In the 1998 film "Last Night", humankind has had two months to think about what it would do. Now they are down to the last six hours and Don McKellar's film focuses on just a few of the residents of Toronto and how they choose to live until the end.

I caught this on the IFC last night and, from the beginning, was hooked. This is not an American film, so the emphasis isn't on explosions and violence. It is obvious that things are falling apart. There are suggestions of violence, burning buildings, overturned cars, roving gangs.

This, however, is not a story about apocalypse, but about people: those who gather in groups, bond for an instant, seek solitude or go about their business as usual. McKellar is Patrick, who wants to go out of this world alone on his roof, drinking wine. He tries to Sandra (Sandra Oh from Arli$$) who is trying to get back to her husband where they plan to take their own lives. Unable, the two spend their last hours coming to know each other.

"Last Night" is called a "comedy/drama" and there are genuinely funny moments. The end of time is covered on TV as though it were New Year's Eve; people in the streets cheering and dancing. My favorite aside is the newscast's mention of a rock show featuring 6,500 guitarists who always wanted to play, led by Randy Bachman (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) who is teaching them the chords to "Taking Care of Business."

"Last Night" is funny, but it's not jokes you're left with, but images of people, individuals, meeting and saying goodbye. McKellar's script doesn't condescend. It is haunting, dark, bittersweet, touching and thoughtful. If this were the last night of the world, what would we do differently?
8:53:59 AM    Comments?()