Movie Squad - Last Ride

Show

Breakfast with Barr,

Presenter

Peter Barr

Published

Friday 3rd July

Roving reporter Patrick Pittman is still M.I.A, so the young Paul Grace pulls on the reporter hat alone again (naturally) to share the latest movie news and reviews with the editor of Movie Squad Mr P. Barr on Breakfast.

2009 has to be an unlucky year for many with numerous big name actors and performers shuffling off the mortal coil this year. Last week: Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. This week: Mollie Sugden (better known as Mrs Slocombe from ‘Are You Being Served?’) and Karl Malden (known for acting opposite Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire).

Now for the reviews.

‘Last Ride’ is a new Australian film from Glendyn Ivin. This is Ivin’s first feature film, previously winning the Cannes Film Festival Palm d’Or for his short film ‘Cracker Bag’ in 2003. Hugo Weaving stars as Kev, violent drunk on the run from the law who takes his son Chook for a ‘last ride’.

This is not an easy or a happy film. It’s about a man who only wants to do right by his son but he doesn’t know how. There’s excellent performances by both Weaving and Tom Russell (Chook).

Verdict: For a debut feature, this film is incredibly polished. It’s beautifully written and beautifully shot – look out for the salt flats scene. The only chink in the armour I could find is Chook’s dorky haircut. That said, I was really digging to find a flaw. It’s a phenomenal film.