Issue fatale

In a big city, Beth Welland (Kathleen Robertson) is a divorced woman working as secretary in a law firm having problems with her boss and also financial difficulties to raise her ten year old handicapped beloved son Benji. On the day of Benji's birthday, Beth's life is completely affected when she is cut up by the executive Diana Burke (Andrea Roth) and misses the last exit in a highway, arriving late in her job. Meanwhile, Andrea is under pressure, depending on her presentation to an important client to be promoted in the company where she works, but having family problems at home, with her unemployed husband, two teenagers and a secret pregnancy. This incident early in the morning together with the stressed situations along their day will entwine and affect their lives and destinies.

I like to discover good low-budget unknown movies and "Last Exit" is one of the best I have recently seen. Living in a big city, driving every day, my daily life is no different from the two lead characters – I have problem with the violence in the traffic, being aware most of the time to avoid car hijack, at home, in my work; therefore, I have had a great identification with Diana and Beth regarding a hard day in a big city. The non-linear screenplay disclosing the parallel bad day of the two ordinary women is intriguing and suspenseful, holding the attention of the viewer until the very last scene. I only know the good "Ginger Snaps" from the director John Fawcett, but based on the sample of these two movies he seems to be a promising professional. Kathleen Robertson and Andrea Roth are awesome, developing human and totally credible characters. In the end, "Last Exit" is surprisingly refreshing and great and highly recommended. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Última Saída" ("Last Exit")

I thought the movie well represented the reality of modern life. News stories on a regular basis highlight the impact of stress, poverty, and other conditions that push people to do unthinkable things. Last Exit keeps you on the edge of your seat as you watch the events of the day unfold in the lives of two very different women. The movie was not a sensational unrealistic Hollywood movie - it was very much a low key realistic look at the lives of the two women. One women is quite well off with husband and child, the other women divorced, in financial difficulty and struggling to hold a job and raise her son. The movie illustrates how one person can reach breaking point after a number of unfortunate events occur over a period of time. My wife really enjoyed the movie and so did some friends we recommended it to. Very good.

They don't tell you this in the plot outline but early into this movie you realize that Murphy, of the ill-famed 'Murphy's Laws,' apparently has written himself into this script :^). As you're watching this movie, it will slowly reel you in. By the time you're 3/4 into it, you'll find yourself amazed, thinking just how good it is. But, by then, you're just scratching the surface of where this movie is going to take you. And by the end, you'll be glad that you decided to invest the time to watch it. This movie leaves you feeling. And, most importantly, you'll learn something about life and yourself from the experience because, during the movie, you'll be constantly comparing your life to the ones you're witnessing on the screen. And I bet, you'll see a bit of yourself there sometimes. This movie makes you profoundly think about a lot of things. Kudos to the director.

"Last Exit" is a fantastic little film that details the events of a day in the life of two very different women, whose days become inexplicably intertwined simply because of a little bit of road rage. Kathleen Robertson plays Beth Welland, a lovely young woman raising a son who is in a wheelchair, and dealing with the pressures of every day life. Andrea Roth is Diana Burke, a well-to-do woman with troubled teens and a distant husband, though she seems to be doing good for herself at work, until this fateful day.

Kathleen Robertson proves that she is a fantastic actress with the complex Beth, such an amazing performance. Andrea Roth also gives a great performance. Supporting them are Linden Ashby as Diana's husband Scott, Ben Baas, giving an amazing performance as David the father of Beth's son, and Noah Bernett, who plays Beth's son.

"Last Exit" may be a TV movie, but it doesn't seem like it, far exceeding the usual formula of tele-movies, and featuring a great story-telling sequence, with the shocking climax being shown at the beginning - then flashing back, because the events that take place during these women's day are so interesting, you're compelled to watch.

I think not only drivers (especially reckless ones) can benefit from watching "Last Exit", but almost everyone, for while driving is a major part of the film, the real-life issues and dilemmas the women face can be applied to almost anyones life. Well done to all involved.

Director John Fawcett previously brought us the first GINGER SNAPS and THE DARK (the one with Maria Bello). Two movies I happen to like. LAST EXIT is a quite different film, but turned out a pretty solid viewing experience. Two unrelated women, portrayed by Andrea Roth and Kathleen Robertson (who finally has the chance to prove she can carry a film with a semi-leading role), are involved in a nasty car crash. The whole film consist out of flash-backs, illustrating the events leading up to the crash. LAST EXIT starts off a bit slow, but gradually Fawcett ups the pace and things get worse and worse for our two leading ladies (and thus: more interesting for the viewer).

Fawcett sets his story in a crowded, hectic city and handles a more "realistic" visual language (loose camera work from the shoulder, faster editing), so it's a bit of a break from his more stylised work in films like THE DARK and maybe requires getting a little used to at first. Nevertheless, this made-for-TV film really is worth a watch and proof that a lot of TV work these days can easily compete with theatrical releases. A decent story, a good director and fine actors work wonders sometimes. Fawcett and writer Russ Cochrane even managed to come up with a solid denouement (for which I was fearing, but ungrounded as it turned out). Check out LAST EXIT; it should leave you satisfied at the end of the ride.