Last Days (2005)

A Seattle musician's life and career are reminiscent to those of Kurt Cobain.

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writer:

Gus Van Sant

Stars:

Michael Pitt, Lukas Haas, Asia Argento

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

Storyline

Introspective artist Blake is buckling under the weight of fame, professional obligations and a mounting feeling of isolation. Dwarfed by towering trees, Blake slowly makes his way through dense woods. He scrambles down an embankment to a fresh spring and undresses for a short swim. The next morning he returns to his house, an elegant, if neglected, stone mansion. Many people are looking for Blake--his friends, his managers and record label, even a private detective--but he does not want to be found. In the haze of his final hours, Blake will spend most his time by himself. He avoids the people who are living in his house, who approach him only when they want something, be it money or help with a song. He hides from one concerned friend and turns away another. He visits politely with a stranger from the Yellow Pages sales department, and he ducks into an underground rock club. He wanders through the woods and he plays a new song, one last rock and roll blowout. Finally, alone in the ...

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Plot Keywords:

kurt cobain | musician | drug addict | depression | singer | 

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Taglines:

Rock and roll will never die.

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Spain]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 May 2005 (France)

Also Known As:

Last Days - Últimos Dias

Filming Locations:

Garrison, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$86,556, 24 July 2005, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$454,711, 28 August 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Films, Meno Film Company, Picturehouse

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gus Van Sant had originally intended to make a direct bio-pic of Kurt Cobain in the mid-1990's but ran into legal obstruction from Cobain's widow, Courtney Love. Undeterred, Van Sant met with Love to discuss some ideas for the film, as well as her possible involvement. Though the two actually became friends and discussed the film for years, Van Sant eventually realized that Love was too devastated by Cobain's death to ever collaborate on the film or even allow a bio-pic to ever be made and adapted his ideas into this fictionalized story.

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Goofs

Throughout the film Blake plays guitar both left handed and right handed. (Kurt Cobain - on whom Blake is reportedly based - played left handed.)

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Quotes

Blake: I lost something on the way to wherever I am today.

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Connections

Featured in Brows Held High: Mister Lonely (2013)

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Soundtracks

Venus in Furs
Written by Lou Reed
Performed by The Velvet Underground
Courtesy of Universal Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Brilliant and moving - give it a chance...

I'm here to defend this brilliant film from those who have labelled it a bad watch. It's true that last Days isn't a film for everyone, nirvana fans are best to stay well away as the sight of their icon in a dress might send a shiver down their spines, but those who are willing to simply be with the character of Blake, body and mind, for 90 mins are in for something special. I've never been a big fan of Gus Van Sant's and this looked like his most pretentious project yet, but beyond the events the films based on and all the conspiracy theories that come with it Van Sant has chosen to just tell a story of a lonely isolated man. As Blake, Michael Pitt is fantastic, with little or nothing to say he has to rely on his mannerisms and facial expressions throughout most of the film and he does so with ease and brilliance. The stand out moment has to be 'Death To Birth'. Pitt's great song fits so well into the film you would think he wrote it about Cobain, (and he probably did) it's a scene you'll wanna watch over and you'll find yourself singing the song when the movie's finished. So not for everyone but a spiritual journey none the less, make sure it's late and your alone, put it on, you know your right.