy, this is still a great film as I think it's the perfect booknote for the trilogy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 10, 2016 at 7:15 AM

      I've never seen Gerry, though I'd really like to. I'll have to throw that one in my Netflix queue.

      Delete
    2. thevoid99September 10, 2016 at 6:40 PM

      OK but I have to tell you. There's not much plot in it so be warned.

      Delete
  2. RuthSeptember 10, 2016 at 12:48 PM

    I had no idea this was by Gus Van Sant. Boy he's getting slammed w/ horrible reviews for his new one Sea of Trees. In any case, I'm intrigued by the premise of this one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 10, 2016 at 1:31 PM

      I love Van Sant, but even he's missed pretty hard in the past. lol

      Delete
  3. KhalidSeptember 12, 2016 at 4:52 AM

    Nice review. You make good points about why this film stands out for you. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who simply can't handle Van Sant, especially when he makes his independent projects. Which is probably why I hate this film so much. Good Will Hunting is his only film I like and love, which doesn't surprise me.

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 13, 2016 at 2:09 PM

      This is one of those movies that even though I enjoyed, I 100% understand why someone would hate it. It could go either way.

      Delete
  4. BirgitSeptember 12, 2016 at 11:24 AM

    This movie does sound like quite the downer which it is since it deal with depression and suicide. It obviously is a film he made to deal with the death of his friend and to try to understand why

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 13, 2016 at 2:09 PM

      It's a downer indeed, but an interesting one at least.

      Delete

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