Product: Last Days (2 Disc Special Edition)
Rating: 3.0
Slow build to a crescendo ...
"Last Days" (2005) is directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Drugstore Cowboy). This film portrays the fictionalized account of the final days of Curt Cobain's life. Curt Cobain (Blake) is portrayed by Michael Pitt as an introspective musician who is in isolation, constantly evading those around him, and stumbling about from a drug overdose. The film doesn't seem like much at first, and I wondered if the character would have any interest if I didn't know that this was about Curt Cobain's last days alive, but gradually these random, uninteresting events that we are shown are pulled together to reveal a mood and atmosphere that becomes hypnotic. An eight minute long dolly shot pulls back from a window of the house where Curt Cobain is practicing his music as a rising crescendo of haunting music collides with Curt's bashing of the drums. The sonic aspect of this scene is somewhat reminiscent of the cacophony of sound heard in Apocalypse Now when the madness is portrayed in the heart of darkness. This and other images, such as those of the towering green rain forest surrounding the old stone house, and the poetic scene of Curt's last breath, make this film a memorable experience.The two dvd set comes with a full screen and widescreen version of the movie, and there are a number of special features, including a making of the film, a deleted scene, a music video and the filming of the long dolly shot.