Alexander the Last (2009)

An ensemble drama about a married actress, her sister and their myriad sexual and creative temptations.

Director:

Joe Swanberg

Writers:

Joe Swanberg, David Lowery (additional material),

Stars:

Jess Weixler, Justin Rice, Barlow Jacobs

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jess Weixler	...	Alex
Justin Rice	...	Eliott
Barlow Jacobs	...	Jamie
Amy Seimetz	...	Hellen
Jane Adams	...	Director
Josh Hamilton	...	Playwright
Jo Schornikow	...	Bandmate
Sean Price Williams	...	Matt
Christopher Denham	...	Actor
Molly Hawkins	...	Actress
Kent Osborne	...	Reggie
Alison Bagnall	...	Costume Designer
Ellen Stagg	...	Model
Randy Bell	...	Sailor
Jade Healy	...	Stagehand

Storyline

An ensemble drama about a married actress, her sister and their myriad sexual and creative temptations.

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Plot Keywords:

actress | guitar | mumblecore | kissing | musician | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes a commitment requires a little creativity

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 March 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alexander el último

Company Credits

Production Co:

IFC Films, Film Science

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min 72 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

I can't turn the chemistry off.

I do not have a lot of experience in this genre of the independent film movement. But, in our search for the next John Cassavetes, we have to ask if Joe Swanberg is one to watch.

Low budget, improvised dialog (just about everyone in the film gets a writing credit), and a look at the lives of twenty-somethings, is part of the genre called "mumblecore" or " bedhead cinema" or "Slackavetes" in an homage to Cassavetes. My only previous experience has been Mark and Jay Duplass' film The Puffy Chair.

The film is about relationships, real and imaginary and how the two blend. Jess Weixler, who I loved in Teeth, is a stage actress in a way off Broadway production. She is married to Eliott (Justin Rice), a travelling musician. She brings Jaime (Barlow Jacobs - Shotgun Stories) home after rehearsal, as he has no where else to go. She tries to hook him up with her sister Hellen (Amy Seimetz - Wristcutters: A Love Story). The problem is that the lovemaking on stage is moving off stage. The imaginary is becoming real. No big surprise there as the stage sex is pretty real.

Of course, Hellen starts becoming jealous and accusatory, so her relationship with Alex (Weixler) deteriorates. The real starts to affect the imaginary as the stage relationship is strained.

The film had it's World Premiere last weekend at the SXSW.