I knew Flynn was an icon and a superstar in the golden age of Hollywood, a dashing figure who knew how to create controversy, was both loved and despised by many, and sort of remains a legend in the world of cinema. This film explores the last part of his life, as he became involved in another questionable relationship, which allowed to depart in the middle of another sensational moment.
Kevin Kline does a superb job bringing the star to life. He is at the moment when he has started fading because of financial and health problems. He has managed to hide behind his star facade, but if you get close enough, you can see how vulnerable he really is, and it's at this moment that he finds the "last of his loves", a relationship that we never really understand, but that hints at the possibility that both parties might have at least been fond of each other. In order to create that, we are given the character of Flo, a real life mother who has been living her dreams through her daughter's attempts to break into show business.
We learn she has driven her quietly, breaking rules, lying, exposing her to risky situations so she can achieve vicariously what she missed earlier in her youth. She's damaged good both physically and mentally, and later she finds she shares a lot in common with Flynn. It's hard to excuse either, and in the middle is Dakota's Beverly, who is hungry for attention, affection, and maybe fame. The problem is that she lands in the middle of Flynn and Florence, and she is a simple soul, with very little acting or singing talent.
The film takes you back to a time when society might have looked different and might have pretended to be different, but we have predators, victims, dreamers, and plenty of nightmares. Flynn and Florence have alcoholic demons in both their existences. Both lives will end as a result of the damages caused by that drug. It's here where both Kline and Sarandon are able to do their best work by showing as much as possible of what lives inside these people's souls. We can't hate them completely, and they try hard to earn our sympathy, but we could never really go along with it, yet we keep watching until the logical resolution.
The film is not perfect, but it's a good effort that shows the last part of the lives of three flawed individuals and how their interaction became part of a legend's final act.
Kevin Kline does a superb job bringing the star to life. He is at the moment when he has started fading because of financial and health problems. He has managed to hide behind his star facade, but if you get close enough, you can see how vulnerable he really is, and it's at this moment that he finds the "last of his loves", a relationship that we never really understand, but that hints at the possibility that both parties might have at least been fond of each other. In order to create that, we are given the character of Flo, a real life mother who has been living her dreams through her daughter's attempts to break into show business.
We learn she has driven her quietly, breaking rules, lying, exposing her to risky situations so she can achieve vicariously what she missed earlier in her youth. She's damaged good both physically and mentally, and later she finds she shares a lot in common with Flynn. It's hard to excuse either, and in the middle is Dakota's Beverly, who is hungry for attention, affection, and maybe fame. The problem is that she lands in the middle of Flynn and Florence, and she is a simple soul, with very little acting or singing talent.
The film takes you back to a time when society might have looked different and might have pretended to be different, but we have predators, victims, dreamers, and plenty of nightmares. Flynn and Florence have alcoholic demons in both their existences. Both lives will end as a result of the damages caused by that drug. It's here where both Kline and Sarandon are able to do their best work by showing as much as possible of what lives inside these people's souls. We can't hate them completely, and they try hard to earn our sympathy, but we could never really go along with it, yet we keep watching until the logical resolution.
The film is not perfect, but it's a good effort that shows the last part of the lives of three flawed individuals and how their interaction became part of a legend's final act.