The Last Minute (2001)

The clock is ticking towards The Last Minute, but no one knows it. No one except Billy Byrne - young, cool and talented, he's the Next Big Thing. At least that's what the London glitterazzi... See full summary »

Director:

Stephen Norrington

Writer:

Stephen Norrington

Stars:

Max Beesley, Emily Corrie, Tom Bell

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Max Beesley	...	Billy Byrne
Emily Corrie	...	Anna
Tom Bell	...	Grimshanks
Ciarán McMenamin	...	Garvey
Jason Isaacs	...	Dave 'Percy' Sledge
Kate Ashfield	...	Janey
Anthony Higgins	...	Mitchell Walsh
Joseph Bennett	...	Jarman
Ronnie McCann	...	Price
Frank Harper	...	Cabbie
Udo Kier	...	Nazi Fashion Shooter
Simon Gregor	...	Cancer Man
Brian Sewell	...	Himself
Stephen Dorff	...	Himself (as Brad Matlock)
Stephen Graham	...	DJ Banana

Storyline

The clock is ticking towards The Last Minute, but no one knows it. No one except Billy Byrne - young, cool and talented, he's the Next Big Thing. At least that's what the London glitterazzi are saying, on the streets, in the clubs, in the Business. But the glitterazzi turn out to be wrong and Billy Byrne is all over in a split second. His world detonates. His self-esteem splinters. Suddenly he's on a rollercoaster ride into the London underworld - a dangerous land of murderers, thieves and talent agents.

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Plot Keywords:

street | club | junkie | drug use | drug addiction | 

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Taglines:

Don't waste time. Or, it will waste you.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, violence, drug use and language

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 July 2003 (Czech Republic)

Also Known As:

Ena lepto prothesmia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Venom Productions Limited

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Billy Byrne: However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light.

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Crazy Credits

Near the end of the credits there is a message from the director which mirrors Billy Byrne's obsession with time: "The original director's cut of this motion picture is exactly 163989 frames, 6832.875 seconds, 113.88125 minutes, 1.8980208 hours in duration (sans logos.) If this version is a different length, or if this message is missing, you may not have viewed the original director's cut. For further information, contact: www.stephennorrington.com

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Soundtracks

Track 10
from the album "Boku Mo Wakaran"
by Bogdan Raczynski

User Reviews

Eye popping, black humoured, emotion charged roller coaster

The Last Minute is one of those truly rare motion pictures that deserves far wider recognition than it will ever get. How unfortunate. I'd never heard of the thing until recently stumbling across quite by accident. A virtual eye popping, roller coaster of a flick, it starts with a bang and never lets its hooks out of you. Visually, The Last Minute is as impressive a looking picture as I've ever seen.

The DVD extras are (mostly) exceptional adding to the whole experience as few extras features ever do. As darkly hilarious as it is, this "Minute" also packs quite an emotional punch. Kudo's to Mr. Norrington.

One caveat: Director Norrington wisely employs a terrific device by which we never know what our protagonist does to earn then lose his fame (director and star are on record as being at odds as to what Billy actually does). Were only that same thing had been employed on one scene. When Billy is told he doesn't want to know what's behind a certain, we shouldn't find that out either. Personally, I laughed (in horror, but laughed) at this scene but I know others who were put off of the movie altogether because of these few seconds.

Every other aspect of the truly most bizarre club "Prosthetic" is genius (as, actually is the moment in question, just too off-putting for most people). It is in this long scene at "Prosthetic" where perhaps the films most brilliant moment occurs – which is, of course, Percy "Sledge" breaking into the Sinatra classic "I've got you under my skin" while wreaking a gleeful malevolent stream of violence that is about as close to movie magic as we've ever seen.

Norrington has a cast that, quite simply, could not have been improved upon with Max Beesley giving a stand out performance as Billy – to watch the youthful energy of his clubby dance moves and the enthusiasm with which he embraces his burgeoning fame slip into confused despair, hopelessness and attempt at self redemption. Beesley has us routing for him even at his worst, for I think most of us can identify with Max's plight.

As the aforementioned Percy "Sledge" – Jason Isaacs is nothing short of terrifying, executing his violence with a Fred Astaire like grace and precision which is utterly disarming.

The Oliver Twist twist of the underground urchins with their modern day, more violent, Fagin (who doles out drug treats to the kiddies) is chillingly beautiful.

I also found the extended mad scene similar resonating strongly with Shakespeare's Lear – Max's meltdown/unhinging being so closely tied with what is happening in nature. Brilliant.

If "Minute" had been released theatrically stateside, I can't imagine it wouldn't do huge box office. There are audiences literally screaming for this type of originality. Hopefully, it's not too late to try. The seconds are ticking . . .