Last Exit

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.

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.

This is a must see film all about road rage and the causes and sometimes dire results. We read about these in the papers but this movie really spells it out. Much more suspenseful than CRASH. The two ladies in the leading roles couldn't have been better choices. Both Kathleen Robertson and Andrea Roth are spellbinding. They are superb and yet only play the final scene together and that is brief. Rounding out an excellent cast are Ben Bass as Robertson's hubby and Linden Ashby as the husband to Miss Roth.

You find yourself deeply involved with their personal and professional lives. And you care for both of them. The entire movie keeps you in your seat until it ultimately ends in the final crash scene. I was thoroughly taken with this. I also liked the young boy, Noah Bernett, who played the son to Robertson in a wheel chair.

There's plenty of dramatic moments and even some comedic moments, Robertson chasing the delivery boy through the park. But mainly it's a lesson for all of us to learn about road rage. You must see this. Thanks also goes to the writing by Russ Cochrane and superb direction by John Fawcett. Bravo.

Excellent acting by the two female leads. Sharp tension throughout. Ironic intersection of chance occurrences that is totally believable even if it is plot directed. Surprises and twists where least expected. Flashbacks and forward flashes that don't detract. Shocks that are the least shocking aspects of the fast paced movement. Strength and weaknesses in all the main protagonists. All of this in a made for TV movie. A superb plot, so well shot, so well thought through. The last made for TV movie that comes to mind that was on par for such quality all round - Duel by Stephen Spielberg. This movie is more than its parts and its final moments sum up the lack of answers that fate has for people, strong women, weak men, dependent children as the case may be .... this is a film which entertains while raising questions - most of which are never answered ... and the answers provided are almost all inadequate. Tragedy is a follower of the various individuals, parents, children, bosses, underlings ....but no one necessarily realizes or acknowledges what their lives are or what it may become. When the consequences of their actions take root, the results are not necessarily what are expected, for the various participants, and for us.

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.