Change Your Image
dancnguy
Reviews
The Last Word (2008)
I don't even know what to title this, it was so bad.
There are some movies that might not really do it for you, but have some redeeming value; The Last Word is not one them. The premise was great, a guy, Even (Wes Bentley) who writes professional suicide notes, and ends up getting involved with a sister of a former client, Charlotte (Winona Ryder). The idea is that the notes Even writes are supposed to be be deep, beautiful poetry, because its the last thing his clients are going to "say" after they're gone. But when you put beautiful poetry next to a bad script, poorly delivered lines, choppy cinematography, and a capricious soundtrack, whatever intelligence the premise had going for it is flushed down the drain. This movie didn't know if it wanted to be a romantic comedy, or an intense drama. Whenever I thought it was going to settle one way or another, either the script would contradict the tone set by the actors, the soundtrack would contradict the script, or a joke would contradict the drama, basically the the movie proceeded to step on its toes one bad scene after another.
I could go into more detail and give away spoilers, but to be honest, thinking about this movie is starting to give me a headache. Watch it for yourself, and judge, but if you're looking for an intense drama with a few well placed laughs, go watch Brick, or Better Off Tomorrow.