The Last Movie

The Last Movie is one of those rare films that gets into the heads of actors. The character of Elizabeth, who is about to play the part of a femme fatale in a remake of a Russian noir thriller, is played beautifully by Elizabeth Gondek. To play the part she must get inside the head of a murderess and apply her own life to the part. It is done with great subtlety and the results are a curious madness that kept me fascinated. The overall writing and direction by Bruce Pittman is beautifully crafted and kept me guessing with all its twists and turns. The recreation of the original Russian noir film is totally convincing. Nataliya Alyexeyenko as Nastya captures the spirit of Lana Turner in The Postman Always Rings Twice and Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity. The lighting and camera work by Rick Wincenty perfectly recreates those fabulous films of the 40's, smooth and flawless. The Last Movie is a very different kind of thriller with the visions of classic noir blended with a modern story. Hope to see more from Bruce Pittman.

Dispirited at the current state of Canadian cinema, veteran Toronto director Bruce Pittman simply made one of his own. Titled the Last Movie it is a top rated film noir filled with suspense and some laughs courtesy of our flagging film industry, And the wonder is Pittman shot it mainly in his Riverdale home using nonunion crew and players. The effect is mesmerizing, a triumph of cinematography and scripting, beautifully photographed and edited so very precisely. It is compulsively watchable and is playing this week at Toronto's Royal cinema along College Street. This is what film making is all about. I give it **** 1/2 stars and I'm deeply grateful for the experience. It shows me Canadian films are not dead and buried but alive and vibrant.

The opening half of the last movie traces the efforts of an independent

filmmaker to do a remake of a Russian thriller. It seamlessly combines healthy doses

of the original Russian film with both a documentary of the making of the film and the private tribulations the director goes through to make the film.

The last half involves the casting of a new actress to play the femme fatale in the

New film. Here is where the film becomes a psychological thriller in the tradition

of Polanski's Repulsion.

Hats off to a film that tries to be a little different from the current fare.

I took a chance on this film because I love film noir. The Last Movie is so much more.

It begins as a classic black and white noir movie then becomes a film about remaking this film.

Along the way it details the creative process and frustrations of a film director trying to put it all together.

Slowly the story of the remake becomes its own horror film.

It makes for a unique and thoroughly entertaining movie with totally believable characters and performances.

I loved the black and white photography by Rick Wincenty in the old noir film. Very evocative of some of my favorites from the 1940's

Editorially, the film moves like an express train from start to finish.

If you're looking for something a little different – you can't go wrong with The Last Movie.

A very unique little movie – at once a truly believable black and white noir film; a wonderfully entertaining drama document on remaking the noir film and finally a nifty little horror film in the vein of Polanski's Repulsion. It sounds complicated, but all these pieces fit together seamlessly in a tight view of old movies and modern filmmaking. The photography and design of the film in total keeping with the genre and beautifully done. Beyond this, it is a terrific psychological study of madness. The performance by Elizabeth Gondek as the actress is a chilling portrayal of someone falling apart piece by piece. Kudos to the whole cast and writer-director Bruce Pittman. I can only hope this is not his last movie.