Last Night in Rozzie

This story of love, loyalty, healing and facing your past however dark or painful it may be really hit home with me. The acting was so believable that I was fully invested in all the characters and their destinies. I would recommend this movie to really anyone.

It was alright; although a bit predictable script. A done before tale of childhood friends where a life changing incident leaves them w/a secret to be used for a future, sorta guilt level, blackmail. Ending also predictable. Currently popular in media of showing racial minority in a super positive role. Obnoxious kid to adult a bit stereotyped, but role a setup for the ending. Baseball skills by all not very good.

Greetings again from the darkness. Fulfilling the dying wish of a long-ago childhood friend is the basis of this story from screenwriter Ryan McDonough and director Sean Gannet. It's the feature film version of their own 2017 short film with the same title.

Jeremy Sisto (WAITRESS, 2007) stars as Joey Donovan, a crude man just waiting to die in his hospital bed. Out of the blue, he calls his childhood buddy Ronnie Russo (Neil Brown Jr, "SEAL Team"). The two haven't spoken for 25 years, and Ronnie is now an attorney in New York City. He's the one who "got out", while Joey remained in the Roslindale area of Boston, a working class neighborhood. It's an awkward reunion for the two men whose last connection was their Little League team. Joey asks for Ronnie's help in fulfilling his final wish.

We soon learn that Joey is not the most straightforward and truthful of individuals. In fact, he's downright deceitful at times, and director Gannet includes flashbacks to give us some background on why these two turned out the way they did, and what event from so many years ago ties them together. Joey's request forces Ronnie to re-connect with his childhood crush Pattie (Nicky Whelan, HALL PASS, 2011). And of course there's more complexity to the situation than Joey discloses.

The film has been well received at film festivals, but I can't help but think that more attention to the background of the three main characters could have added a bit more heft. Supporting actors include Kevin Chapman as Joey's father, Greyson Cage and Ryan Canale as young Ronnie and Joey, and James DeFilippi as Patti's son, JJ. The film touches on a few interesting topics - childhood friends, split second decisions, regrets and final wishes, as well as the reasons behind lies.

In select theaters and on VOD beginning September 17, 2021.

I've been away from Roslindale and Jamaica Plain for a few years myself - although not as many as the main character, Ronnie Russo. But I enjoyed the chance to visit, in a way, through this movie.

The performances by all of the cast felt powerful, and the film moved me. The theme that resonated with me is how the echoes of our past relationships and choices are things we can't escape, and if we stop trying to do so, we can learn about ourselves, our values, and how to have authentic close personal relationships.

I highly recommend this film!

This story of a childhood friendship wrought with bad choices, and the toll those choices play into adulthood, stars Jeremy Sisto and Neil Brown Jr., both great actors who I was shocked to see in this little indie flick. Jeremy Sisto does an amazing job playing Joey, the a-hole looking for redemption, and somehow makes you feel for him despite his past and current behavior. I do wish they went a little deeper into Ronnie's backstory, but all in all, it was a great movie addressing some deep issues with real heart. In reality, I'd rate this a solid 7/10, but gave it a 10 to counteract those trolls giving it an undeserved 1 star rating.