Last Night (1998/I)

Director:

Don McKellar

Writer:

Don McKellar (written by)

Release Date:

23 October 1998 (Canada)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

It's not the end of the world... there's still six hours left

Plot:

A group of very different individuals with different ideas of how to face the end come together as the world is expected to end in six hours at the turn of the century.

Plot Keywords:

Midnight | End Of The World | Turn Of The Century | Suicide Pact | Christmas

Awards:

12 wins & 20 nominations

Cast

Don McKellar	...	Patrick Wheeler
Sandra Oh	...	Sandra
Roberta Maxwell	...	Mrs. Wheeler
Robin Gammell	...	Mr. Wheeler
Sarah Polley	...	Jennifer 'Jenny' Wheeler
Trent McMullen	...	Alex
Charmion King	...	Grandmother
Jessica Booker	...	Rose
David Cronenberg	...	Duncan
Tracy Wright	...	Donna
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Craig Zwiller
Karen Glave	...	Lily
Arsinée Khanjian	...	Streetcar Mother
Chandra Michaels	...	Streetcar Daughter (as Chandra Muszka)
Geneviève Bujold	...	Mrs. Carlton
Bryan Renfro	...	Angry Driver (as Brian Renfro)
François Girard	...	Wild Guy #1
Daniel Iron	...	Wild Guy #2
Bruce McDonald	...	Wild Guy #3
Michael McMurtry	...	Menzies
Pierre Elrick	...	Cousin Ernie
Kirsten Johnson	...	Reveller #1
Regan Moore	...	Reveller #2
Darren O'Donnell	...	Reveller #3
Bob Martin	...	T.V. Newscaster
Michael Barry	...	Marty
Nathalie Shats	...	Marty's Girlfriend
Tom McCamus	...	Radio D.J. (voice)
Jackie Burroughs	...	The Runner

Directed by
Don McKellar

Writing credits
Don McKellar		(written by)

Produced by
Caroline Benjo	....	executive producer
Joseph Boccia	....	co-producer
Niv Fichman	....	producer
Daniel Iron	....	producer
Jennifer Jonas	....	associate producer
Sheena Macdonald	....	associate producer: Rhombus Media
Carole Scotta	....	executive producer
Barbara Willis Sweete	....	associate producer: Rhombus Media
Larry Weinstein	....	associate producer: Rhombus Media
Nathan Lafionatis	....	line producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Alexina Louie
Alex Pauk

Cinematography by
Douglas Koch

Film Editing by
Reginald Harkema

Casting by
Diane Kerbel

Production Design by
John Dondertman

Art Direction by
Kei Ng

Set Decoration by
Patricia Cuccia

Costume Design by
Lea Carlson

Makeup Department
Zak Baird	....	assistant hair stylist
Clara Dinunzio	....	hair stylist (as Clara DiNunzio)
Sarah Fairbairn	....	makeup artist
Josie Licata	....	assistant makeup artist
Catherine Viot	....	assistant makeup artist (as Catherin Voit)

Production Management
Joseph Boccia	....	unit production manager
Gina Fowler	....	assistant production manager
Jody Shapiro	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Annie Bradley	....	third assistant director
Trent Hurry	....	second assistant director
Jennifer Jonas	....	first assistant director
Maria Popoff	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Paul D'Angillo	....	props intern
Michael Followes	....	property master
Sandy Glud	....	lead buyer
Ian Hay	....	set dresser
John MacNeil	....	first assistant art director (as John MacNeil)
Friday Myers	....	assistant props

Sound Department
Colin Baxter	....	sound assistant
Ray Campbell	....	adr recordist
Ray Campbell	....	sound assistant
Rick Canelli	....	adr recordist
Kristine Child	....	foley assistant
Kelly Cole	....	sound technical assistant
Dean Giammarco	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brad Hillman	....	sound technical assistant
Goro Koyama	....	foley artist
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Aaron Marshall	....	sound assistant
Steve Munro	....	sound designer
Steve Munro	....	sound
Miguel Nunes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr recordist (as Tom O'Connell)
Iain Pattison	....	sound technical assistant (as Ian Pattison)
Tim Roberts	....	adr editor
David Rose	....	adr recordist (as Dave Rose)
Paul A. Sharpe	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Paul Sharpe)
Paul A. Sharpe	....	sound (as Paul Sharpe)
Tony V. Stevens	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
David Drainie Taylor	....	dialogue editor
John J. Thomson	....	production sound mixer
John J. Thomson	....	sound
Tony Van den Akker	....	foley mixer (as Tony van den Akker)
Alan Zielonko	....	boom operator
Tim Roberts	....	post-synchronization editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Adrian Harper	....	special effects assistant
Alli Kuttas	....	special effects assistant
John LaForet	....	special effects coordinator (as John Laforet)

Visual Effects by
Jean Raymond Bourque	....	executive producer: Buzz Image Group
Frank D'Iorio	....	compositing artist: Buzz Image Group
Dominic Daigle	....	CGI animator: Buzz Image Group
Mathieu Dupuis	....	compositing artist: Buzz Image Group
Davis Goodman	....	systems manager: Buzz Image Group
Myléne Guérin	....	production coordinator: Buzz Image Group
Stéphane Landry	....	director: Buzz Image Group
Serge Langlois	....	digital film printing: Buzz Image Group
Serge Langlois	....	digital film scanning: Buzz Image Group
Yves Laniel	....	producer: Buzz Image Group
François Lord	....	CGI animator: Buzz Image Group
Andre U. Montambeault	....	digital compositor
Jamie Hallett	....	optical cameraman (uncredited)
Robin Tremblay	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Stunts
Phil Chiu	....	stunts (as Phil Chui)
Mary Fallick	....	stunts
C.J. Fidler	....	stunts (as C.J. Fiddler)
Erin Jarvis	....	stunts
Patrick Mark	....	stunts
Billy Oliver	....	stunts
Edward A. Queffelec	....	stunts (as Edward Queffeler)
Peter Szkoda	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Diana Alvarez	....	second assistant camera
Richard Ball	....	best boy grip (as Richard Baal)
Kevin Bishop	....	video playback operator
Robert Cochrane	....	dolly grip (as Rob Cochrane)
Byrd Dickens	....	best boy electric (as Byrd 'Dog' Dickens)
Doug Dixon	....	generator operator
Richard Emerson	....	key grip (as Richard 'Rico' Emerson)
Lisa Logan	....	grip
Patrick McGowan	....	first assistant camera
Edward Mikolic	....	gaffer (as 'Fast' Eddy Mikolic)
Tammy Rogers	....	camera trainee
Peter Sarmento	....	electrician
Chris Stoyan	....	electrician
Cylla Von Tiedemann	....	still photographer
Rocky Brown	....	crane grip (uncredited)
Richard Gaal	....	pre-rigging grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jane Rogers	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kelly Hood	....	assistant costume designer
Starr Jacobs	....	key wardrobe
Gillian Steinhardt	....	assistant wardrobe

Editorial Department
Christopher Donaldson	....	assistant editor
Chris Hinton	....	color timer

Music Department
Colin Baxter	....	music editor
Christopher Donaldson	....	music editor
Hans Lucas	....	music editor
Alex Pauk	....	conductor: Esprit Orchestra
Michael Perlmutter	....	music supervisor: S.L. Feldman & Associates
Janet York	....	music supervisor: S.L. Feldman & Associates

Transportation Department
Jim Butt	....	driver
Sandra Flagler	....	transportation captain
Tom Latto	....	driver
Al MacNeil	....	transportation coordinator
John Panchyshyn	....	driver
Charlene Roycht	....	driver
Susan Shaw	....	head driver
Jim Troy	....	driver: honeywagon
Matt West	....	driver

Other crew
George Anthony	....	executive: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Simon Arnal	....	executive: Haut et Court (as Simon Arnal-Szlovak)
Sarah Baird	....	production assistant: Rhombus Media
Rémi Burah	....	executive: Haut et Court
William Cameron	....	title designer: main titles
Odile Carrière	....	executive: La Sept/arte
Pierre Chevalier	....	executive: La Sept/arte
Jamie Cohen	....	clearance
Linda Darras	....	assistant accountant
Christopher Dobbs	....	location production assistant (as Chris Dobbs)
Jennifer Dodge	....	craft service
Mark Doty	....	location production assistant
Mina Filardo	....	office manager: Rhombus Media
Caroline Ghienne	....	executive: Haut et Court
Matt Hornburg	....	production assistant: Rhombus Media
Stephanie Keating	....	unit publicist
Philippa King	....	business affairs: Rhombus Media
Lisa Lavorato	....	production accountant
Barbara Letellier	....	executive: Haut et Court
Lorna MacDougall	....	assistant accountant
Lilit 'Hank' Malins	....	location manager
Oliver Olsen	....	script supervisor
Paul Onteniente	....	production accountant
Olivier Pasquier	....	executive: Haut et Court
Michael Pesce	....	office production assistant
Laurence Petit	....	executive: Haut et Court
Linda Pope	....	production accountant: Rhombus Media
Robin M. Reelis	....	production coordinator
Nicolas Saada	....	executive: La Sept/arte
François Sauvagnargues	....	executive: La Sept/arte
John Sauvé	....	set production assistant (as John Sauve)
Julie Soebekti	....	production assistant: Rhombus Media
Trevor A. Weber	....	assistant location manager (as Trevor Weber)
Johanna Weinstein	....	food stylist
Brooke Weslak	....	assistant production coordinator
Bret Culpepper	....	armorer (uncredited)
Randy Kennedy	....	location scout (uncredited)

Thanks
John Fulton	....	special thanks
Peter Gelb	....	special thanks
Bryan Gliserman	....	special thanks
Bill House	....	special thanks
Phyllis Platt	....	special thanks
Daphne Spencer	....	special thanks
Peter Spencer	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Rhombus Media
• Téléfilm Canada (produced with the participation of)
• La Sept-Arte (in association with)
• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) (in association with)
• Haut et Court (in association with)
• Canada Television and Cable Production Fund (with the participation of)
• Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC) (with the participation of)
• Cineplex (uncredited)

Distributors

• Alliance Atlantis Communications (1998) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Haut et Court (France) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Park Circus (2010) (UK) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Buzz Image Group (digital video effects)

Other Companies

• Canada Television and Cable Production Fund License Program (CTCPF)  produced with the participation of
• Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)  produced with the participation of
• Casablanca  adr recording
• Catherine Rankin Productions Ltd.  negative cutting
• City Pulse/CityTV  thanks
• City of Etobicoke  thanks
• City of Mississauga  thanks
• City of York  thanks
• Creche Child and Family Centre  thanks
• Day Care Connection  thanks
• Esprit Orchestra  music performed by
• Film Effects  opticals
• Harry Rosen  thanks
• M.M.I. Product Placement  thanks
• Mary Nissen Estates  thanks
• Massey Centre  thanks
• Metropolitan Ice Cream  thanks
• Mississauga Y.M.C.A.  thanks
• Much Music  thanks
• Ontario Film Development Corporation  thanks
• Perrier  thanks
• Premiere Entertainment  thanks
• R.F. Craft Services Inc.  craft service
• RCA Records  thanks
• S.L. Feldman & Associates  music supervision
• S.L. Feldman & Associates  music supervisor
• Sharp Sound Studios  sound re-recording
• Shoots Catering  catering
• Simitar Entertainment  thanks
• Sony Records  thanks
• Telefilm Canada - Equity Investment Program  produced with the participation of
• Topix - Mad Dog  title design: main titles
• Toronto Film and Television Office, The  thanks
• Trackworks Inc.  adr recording
• Trackworks Inc.  audio post-production
• VK & Associates  unit publicity
• Warner Hollywood Studios  adr recording
• Weston Business Improvement Association  thanks

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, language and brief violence

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

Canada | France

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:14A | France:U | Norway:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Iceland:12 | Taiwan:R-18

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Rhombus Media

Trivia:

The "toughs" whom Patrick and Sandra stop to ask for a ride are played by producer Daniel Iron and Canadian filmmakers Bruce McDonald (bearded) and Francois Girard (driving).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the early moments of the movie, when the car's up on it's bumper against the pole, the girl puts her keys in the door to unlock it and when the door opens, the bell goes off, to alert that the keys are in the ignition, or that the lights are on. Neither is true.

Quotes:

Patrick Wheeler:[Bidding farewell] See you.
Craig Zwiller:No you won't.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All

Moving, intriguing, and credible

I have seen this film twice, and believe that it is certainly one of the best films of 1998. One person brought that people wouldn't be violent on the day when the world ends, but come together in a type of philosophical togetherness. I was stunned by that idea, assuming that the cynicism that permeates today's culture would have enforced that idea, that violence will be around. The end of the world is a violent thought, as exemplified in films such as Armageddon and Deep Impact (true, they were stupid films). But that aside, Last Night is a powerful and very introspective look at the lives of several people who's lives happen to be interwoven on the last day of the world. It begs the question "what would you do with the final six hours". Many have remarked on the tone, and I have to heap more praise on the subtle irony that is found throughout the film. Why is the world ending? The audience doesn't find out. Whether one's appreciation of the film diminishes or grows for this ambitious step is purely personal. For a ninety minute film, it's ambition in depicting six lives is interesting, and it's only mistake. For the movie to do justice to all the characters, it needed to be at least half an hour longer. But that singular flaw does not negate the film's final achievement.

The entire cast is sensational, even if they're on for short periods of time. Rennie and Oh took home well deserved Genie awards for their brilliant performances, but I felt McKellar's performance was the most intriguing. He has a talent for not poignant drama, but scenes of almost deadpan-type comedy (where Sandra asks him the favour).

Don McKellar has got to be among the most versatile writers around. After writing Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, the fragmented biopic about the famous pianist, and The Red Violin, another slightly fragmented story told through and about a violin, he wrote, directed, and starred in Last Night, and apocalyptic dramedy (or an ironic tragicomedy), and he does it with supreme style. Last Night is a film not to be missed, but to be pondered over and savoured.