Last Ride (2009)

A young boy travels across Australia with his father, who's wanted by the law for committing a violent crime.

Director:

Glendyn Ivin

Writers:

Mac Gudgeon (screenplay), Denise Young (novel)

Stars:

Hugo Weaving, Tom Russell, Anita Hegh

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hugo Weaving	...	Kev
Tom Russell	...	Chook
Anita Hegh	...	Maryanne
John Brumpton	...	Max
Kelton Pell	...	Ranger Lyall
Sonya Suares	...	Zareena Khan
Loren Taylor	...	Girl in Pub (as Loren Horsley)
Adam Morgan	...	Man in Roadhouse
Chrissie Page	...	Storekeeper
Chris Weir	...	Local #2 in Pub
Michael Allen	...	Local #1 in Pub
Beau Hurren	...	Local #3 in Pub
Mick Coulthard	...	Uncle Mick
Lucy Russell	...	Girl in the Chicken Shop
Jane Liscombe	...	News Reporter

Storyline

A young boy travels across Australia with his father, who's wanted by the law for committing a violent crime.

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Plot Keywords:

australia | boy | father suicide | father son relationship | child uses gun | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 July 2009 (Australia)

Also Known As:

A Última Viagem

Filming Locations:

Australia

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$838 (USA) (29 June 2012)

Gross:

$5,480 (USA) (7 September 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), Film Victoria, Last Ride

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Chook goes back to the car (at the end), sunlight can be seen through his hair on both sides of his head from behind, indicating that his face is in full sun. The following shot from the front shows half his face in shadow.

User Reviews

Superb acting from Hugo Weaving, of a totally repulsive and frightening individual.

It takes a lot of guts to push for truth to character rather than going for the easy way out, softening the edges. In this film Hugo Weaving's character has been so severely scarred by life that he has become a total sociopath, with no capacity for empathy, let alone love. It would have been easier for Weaving to have softened him a bit, shown signs that really deep down he did love his son. But that would not have been this guy, who is as hard as nails and totally self-concerned. Even when takes his son camping, it is all about himself, recapturing the few happy times in his youth. When his son makes that picture shake, his reaction is vicious. All this makes it a hard film to watch, in the same league as some other Australian films like "The Boys".

Matching Weaving step for step, Tom Russell's portrayal of the wary boy wishing his father would show him some affection but fearing the worst, is brilliant. Never overdone or mawkish, showing extraordinary subtlety and maturity for one so young.

Finally, the ending is suitably enigmatic, leaving us with questions about what really happened, and what might now.

A brilliant film, but if you like feel-good with a happy ending, don't go to this one.