MY REVIEW: Gus Van Sant's "Last Days"
Those familiar with Gus Van Sant movies ('films' for those uberfans) will not be surprised to find this depiction pasted together with one conceited and presumptuous scene after another. He draws out each uneventful and monotonous scene like a sloth trying to squeeze milk from a wooly mammoth. That being said, I must say GVS has a pretentiousness that reaches almost mythical status. He has a knack for taking away the mystique, and presenting the stark reality...this is not always a good thing though. Half way through my viewing, I had a revelation as to GVS's next masterwork--Gus Van Sant's "Watching Paint Dry". I can already imagine the accolades pouring out of Cannes regarding GVS's next pending triumph:
Gus Van Sant's "Watching Paint Dry" - Do not miss a single moment as the rogue painter and his gratuitous homoerotic activities begin to paint the bigger picture. As he applies the paint--one painfully boring stroke after another--the audience slowly becomes aware of the underlying beauty: it goes on blue, but turns white as it dries! Captured in its entirety! Watch every dull and intricate drop of paint dry as the desolate reality unfolds before your very eyes. Where will he start? The north wall?...the eastern wall with the big window overlooking the alley?....NO, the cathedral ceilings! As the painter applies the sixth and final coat of paint, we are abruptly aware that his true passion was unleashed in the application of the third coat of paint! That is why he began to apply the fourth layer before the third coat was completely dry...to show his disdain and artistic unrest! The fifth coat of paint represents his longing for the passionate third coat, and the sixth coat alludes to his solitude and acceptance in knowing the underlying paint had dried. The true brilliance of GVS's masterwork is ultimately revealed during the sequences in which we as the audience are left to fend to our own psychosis as we stare at a blank white wall of paint...still wet...still wet....beginning to dry...no, just a slight lighting change...still wet...etc. HANG ON TO YOUR HATS fellow movie-buffs...this is one rollercoaster you just might have to ride again to fully appreciate the perspicacity! BRING OUT ANOTHER PALM D'OR FOR THE MAN! Who else but Gus Van Sant has the impudence--scratch that--the GENIUS to shoot a full length feature film in one single shot! More amazing is that this one shot lasts an incredible 457 minutes....what a ballsy director!
But seriously, as the disclaimer at the end of "Last Days" states, this fictional docu-drama is loosely based upon the last days of Kurt Cobain. This movie could easily be edited down to an intriguing 40 min. filmscape. I think that could be said for much of GVS's more recent work. There is a definite realism to his films that juxtapose his vainglorious themes. Like all of GVS's recent movies, as long as you have your remote in hand with your thumb wavering and ready to hit the fast-forward button, the movie can be quite enjoyable. Have your trigger finger ready for GVS's typical gratuitous homoerotic scene...really a pointless scene in an already meandering and misguided character study. I don't think I have much more to say except that the ending of the movie is off-the-scale supercilious.
In any case, I actually thought the film had some redeeming qualities:
- GVS captures the alienation, solitude, and melancholy of a disillusioned mind facing utter isolation at the ultimate breaking point.
- Acting solely as a character study, this film definitely grasps at the fringe.
- Michael Pitt's effort as the Cobain clone is believable and inspired. I did enjoy the songs performed by Pitt.
- The homage to Stanley Kubrick in the opening and closing credits is a nice touch. GVS even uses the classic "Kubrick" font, and the music in the opening and closing scenes is reminiscent to "A Clockwork Orange".
Unfortunately, those are the few enjoyable elements to the film. With all of that being said, I must admit that "Last Days" did provoke a lot of emotion and thought. However, this provocation was primarily induced by my own despondence to Gus Van Sant's contrived and pompous film-making. For your own take on the events leading up to Kurt Cobain's death, make reference to Cobain's biography, "Heavier than Heaven" by Charles Cross.
Reviewed by: David Kalviainen (Jan.13/2006)
