Last Days (2005)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writer (WGA):

Gus Van Sant (written by)

Release Date:

13 May 2005 (France)

Genre:

Music | Drama

Tagline:

Rock and roll will never die.

Plot:

A Seattle-set rock & roll drama about a musician whose life and career is reminiscent of Kurt Cobain's.

Plot Keywords:

House | Musician | Private Investigator | Suicide | Old Dark House

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Michael Pitt	...	Blake
Lukas Haas	...	Luke
Asia Argento	...	Asia
Scott Patrick Green	...	Scott (as Scott Green)
Nicole Vicius	...	Nicole
Ricky Jay	...	Detective
Ryan Orion	...	Donovan
Harmony Korine	...	Guy in Club
Rodrigo Lopresti	...	Band in Club (as The Hermitt)
Kim Gordon	...	Record Executive
Adam Friberg	...	Elder Friberg #1
Andy Friberg	...	Elder Friberg #2
Thadeus A. Thomas	...	Yellow Book Salesman
Chip Marks	...	Tree Trimmer
Kurt Loder	...	TV Voiceover (voice)
Michael Azerrad	...	TV Voiceover (voice)
Chris Monlux	...	Phone Voice (voice)
Jack Gibson	...	Phone Voice (voice)
Gus Van Sant	...	Phone Voice (voice)
Dawnn Pavlonnis	...	Phone Voice (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Riley G. Matthews Jr.	...	Coroner's Attendant (uncredited)
Giovanni Morassutti	...	Band Fun (uncredited)
Ari Tomais	...	Detective (uncredited)

Directed by
Gus Van Sant

Writing credits (WGA)
Gus Van Sant		(written by)

Produced by
Jay Hernandez	....	associate producer
Dany Wolf	....	producer

Original Music by
Rodrigo Lopresti

Cinematography by
Harris Savides

Film Editing by
Gus Van Sant

Art Direction by
Tim Grimes

Set Decoration by
Sarah E. McMillan

Costume Design by
Michelle Matland

Makeup Department
Cassandra Saulter	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Greg Spence	....	post-production supervisor
Jen Wall	....	production supervisor
Dany Wolf	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jennifer Truelove	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Karen Cinorre	....	props

Sound Department
Felix Andrew	....	sound mixer
Matt Dubin	....	mixing recordist
Marshall Garlington	....	sound re-recording mixer
Shawn Kennelly	....	foley mixer
Laura Macias	....	foley artist
Vince Nicastro	....	foley artist
Neil Riha	....	second sound mixer
Leslie Shatz	....	sound designer
Lisa Varetakis	....	supervising foley editor

Visual Effects by
Mitch Paulson	....	digital preview colorist

Stunts
Riley G. Matthews Jr.	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Blauvelt	....	assistant camera
Scott Patrick Green	....	still photographer
Stephen MacDougall	....	camera loader
Jason McCormick	....	assistant camera
Matías Mesa	....	Steadicam operator

Casting Department
Jonathan Leeder	....	casting associate
David Rapaport	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ghilaine Bouadana	....	wardrobe production assistant
Amy Roth	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Bruce Bolden	....	colorist
Helen Hand	....	first assistant editor
Eric Hill	....	apprentice editor
Mato	....	color timer

Music Department
Ray Espinola Jr.	....	music coordinator
Thurston Moore	....	music consultant

Other crew
Maxwell Anderson	....	production assistant
Kari A. Coleman	....	post-production office manager
Charlie Dibe	....	production assistant
Lindsay Feldman	....	assistant production office coordinator
Heather Gauntt	....	assistant location manager
Joe Guest	....	location manager
Randy Manion	....	location scout
Rachel Neave	....	story contributor
Ben Ruggiero	....	production assistant
Maurice Sessoms	....	additional production assistant
Beatrice Sisul	....	dailies
Michele Soddano	....	assistant accountant
Amy Teitter	....	production assistant
Rebecca Thornell	....	clearance
Derek Yip	....	post-production accountant
Derek Yip	....	production accountant

Thanks
Francesco Clemente	....	special thanks
Kurt Cobain	....	dedicatee
Roger D. Faires	....	special thanks
Kurt Loder	....	special thanks
Chip Marks	....	special thanks
Ann Roth	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• HBO Films
• Meno Film Company
• Picturehouse Entertainment
• Pie Films Inc.

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alamode Film (2007) (Germany) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• BIM Distribuzione (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Fine Line Features (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2005-2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• MK2 Diffusion (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Vértigo Films (2005) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Newco
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Illusion Arts (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Elizabeth Bardsley & Associates  script annotation

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

97 min | Argentina:97 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Portugal:M/16 | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Nova Scotia) | Argentina:16 | Germany:12 | Finland:K-7 | South Korea:15 | Singapore:M18 | Brazil:12 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | USA:R | UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Canada:G (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Garrison, New York, USA

Company:

HBO Films

Trivia:

Seven years before production, 14-year-old Holger Thaarup of Denmark was originally cast as the lead, Blake. He didn't speak any English and Gus Van Sant intended the role to be silent; Van Sant then met 17-year-old Michael Pitt and cast him instead.

Goofs:

Factual errors: One of the LDS missionaries that visits the house is wearing a light blue shirt. LDS missionaries are only permitted to wear non-decorative white shirts with dark pants/suits, and a conservative tie. The missionaries also carried no pamphlets, visual aids, appointment books, or their own complete sets of scriptures, which is highly unlikely for door-to-door proselytizing.

Quotes:

Record Executive: Do you say, "I'm sorry, that I'm a rock & roll cliche?"

Movie Connections:

Featured in 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Untitled

Kurt Cobain's death makes you die of boredom.

OK, if the director wanted to send a message of how lonely and out of space was the last three days of Kurt Cobain's mind and surroundings, he does it with great competence.

But he could at least add some plot or story to it, giving perhaps some interesting (and new?) info about the suicide, some dialogs in context. Making Dave Grohl and Novoselik look like junkie homossexuals was really ridiculous. Scenes lasting 10min just showing a plant or a side of the house tells us very little and simply bores me. Most of the time "Kurt" is shown from his back wandering around aimlessly. I'd rather see a documentary about the life of an amoeba.

I recommend for those who are really interested in the life or death of this musical icon to read "Heavier Than Heaven", an excellent book, which could easily be made into a fantastic film.

Gus Van Sant really disappointed me this time. This film sucks!