The Last Time – DVD Review

Film, Reviews

Available at Amazon.com

Director

Michael Caleo

Cast

Michael Keaton Ted
Brendan Fraser Jamie
Amber Valletta Belisa

DVD Release Date: July 10, 2007
Rating: R
Running Time: 97 Minutes

The Movie

Jamie and his fiancé Belisa just moved to New York from Ohio and are planning on things taking a whole new turn in life. Jamie has a new job with a computer company in sales and looks to continue his success as the top seller at the company he just left. Belisa plans on seeing what it is like to play the doting housewife living in a whole new city. Jamie is ambitious but quite naive as to what the big city may bring for he soon realizes the fast pace of his new surroundings when he meets his partner Ted.

Ted is a savvy businessman who really doesn’t care what anyone thinks about him, and truly doesn’t care much about anyone else period. To be blunt and honest, Ted is a prick. He makes fun of everyone he meets. He talks down to all his clients and hits on their weak points to make a sale. He is rude and condescending to his coworkers, but he’s the company’s top salesman so he isn’t going anywhere soon. And Jamie is soon to discover that he isn’t in Ohio anymore.

He quickly starts to learn that the happy-go-lucky attitude that used to get him by will not fly in New York and Ted sees it, but doesn’t really care. Ted lets Jamie know that life isn’t always happy and that something is going to go wrong in all aspects of his life including work, home, and relationships. Well, Ted begins to care once he meets Jamie’s fiancé Belisa and quickly falls for her. As Jamie struggles to find some semblance of senility as sale after sale falls through, his new partner is having an affair with the love of his life right behind his back.

As Belisa and Ted grow closer, Jamie’s life begins to crumble. In an odd turn of events as well, it is now Jamie who begins to see life as nothing to look forward to. He realizes that life does nothing but crap on you and no matter how good things seem that no one is still ever truly happy. Ted on the other hand has begun to see the good side of life. He sees that life isn’t only about work and never trusting anyone. All he needed was the love of a good woman to bring everything into perspective. Yet trouble still remains as Belisa is finding it hard to desert Jamie in his time of need, but Ted will do anything to be with her.

For a film I had never even heard of before receiving it from the studio, I was incredibly impressed. Brendan Fraser is a good actor but has really taken on some horrible roles in the past. Michael Keaton is a fantastic actor who has also had his share of bad roles, but the good far outnumber the bad. Together on film, they mesh a lot better then anyone could have ever expected. They do an excellent job of playing the moron (Fraser) and the prick (Keaton), but switching places over the duration of the film.

The Last Time had the feeling of Demi Moore’s Disclosure at some points but just never quite accomplished the dark feel I believe it was going for. As you’ll be able to tell, it was trying to show the underside of the business world and what can come about when people are neglected and betrayal sets in. The harsh reality is evident, but the darker deceptive mood that was intended never quite got there. Things were still kept too light and even humorous at times for it to be more venomous. Yet the film still gathered a good cast telling a good story that held a steady pace and kept my interest way up. And it never hurts to throw in a somewhat clever twist.

The Video

The film is shown in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen format and looks good. No problems in the clarity or brightness of colors and there were no very dark scenes so being able to see everything never became a problem. There is also the option to watch the film in 1.33:1 Full Screen format.

The Audio

The film is heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and is also perfectly fine. There are no real loud moments except for the screeching of tires or brakes during some of the driving scenes, but it is minimal. All dialogue can be heard well and the music never overshadows any of it.

Special Features

Deleted/Extended Scenes – Nine deleted or extended scenes in all and it’s good that they weren’t included in the film. The deleted scenes wouldn’t have made much difference since they really don’t affect the overall story. But the little bit of extra footage in the extended scenes would have totally ruined some of the characters in the film, especially Jamie.

TrailersYellow, Vacancy, and The Contractor

The Inside Pulse

The Last Time quietly took a good group of actors and put them in a film that with a little more effort could have easily been a box office hit. It failed in the overall mood of the film it was aiming for, but it still kept me entertained and intrigued throughout which I consider a success. The special features are very lacking so that does hurt the overall score of the DVD, but I would still highly recommend a rental here. If you’re looking for a film that will give you an entertaining evening with a lot, but necessary bit, of cursing, some good “adult situations,” and an interesting plot, then you should not look past this one at the rental store.

The DVD Lounge’s Ratings for The Last Time
CATEGORY
RATING
(OUT OF 10)
THE MOVIE

8.5
THE VIDEO

7
THE AUDIO

7
THE EXTRAS

2
REPLAY VALUE

6
OVERALL
7
(NOT AN AVERAGE)