The Last Kiss by Paul Haggis
Seven out
of 10
The Last
Kiss is an interesting, if not overwhelming motion picture.
Zach Brach
does not exactly shine as Michael, there are some bizarre scenes, in which
either the actor, director or both make the strange choice to have him wait on
the porch until his would be wife might change her attitude, but while the hero
is doing that, he places his feet on the door, crouches in a fetal position,
sits and takes all the weird positions imaginable for no good reason, except to
annoy at least this viewer.
Otherwise,
the film has the stupendous Tom Wilkinson in it.
This formidable
actor does not make a mistake.
His performances
are always Perfect.
It is always
a divine pleasure to watch him at work.
Even when
the material is thin, like in The Last Kiss.
Stephen,
his character has some good advice for Michael, his would be son-in-law, but
the suggestions are good for anyone, including the audiences, notwithstanding
the near impossibility of applying his stoic philosophy…well, for many mere
mortals anyway.
Michael meets
a very determined, flamboyant, perhaps somewhat excessive, perseverant, brave
gritty woman.
This is Kim
and she is convinced that this man, married as he is, would have to become her
partner.
Michael is attracted
to her, in spite of the fact that his present partner is expecting their baby –
which on some levels has nothing to do with the chemistry between her spouse
and a young woman…
Michael and
Kim have sex, the man seems to regret it and his wife, Jenna, finds out about
it and is infuriated.
She throws
him out and decides to live with her parents, Anna and Stephen, probably
abandoning all prospects of living with Michael again.
Meanwhile, Michael’s
friends – Chris, Izzy and Kenny- all have issues and problems in their couples.
The recent
Academy Award winner, the controversial Casey Affleck, an actor accused of
various vile acts, portrays Chris some of which he has admitted to and
apologized for.
Chris is married
and he has a baby, a son that would grow in a broken family, given the
seemingly unsurpassable problems between parents.
Even Stephen
and Anna have problems, although the man has a rather inspiring speech when
talking to the younger Michael.
He says
that he has Never cheated on his wife.
Even if the
occasion had naturally arose.
He is inspiring
in praising and highlighting the importance of persistence.
Indeed, one
of the key Character Strengths is perseverance:
In
conclusion, the feature is not exhilarating, overwhelming or ecstatic.
However, it
has merits.
“There is nothing either good or bad, but
thinking makes it so.”
Hamlet
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