Product: Last Days (2 Disc Special Edition)
Rating: 5.0
A truly misunderstood character study.
The film is not about the last days of Kurt Cobain, an observation that most film-goers, particularly Kurt Cobain fanboys (some of which, have only heard "Smells Like Teen Spirit", and the "Nevermind" album about a thousand times, and claim him to be their savior, or whatever), seem to get stuck in their thought process, as they begin to read about and/or view this film. In the end, they feel like the film disappointed them, and that their hero's image was distorted and somehow "ruined" by this film.The film itself is actually a rather excellent and unique character study about a rock star junkie named Blake, who's going through the motions, experiencing the SAME mental and social isolation feelings that Cobain MAY HAVE experienced during his final days. Yes, Gus was obviously influenced to make this film by the whole Kurt Cobain phenomenon. Yes, Gus, you, and I know that it's obviously based on Kurt Cobain, and while the Blake character may resemble him in several aspects, in the end, he IS not Kurt at all.We can barely comprehend what the protagonist is saying throughout the whole film, and the film itself is rather silent, with minimal dialogue and action to hold most viewers' attention. I take it that Blake's mumbling depicts just how seperated he is from reality in the film, as he can barely make out his own thoughts and words in the film. He's just drifting around his house and friends, not knowing where to go, what to do, or how to help himself dig a hole to the surface, to escape from his own hell.I love how Blake's perspective is shown in third person viewing. The cinematography allows us to truly experience his isolation, from his perspective, while we're able to watch him experience it first hand. So, essentially, we are experiencing his "Last Days" from two point of views. The cinematography in the "Death" trilogy is truly amazing.The most haunting aspect of the film was Blake's friends.They kept him around, just so they could pry money and shelter off of him. They were merely acquaintances to him now, and in some scenes, they show how much they can care less about Blake's situation. For example *SPOILERS*, the scene where Blake falls while watching the Boys II Men video. Asia finds him, but doesn't even notify the others of his condition. She just props him up against the wall, and leaves him where he is, and goes about her day.The way the characters are just capable of extracting anything they please out of the lead character while he's going through withdrawal from reality and himself is disturbing to me.I should point out, and know for sure, that not everyone will find this film watchable, or even tolerable. The film definitely will not cater entertainment to a mainstream audience. I figured that "Elephant" was Van Sant's best after I saw this film for the first time, but now, I'm starting to think that "Last Days" may just be the masterpiece of his "Death" trilogy, and is certainly one of his best films to date.