MOVIE - LAST ORDERS - Review Rating $$$$$ $$$$ (OUT OF 10)
STARRING - MICHAEL CAINE, BOB HOSKINS, HELEN MIRREN, TOM COURTENAY, DAVID HEMMINGS, RAY WINSTONE & GEORGE INNES.
ORIGINALLY RELEASED IN LA & NY IN FEBRUARY 2OO2, VIDEO RELEASE DATE AUGUST 13TH, 2002.
This film is based on the novel by Graham Swift, by the same name, that won the Booker Prize. The plot revolves around the death of Jack Dodds and his life unfolds in flashbacks as the rest of the characters seek to fulfill his Last Orders.
My favorite saying is "fond memories play havoc with reality". This film is unique in that as the characters privately reflect on Jack Dodds' life, and their relationship to him, the varnish is stripped away from an ordinary life. Normalcy requires that we construct veneers to paper over the cracks in our lives. With the death of Dodds the fabric that binds these characters together begins to unravel. Without Dodds, the other characters have suffered a great loss and have been liberated, simultaneously. The fondness, for Dodds, is most often reflected with humurous ante dotes which succeed in lightening the burden that Dodds death casts upon the story. The film is an introspective expose of both the camaraderie and betrayal associated with friendship and love.
Often movies with this many honest to goodness stars end up being less than stellar. Last Orders is not one of them. These first rate award winning actors work so well together that the respect they obviously have for each other, and their craft, serves to enhance their portrayal of lifelong friendship. This may be Caine's best work since The Man Who Would Be King (a video rental I highly recommend). Hoskins, Mirren and the rest of the cast are in fine form as well. In such good form that Last Orders won the 2001 National Board of Review Best Ensemble Cast Award.
The make-up artists deserve an Oscar, for their ability to convincingly take 20 or more years off of these aging stars, which was required for the flashback sequences. The movie would not have worked if they hadn't been successful. Compare and contrast the effort here against the total lack of effort, to do the same, in the much bigger budget film Spy Game starring Robert Redford.
Two notes of caution. While I applaud the use of proper english accents, I don't have a great ear for them, and some of you may also miss some of the dialogue. Even when this occurs the intent comes through. Also, some of the flashbacks involve younger actors portraying the cast in their youth. While most of these are quite obvious you still have to pay attention in a couple of instances.
This superbly crafted film, that cannot fail to move you, simultaneously reminds us that while our lives may be premised on tenuous bonds it would be less worth living if we didn[base ']t enjoy them, and life, for what they are. Either way, in the end, all our efforts become scattered by wind and time.
Alternative Reviews:
http://www.rollingstone.com/mv_reviews/review.asp?mid=2043631
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/LastOrders-1112569/
Official Website:
http://www.sonyclassics.com/lastorders/ (may not be working)
MY TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2002 LIST
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© Copyright
2003
David Schwartz.
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8/9/03; 11:05:24 PM.
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