DVD Review: The Last Kiss [Blu-ray]: Zach Braff, Jacinda Barrett, Rachel Bilson, Casey Affleck, Michael Weston, Eric Christian Olsen, Marley Shelton, Lauren Lee Smith, Harold Ramis, Blythe Danner, Tom Wilkinson, David Jones, Tony Goldwyn, Andre Lamal, Eric Reid, Gabriele Muccino, Gary Lucchesi, Guendalina Ponti, Paul Haggis: Movies & TV

Apr21

DVD Review: The Last Kiss [Blu-ray]: Zach Braff, Jacinda Barrett, Rachel Bilson, Casey Affleck, Michael Weston, Eric Christian Olsen, Marley Shelton, Lauren Lee Smith, Harold Ramis, Blythe Danner, Tom Wilkinson, David Jones, Tony Goldwyn, Andre Lamal, Eric Reid, Gabriele Muccino, Gary Lucchesi, Guendalina Ponti, Paul Haggis: Movies & TV

Posted by admin | on 21 April, 11:37 PM

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A remake of the Italian film L’Ultimo Bacio, The Last Kiss was largely ignored in theaters despite its Gen-X themes and appeal of star Zach Braff (Scrubs), who last made a splash in theaters with his similar twentysomething angst film Garden State. A drama about midlife crises (mostly for people approaching 30, that is), director Tony Goldwyn (A Walk on the Moon) has assembled a top-notch cast, but there’s not enough likeability in the characters to care. Architect Michael (Zach Braff) is a commitmentphobe who wanders into a flirtation with coed Kim (Rachel Bilson) because he’s gun-shy about settling down with his perfect girlfriend Jenna (Jacinda Barrett), who’s expecting his child. His fellow pals face their own romantic crossroads; one (Michael Weston) desires to settle down with a woman who doesn’t love him back; another (Eric Christian Olsen) can’t find someone who just wants a meaningless fling like him; and the third (Casey Affleck), ponders leaving his weary wife who’s constantly berating his shortcomings as a father. Most depressing is Jenna’s mother (Blythe Danner), who’s tired of feeling neglected by her stoic husband (Tom Wilkinson). Danner and Wilkinson are compelling as longtime marrieds who’ve lost their spark, but Braff’s character is wholly unlikeable, even aside from his indiscretions. The bright spot is Bilson, in her first movie role, utterly adorable as the sexy college student who’s got more parts vulnerability and sass than any stuck in the Other Woman role. There’s some fine acting in The Last Kiss, but not enough character development to care about anything they’re going through.

The DVD includes a commentary featuring cast members Braff, Barrett, Olsen, Bilson, and director Goldwyn, who all mainly hoot during Olsen’s sex scenes and ogle Bilson’s seductive dancing. Braff and Goldwyn also imitate Bilson’s high-pitched speedchatter throughout, while Barrett educates the cast on the similarities between “the dingo ate my baby” and the O.J. Simpson case (don’t ask). It’s all the more entertaining compared to a separate commentary track with just Goldwyn and Braff, who mostly drones about the music he picked for the film (Remy Zero, Snow Patrol, Aimee Mann) and raves about the minimalist score, done by singer Michael Penn. And oh, they ogle Bilson’s dancing in this one too. — Ellen A. Kim

Product Description
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 04/14/2009 Run time: 103 minutes Rating: R

for the emotionally honest,

By Luca Graziuso DVD Review: The Last Kiss [Blu ray]: Zach Braff, Jacinda Barrett, Rachel Bilson, Casey Affleck, Michael Weston, Eric Christian Olsen, Marley Shelton, Lauren Lee Smith, Harold Ramis, Blythe Danner, Tom Wilkinson, David Jones, Tony Goldwyn, Andre Lamal, Eric Reid, Gabriele Muccino, Gary Lucchesi, Guendalina Ponti, Paul Haggis: Movies & TV carrot. V47081519 (NYC) -

This review is from: The Last Kiss (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

This is a dramatic piece originally written and directed by Gabriele Muccino under the title “The Last Kiss” (2001). A blockbuster in Italy and a much more intense and revealing experience than this Hollywood counterpart by Tony Goldwyn, who seems to have a penchant for appropriating scripts (million dollar baby and Crash) and legitimizing the depth that is therein displayed. Needless to say in this adaptation - however direct transliteral carbon-copy may be a more accurate description - something is lost. The cultural translation works only within a limited dress, disguising inability to commit with what may be “existential angst” in full swing. The Italian version adds intensity where the DreamWorks production carries a blunt tenderness, neither convincing nor endearing, but always aptly dramatized. The casting is excellent as we’ve come to expect of all of Tricia Wood’s engagements, with Zach Braff and Jacinta Barrett and Rachel Bilson in leading roles supported with a surplus of talent in minor agents of definite weight.
This movie is well-constructed and racy in an intellectual and sensual sense. What happened to the screams into the void, the cries for more and the desperation for meaning that afflicted the characters in “L’Ultimo Bacio” and seems to be an afterthought in a redrafted tale about the fragility of the psyche and the crass expectations we feel obliged to meet and rejoice within.
Something is lost in the translation, but the undercurrents are aflowing with enough force to warrant watching and perhaps even comparing. If you are verging on 30 and thinking about getting married you’ll end up getting stuck in a nostalgic disoriented displaced mood. If you are a woman you’ll wonder why the male presence overarches the female roles, with the answer being a cultural one. In Italy this is a “Guy-flick”. In other words: a night out with the guys so as to vent, let go and recharge, similar to the much maligned chick-flick category, but more of a phenomena with depth of extra human proportions. Not possible in the US (I apologize for the generalizing vein I force here).
To make it simple for the simple “if you liked Garden State you’ll love The Last Kiss.” If you are not afraid of pinching the reflective chords within so as to stir the inevitable emotional instability we must confront on occasions lest we just follow the crowd and get lost in the shuffle, then watch it and enjoy, or better yet buy the original version (on sale on Amazon too) and challenge your intellectual sensibilities in an honest commercial effort, satisfactory and satisfying.

The truth can be hard to watch,

By Tristan B DVD Review: The Last Kiss [Blu ray]: Zach Braff, Jacinda Barrett, Rachel Bilson, Casey Affleck, Michael Weston, Eric Christian Olsen, Marley Shelton, Lauren Lee Smith, Harold Ramis, Blythe Danner, Tom Wilkinson, David Jones, Tony Goldwyn, Andre Lamal, Eric Reid, Gabriele Muccino, Gary Lucchesi, Guendalina Ponti, Paul Haggis: Movies & TV carrot. V47081519 (CA, United States) -

This review is from: The Last Kiss (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

Any male between 23-30 whos considering or in a commited relationship can attest to the (brutal) honesty of this movie. It portray’s men’s grass is greener feelings toward other women (when locked in a relationship) with perfection. The portrayal of Chris’ character and having a child is absolutely spot on also, raising a child can push you to your edge just like you see his wife. And consequently make you consider leaving the relationship. The grass is greener feelings toward bachlors, etc, the movie is just plain accurate and I’m sure many have found it profound how the film nailed their own personal feelings.

A paragraph for the character of Jenna (played by Jacinda Barrett). Wow, the portrayal is just so amazing and real, my wife and I were both affected very much by it (my wife was in tears in the first Chris/Jenna confrontation and then of course the Michael/Jenna immediately after). The acting was the most honest I’ve ever seen a female actor allow themselves to go to. I saw some comments about the physicality of Jenna’s character, personally it was spot on, my wife would certainly push/smack/slap me if I’d behaved even close to the Michael character. This could be direction as well as Jacinda of course. If so, very nice Tony.

Great movie overall, excellent casting and I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I did not find it depressing at all, which is a word I’ve heard associated with the movie often. The movie may be depressing for those under 20ish, but that is only because they’ve yet to experience just how factual and honest the movie actually is. It’s not depressing, it’s real life.

The Last Kiss,

By Karin Creighton DVD Review: The Last Kiss [Blu ray]: Zach Braff, Jacinda Barrett, Rachel Bilson, Casey Affleck, Michael Weston, Eric Christian Olsen, Marley Shelton, Lauren Lee Smith, Harold Ramis, Blythe Danner, Tom Wilkinson, David Jones, Tony Goldwyn, Andre Lamal, Eric Reid, Gabriele Muccino, Gary Lucchesi, Guendalina Ponti, Paul Haggis: Movies & TV carrot. V47081519 -

This review is from: The Last Kiss (Full Screen Edition) (DVD)

Relationships are evaluated, endured, cursed and celebrated in this fast paced saga about friendship, love and commitment. I originally thought it was going to be a light hearted movie but was pleassntly surprised to find it a movie of real subtance. The characters are realistic and the emotion portrayed is believable. Although intense at times the characters demonstrate the angst and joy of life and love with another person. I found one of the lines especailly profound and have never heard anything expressed so honestly before. “Everbody says they love someone but what they feel really only matters to them. It’s what they DO to the people they say they love is what really counts.” Case point. End of story. I recommend this movie to those who are not afraid of real emotion. It is moving and they kind of movie that can effect your life in a positive way and stay with you a long time.
Search The Last Kiss [Blu-ray]: Zach Braff, Jacinda Barrett, Rachel Bilson, Casey Affleck, Michael Weston, Eric Christian Olsen, Marley Shelton, Lauren Lee Smith, Harold Ramis, Blythe Danner, Tom Wilkinson, David Jones, Tony Goldwyn, Andre Lamal, Eric Reid, Gabriele Muccino, Gary Lucchesi, Guendalina Ponti, Paul Haggis: Movies & TV from AmAzon

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