The Last Kiss (2002) (AKA L'Ultimo
Bacio)
Straight people. I don't get it.
Seriously, this Italian film seemed pretty typical
to me. Carlo is in a relationship that has been going
on for 3 years and in the opening narration he tells
us he is already bored. His fiance, however, is pregnant
and this serious new event is making him even more
nervous. Carlo has lots of friends in similar (thematically,
anyway) situations. One friend is just married, one
friend is already married and has an infant, on friend's
father is dying and one friend is a ladies man. Meanwhile,
Carlo's fiance's parents are on the verge of a divorce.
Relationships are a bi-otch, ain't they.
Character arcs shoot off in pretty
much the same direction here with all the principles
deciding to shake things up. The older mother decides
to leave her husband and hook-up with this guy she
had an affair with. The bored young man whose father
is dying decided to leave and travel (which he has
threatened to do many times) and Carlo meets an 18-year-old
girl who simply adores him. Gee, I wonder what will
happen next? Do you think Carlo will leave his pregnant
fiance for a high-school girl?
Writer/director Gabriele Muccino
certainly does an adequate job. This film isn't boring,
it's just typical. We've seen these stories a gazillion
times. It's like a big soap opera squeezed down into
a feature film. The camera work is nice, the music
is okay, the acting is good, the dialogue rings true,
the plots evolve and are tied-up adequately. Yet,
it all seems so pointless.
If there is one thing to suggest
to the uninitiated as a reason to see "The Last Kiss,"
it's Stefano Accorsi as Carlo. Charming, realistic,
and attractive, Accorsi lights up the screen every
time he comes into view. He has a really natural ease
about him and a smile to die for. He makes "The Last
Kiss" sparkle. Yet Accorsi is in a far better film
about to be released in America called "His Secret
Life." I'd recommend it over this standard fare.
Note:
In Italian with subtitles.
A big hit in Italy and the winner
of several Donatellos (Italy's version of the Oscar).
The film won an Audience Award at Sundance this year.
