User reviews

So-so. Was initially interesting but drifts from a point and fizzles out. Could have been profound, but ultimately wasn't.

Good to see Winona Ryder, in a rare decent 2000s role for her (good to see Winona Ryder, full stop). Solid performance from her. Wes Bentley is a bit irritating in his role, but maybe it is because the longer the movie went on, the more I disliked his character.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It had my complete attention from the opening and onward until the credits. Its a decent film to watch with a significant other if you cant talk her into Rambo 7.

It leans more toward the drama side of things but definitely had some good laughs. It was casted well, as for I believe it was well acted. I cant really complain about much in this one.

Romano lends himself to a great comedic supporting role to liven up the dark portrayal of the lead character; equating to a great balance in the movie.

The ending was definitely fitting and made the movie end on a rather positive note; considering the movie takes you on a darker walk through out it was nice to see things summed up the way they were.

A quite refreshing to see romantic drama film.

Although i'm not sure, maybe its a Hollywood thing where you can plan your suicide for weeks or months in advance but statistically in the rest of the world suicide is mostly a spur of the moment decision, that part was always in the back of my mind whilst watching, so it did derail the story a little for me during the film.

Regardless it was still a decent watch, some good acting, but overall the characters didn't really capture your love or affection to warrant getting too involved in the film

Worth a watch, but the rewatch factor is pretty low.

If you just want the same old romantic comedy, this movie is not for you. It's a bit dark, a bit weird, but totally entertaining. Fresh, surprising and not formulaic. This movie definitely has a bit of everything - some odd comic relief and some touching moments and some romance and even a few things to get you thinking.

I loved Wes Bentley in American Beauty and I rented this movie just for him. He did not disappoint - he's a little off-kilter, but in the best possible way. Perfect in the role of Evan - strange but endearing.

Winona Ryder, on the other hand, was miscast as Charlotte. I like her and think she's very talented, and I didn't think she ruined the movie. But she wasn't quite right either, and I think this would have worked even better than it did with someone else in her role.

But that's a minor complaint. If you're wondering whether to see this, go for it. You'll be glad that you did. I certainly was.

Wes Bentley (from American Beauty) stars as Evan, a very solitary guy who writes suicide notes for other people. At a funeral for one of his clients he meets Charlotte (played by Winona Ryder) who forms an instant attraction to him.

This movie is about their relationship and how their relationship influences and changes Evan's life. All the characters are well developed and realized, and the actors portray them very well. The movie is an original and clever take on the usual romantic comedy. Due to Evan's vocation, it is quite dark. I think 'black romantic comedy' defines its genre well.

The movie seemed very real despite the fact that it centers around a vocation that doesn't really exist (at least on the surface of today's society). It was funny and well written. I highly recommend it for anybody who is looking for a dark romantic comedy that is out of the ordinary.

God was this movie awful.

First off, the main character has no personality, isn't that great looking and shows no emotion. Yet Winona Ryder practically stalks him to become his girlfriend. Because we all know that in real life, hot girls love strange, psychotic introverts. For some reason in Indie movies, things like this happen all the time. It is total bullshit, a filmmakers wet dream, because most are like the main character. If I go to a club tonight, sit by myself and act like a creepy sociopath, I will really land the hottest girl in the club.

His job is to write poetic suicide notes for people, because that is what you really care about when you have decided to off yourself, that you are viewed as a poetic genius. Of course nothing nasty/vindictive about the people in your life that eventually pushed you to that point, like 99.9% of suicide notes.

Really dumb movie, written and directed by people with no basis in reality.

I love Ray Romano but this movie was way too dark for me and there was too much swearing in it. I'm not usually one for censorship but I find that this movie was odd. I had never heard of Wes Bentley before - even though it says he was in American Beauty - but he isn't an actor I'd search out again. Winona is usually very polished and maybe it was her character. I hadn't seen it advertised anywhere either. Maybe it is an independent film. The music was great. I enjoyed the "music" Abel created in his studio and the compositions were nice - even after I realized what the movie was about. I have seen Gina Hecht in other pieces and she does a nice job. The rest of the family was dysfunctional and maybe that is why I didn't like this movie. Very odd film.

I HATED THIS FILM.

Comedy? No, folks, there are no laughs here. Great ending? Hah! The bit of relief at the end weighs like a feather compared to the darkness of the movie as a whole. This is a drama, a dark one, with suicide and love deceived and betrayed constantly in the background, yet the plot is compelling, and love tries to wriggle its way to the surface amid the human refuse. An excellent script, particularly if this is the writer's first. Strong, touching performances by Wes Bentley, Winona Ryder and Ray Romano. Don't see it when you're looking for some light entertainment for the evening. But when you're ready for something serious and something that might stick in your mind, see it then. There won't be many movies of its quality this year.

This is the finest comedy/drama I've seen in a couple of years, and it has the most satisfying ending I've ever seen. The film stars Wes Bentley (ironically, Haley shot the famous videotape of the plastic bag that Bentley shows to Thora Birch in "American Beauty") as Evan, who is a professional author of suicide notes. He meets with his clients, gets a sense of what they want, then asks them to keep a journal of their thoughts for a few weeks, after which Evan produces a poetic, client-customized suicide note for the soon-to-be-departed. He has become so prolific that one of his clients won a national poetry prize for Evan's note; the ever-mordant Evan is quick to add that the prize was, of course, awarded posthumously.

Evan estimates that 30% of his clients actually kill themselves; one who does is a young man named Matt Morris. When Evan attends Matt's funeral---he often attends the graveside service to evaluate the effect of his note on those in attendance---, Matt's sister Charlotte (Winona Ryder) follows him out of the service and asks him if he was a friend of her brother's. Evan lies that he went to Cornell with Matt, and soon he and Charlotte are dating. Trouble ensues when Evan eats dinner at Charlotte's house with the whole surviving family firing questions at him.

Meanwhile, we meet Evan's newest client, Abel (an excellent Ray Romano), an acerbic misanthrope with a death wish. They develop an unlikely bond, and there are some extremely touching (and hilarious) exchanges between the two as they work on Abel's farewell (in one such conversation, Abel, encouraging Evan to pursue Charlotte, tells him to buy her a puppy: "Girls love puppies. They're like heroin with fur!").

Things get complicated between Evan and Charlotte as he has must go to increasingly absurd lengths to conceal his true occupation and the real reason that he knew her brother. I won't reveal any more of the plot, because this is a ride truly to be enjoyed by the moviegoer.

Bentley fulfills the promise he showed in "American Beauty." He manages to imbue his characteristic monotone and piercing gaze with enough hints of emotion to reveal the depths of grief churning below his icy surface. Romano shows surprising dramatic range while retaining his trademark wit; it will be interesting to see if he continues to try to stretch his acting range. (On a side note, he admitted in the post-film Q&A that his psychiatrist reads the script before Romano will commit to any project.) Ryder is the only weak link here. She does a competent job, her doe eyes signaling the hurt over her brother's death that is only worsened by Evan's seeming callousness, but her acting doesn't rise to the level of her co- stars. Thankfully, it is really Bentley and Romano's film, and they make the most of it.

This is an astounding first feature from Haley, who wrote the screenplay in his trailer during breaks while lensing the final season of "Six Feet Under." Although he hasn't yet struck a distribution deal, potential buyers in yesterday's audience could not ignore the thunderous ovation that met the closing credits. Go see this one when it comes out in a theater near you, which it will. You won't be disappointed.

'The Last Word'(2008), starring my mate Winnie and one Wes Bentley (of 'American Beauty' fame), I read the description on IMDb.com, it went a little something, actually, exactly like this:

"A man (Bentley) who makes his living composing other people's suicide notes enters into a romance with the sister (Ryder) of a recent client." Hmmmm, I thought!

I added it to my favourites so that I could go back and watch should the mood take me, anyway it did, I've just watched it, and now I'm writing this.

Bentley plays Evan… I must say that this was the first thing i've enjoyed seeing Wes Bentley in since 'American Beauty'. Probably because his character in this movie is pretty much an older Ricky Fitz! Evan is a loner, poetically deep, interesting and intriguing… Had an abusive father… Yadda-yadda-yadda.

Evan writes suicide notes (hence the title: 'The Last Word') for clients who've contacted him through his website. One of Evan's current clients is a guy called Abel, played by 'Everyone Love's Raymond's Ray Romano.

I've never seen Ray Romano play any other character before and I really enjoyed his performance in this film. Abel's friendship with Evan grows during Evan's developing relationship with Ryder's character Charlotte.

I never knew this movie existed before this weekend, and everything in it is subtle and yet achieves maximum impact.'The Last Word' is unpredictable, funny, honest and sad. Well it's not very sad per say, considering it's main theme is death! But for a piece which walks hand in hand with suicide it is actually quite light, yet not at all offensive or disrespectful. It follows Evan's story and it has a happy ending. It's the type of film that I don't plan to watch again, but probably will do, and probably more than once.

In my opinion this movie is a wee gem. It's strangely beautiful, a bit like that carrier bag blowing in the wind! I recommend it.

I even feel a need to make a shout out to the guy who wrote and directed this movie, his name is Geoffrey Haley. He has two writing credits to his name, one short film and this one being his only feature film. His greatest plethora of work takes place within the camera and electrical department; if you check out his film credentials on IMDb, he has over 80 for camera and electrical, steadicam operations being his apparent forte. You will no doubt recognise a lot of the films Haley has worked on, one of which was 'American Beauty'…

Swings and roundabouts folks. Swings and roundabouts.

This movie is phenomenal.The script is well written and the characters have portrayed themselves very well. Its about a writer who writes the suicide notes. He never tries to forbid his clients from going ahead with their suicides. That's also strange.

Ray's character is great. He does some unusually strange things.Scaring the baby and the concept of venting you anger on inanimate objects were very original and idiosyncratic.

You will love this movie if you ever had setbacks in your life. Its a different take on life and the thinking of various people. Things we think of but never verbalize in public.

The Last Word . . . I saw this movie on Netflix yesterday. I Loved this movie (I would shout but not allowed). "The Last Word" isn't for everyone. If you are one of those usual moviegoers that like to see the same boring subject regurgitated repeatedly by Hollywood, don't watch this; you are too boring to "get it." The screenplay is brilliant. Wes Bentley's performance . . . WhaT?!!! Who is this guy? I could feel his isolated, closed down personality; and how uncomfortable he was "in his own skin" with himself and others.

Haley wrote and directed this! What a performance he got out of Winona and Romano. Yes, of course, acting has a lot to do with that, but the script is . . . WoW!

The ending just blew me away. Now I am on my way to seek other works of Haley and Bentley.

When watching this movie, I was actually thinking, "That would be a great business to start." Yeah I know, I am a little more twisted than the average moviegoer.

I have recommended this movie to my family and friends because they are interesting and so am I.

Was this nominated for a Spirit Award? If it wasn't, they suck.

It's now July 26, 2013 . . . wow I've been away a long time. I just found this movie for sale at Blockbuster, new and inexpensive, since Blockbuster will soon be out of business. I don't think I like all of the movie stores (Hollywood Video, Blockbuster) closing down.

at first sigh, the Wes Bentley return. with small observation - it is not really a new American Beauty. it is bitter, sarcastic, a kind of dark chocolate. a part of long chain about strange men and nice girls, secrets and fundamental choices but all are only details.because it is a fresco not for a love story but for life love. a different writer and his clients. a meeting and a relationship. and old story, with cinnamon traces, about she and him. I love it. for its aura, for the levels of story for Wes Bentley in his perfect character clothes, for Winnona Ryder and her work to be decent Charlotte.like many films of present,a movie about nothing or only about insignificant events.