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Last Days (film)
Encyclopedia
Last Days is a 2005 American film
directed, produced, and written by Gus Van Sant
, and is a fictionalized account of the last days of Nirvana
frontman Kurt Cobain
. It was released to theaters in the United States on July 22, 2005, and was produced by HBO. The film stars Michael Pitt
as the character Blake, based on Kurt Cobain. Lukas Haas
, Asia Argento
, Nicole Vicius, Scott Patrick Green
and Thadeus A. Thomas also star in the film. This is the first film from Pictureshouse, a joint venture between TimeWarner's New Line Cinema
and HBO Films
subsidiraries to release Independent
, Foreign and Documentary
films.
about Cobain, but decided against the idea out of concern over the potential of a lawsuit by Cobain's widow, Courtney Love
. He was not sure how Cobain's fans and family would react to the film. He spoke to Love several times over the years about his project and recently expressed his concern that it may be painful for her to see the film. Actress Asia Argento
, who plays a character reminiscent of Jessica Hopper (Michael 'Cali' Dewitt's girlfriend) in the film, stated, "It's been written that I play Courtney Love, and it's not true. I'm so upset. I don't know why people say that. I feel very sorry for her. She's been demonized and I feel sorry for anybody that's lost like that. But no, I play a character that's very dorky."
Last Days is the third and final installment in what Van Sant has frequently called his "Death Trilogy", which began with Gerry and continued with Elephant. The dialogue and narration in all three films are minimal, and scenes do not proceed linearly. As in Elephant, scenes are revisited from new angles, starting at differing points in time, without a signal to viewers that the clock has been turned back and a previous scene is being revisited. In Paranoid Park
, a later film by Van Sant, the same technique is used.
composed "Seen as None," and "Pointless Ride." The character of Scott listens to "Venus in Furs
" by The Velvet Underground
. Blake, in one scene, watches the music video for "On Bended Knee
" by Boyz II Men
on television (anachronistically, if Blake parallels Cobain exactly: the song was not released as a single until November 1994, 6 months after Cobain's death). "Venus In Furs" contains the lyric "...on bended knee". A soundscape piece called "Doors of Perception" ("Türen der Wahrnehmung") was composed by Hildegard Westerkamp
.
region of New York
, which, due in part to cinematographer Harris Savides
' specialized treatment of the film stock, suggests the Pacific Northwest
, where both Cobain and Van Sant come from.
where it won the Technical Grand Prize. It was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography
, but failed to win any awards at the festival
.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
directed, produced, and written by Gus Van Sant
Gus Van Sant
Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He is a two time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, both of which were also nominated for Best Picture, and won the...
, and is a fictionalized account of the last days of Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
frontman Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
. It was released to theaters in the United States on July 22, 2005, and was produced by HBO. The film stars Michael Pitt
Michael Pitt
Michael Carmen Pitt is an American actor and musician. Pitt is best known in film for his role in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Dreamers, and in television for his portrayal of James "Jimmy" Darmody in the hit HBO series Boardwalk Empire.-Personal life:Pitt was born in West Orange, New Jersey, the...
as the character Blake, based on Kurt Cobain. Lukas Haas
Lukas Haas
Lukas Daniel Haas is an American actor, known for roles both as a child and as an adult. His career has spanned more than 25 years during which time he has appeared in more than 36 feature films, as well as a number of television shows and theater productions.-Early life and career:Haas was born...
, Asia Argento
Asia Argento
Aria Asia Anna Maria Vittoria Rossa Argento is an Italian actress, singer, model and director.-Family and early life:...
, Nicole Vicius, Scott Patrick Green
Scott Patrick Green
Scott Patrick Green is an actor. He is often cast in Gus Van Sant's movies.He appeared in Feast of Love , Paranoid Park , Last Days , Even Cowgirls Get the Blues and My Own Private Idaho and various music videos.Scott is also a still photographer...
and Thadeus A. Thomas also star in the film. This is the first film from Pictureshouse, a joint venture between TimeWarner's New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema, often simply referred to as New Line, is an American film studio. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with larger sister studio Warner...
and HBO Films
HBO Films
HBO Films is a division of the cable television network HBO that produces feature films and miniseries. While much of HBO Films' output is created directly for the television market, such as the film Witness Protection and the mini-series Band of Brothers, Pacific, Generation Kill and Angels in...
subsidiraries to release Independent
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
, Foreign and Documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
films.
Background
Van Sant has stated he had contemplated the project for nearly a decade. At one time, he wanted to do a biographical filmBiographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
about Cobain, but decided against the idea out of concern over the potential of a lawsuit by Cobain's widow, Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
. He was not sure how Cobain's fans and family would react to the film. He spoke to Love several times over the years about his project and recently expressed his concern that it may be painful for her to see the film. Actress Asia Argento
Asia Argento
Aria Asia Anna Maria Vittoria Rossa Argento is an Italian actress, singer, model and director.-Family and early life:...
, who plays a character reminiscent of Jessica Hopper (Michael 'Cali' Dewitt's girlfriend) in the film, stated, "It's been written that I play Courtney Love, and it's not true. I'm so upset. I don't know why people say that. I feel very sorry for her. She's been demonized and I feel sorry for anybody that's lost like that. But no, I play a character that's very dorky."
Plot summary
Introspective artist Blake is buckling under the weight of fame, professional obligations and a mounting feeling of isolation. Dwarfed by towering trees, Blake slowly makes his way through dense woods. He scrambles down an embankment to a fresh spring and undresses for a short swim. The next morning he returns to his house, an elegant, if neglected, stone mansion. Many people are looking for Blake--his friends, his managers and record label, even a private detective--but he does not want to be found. In the haze of his final hours, Blake will spend most his time by himself. He avoids the people who are living in his house, who approach him only when they want something, be it money or help with a song. He hides from one concerned friend and turns away another. He visits politely with a stranger from the Yellow Pages sales department, and he ducks into an underground rock club. He wanders through the woods and he plays a new song, one last rock and roll blowout. Finally, alone in the greenhouse, Blake will look and listen--and seek release.Cast
(parentheses indicate the person each character is based on)- Michael PittMichael PittMichael Carmen Pitt is an American actor and musician. Pitt is best known in film for his role in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Dreamers, and in television for his portrayal of James "Jimmy" Darmody in the hit HBO series Boardwalk Empire.-Personal life:Pitt was born in West Orange, New Jersey, the...
as Blake (Kurt CobainKurt CobainKurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
) - Lukas HaasLukas HaasLukas Daniel Haas is an American actor, known for roles both as a child and as an adult. His career has spanned more than 25 years during which time he has appeared in more than 36 feature films, as well as a number of television shows and theater productions.-Early life and career:Haas was born...
as Luke (Rene Navarette) - Asia ArgentoAsia ArgentoAria Asia Anna Maria Vittoria Rossa Argento is an Italian actress, singer, model and director.-Family and early life:...
as Asia (Jessica Hopper) - Jared Solano as Jared
- Scott Patrick GreenScott Patrick GreenScott Patrick Green is an actor. He is often cast in Gus Van Sant's movies.He appeared in Feast of Love , Paranoid Park , Last Days , Even Cowgirls Get the Blues and My Own Private Idaho and various music videos.Scott is also a still photographer...
as Scott (Michael 'Cali' Dewitt) - Nicole Vicius as Nicole (Jennifer Adamson)
- Ricky JayRicky JayRichard Jay Potash , better known by the stage name Ricky Jay, is an American stage magician, actor, and writer. He is a sleight-of-hand expert and is notable for his card tricks, card throwing, memory feats, and stage patter.-Life and career:...
as Detective (Tom Grant) - Ryan Orion as Donovan (Dylan CarlsonDylan CarlsonDylan Carlson is the lead guitarist, lead singer, and only constant member of the Drone doom group Earth.Carlson was born in Seattle, Washington, United States. His father worked for the Department of Defense, and, as a result, as a child he moved quite frequently, living in Philadelphia, Texas,...
) - Director and Van Sant colleague Harmony KorineHarmony KorineThe story is told from the perspective of a young man suffering from untreated schizophrenia, played by Ewen Bremner, as he tries to understand his deteriorating world. Julien's abusive father is played by Werner Herzog...
, as Guy in Club (Ollie Craig) - Rodrigo LoprestiRodrigo LoprestiRodrigo Lopresti is an American actor, musician and movie director who lives in Brooklyn, New York.-Personal life:...
as a member of the Band in Club, The HermittThe HermittThe Hermitt is a band from Brooklyn, New York with Rodrigo Lopresti as vocalist and guitarist, along with Patrick Galligan on drums, and Kevin Brady on bass. The band's first commercial album was released in 2003.- History :... - Kim GordonKim GordonKim Althea Gordon is an American musician, vocalist, artist, record producer, video director and actress. She has sung and played bass and guitar in the alternative rock band Sonic Youth, and in Free Kitten with Julia Cafritz...
as Record Executive (Danny Goldberg) - Adam Friberg as Elder Friberg #1 (MormonMissionary (LDS Church)The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
missionary) - Andy Friberg as Elder Friberg #2 (MormonMissionary (LDS Church)The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
missionary) - Thadeus A. Thomas as Yellow Pages Salesman (real-life Yellow Book salesman)
Relation to other Van Sant films
Paranoid Park (film)
Paranoid Park is a 2007 American drama film written and directed by Gus Van Sant. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Blake Nelson and takes place in Portland, Oregon. It stars Gabe Nevins as a teenage skateboarder who accidentally kills a security guard.Van Sant wrote the draft...
, a later film by Van Sant, the same technique is used.
Music
Last Days features two original compositions by Michael Pitt, an acoustic song entitled "Death to Birth", and an electric jam called "That Day". Another piece, "Untitled", is by Lukas Haas. Rodrigo LoprestiRodrigo Lopresti
Rodrigo Lopresti is an American actor, musician and movie director who lives in Brooklyn, New York.-Personal life:...
composed "Seen as None," and "Pointless Ride." The character of Scott listens to "Venus in Furs
Venus in Furs (song)
"Venus in Furs" is a song by The Velvet Underground, written by Lou Reed and originally released on the 1967 album The Velvet Underground & Nico. Inspired by the book of the same name by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, the song includes sexual themes of sadomasochism, bondage and...
" by The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
. Blake, in one scene, watches the music video for "On Bended Knee
On Bended Knee
"On Bended Knee" is a 1994 number-one hit single by Boyz II Men for the Motown label.Written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the single is notable for having replaced the previous Boyz II Men single, "I'll Make Love to You", as the top song on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States...
" by Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
on television (anachronistically, if Blake parallels Cobain exactly: the song was not released as a single until November 1994, 6 months after Cobain's death). "Venus In Furs" contains the lyric "...on bended knee". A soundscape piece called "Doors of Perception" ("Türen der Wahrnehmung") was composed by Hildegard Westerkamp
Hildegard Westerkamp
Hildegard Westerkamp is a German and Canadian composer of electroacoustic music.Many of her compositions deal with the acoustic environment. Particular themes include soundscapes of urban or rural areas, including voices, noise, silence, music and media, and so on...
.
Filming location
The film was shot in the Hudson ValleyHudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
region of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, which, due in part to cinematographer Harris Savides
Harris Savides
Harris Savides is a contemporary American cinematographer. Notable films include Gus Van Sant's "young death" trilogy , The Game, Zodiac and American Gangster....
' specialized treatment of the film stock, suggests the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, where both Cobain and Van Sant come from.
Reception
The film received mixed to positive reviews, including the Village Voice and the New York Times. It currently holds a 58% approval rating on the website Rotten Tomatoes. The Guardian gave the film 5 out of 5, calling it "brilliant", the Empire called it "a modern masterpiece". In its review, Total Film gave the movie 4 out of 5, saying "Gus Van Sant's thoughtful exploration of the death of an icon will haunt you. Make time for it". Much of the positive feedback went to Michael Pitt's performance, with Time Out saying "Pitt's performance is a masterclass". Time Out also made Last Days their film of the month.Awards
The film was entered in the 2005 Cannes Film Festival2005 Cannes Film Festival
The 2005 Cannes Film Festival started on May 11 and ran until May 22. Twenty movies from 13 countries were selected to compete. The awards were announced on May 21...
where it won the Technical Grand Prize. It was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography
Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography
The Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography is one of the annual awards given by Film Independent, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent film and independent filmmakers.- 1980s :* 1986: Toyomichi Kurita – Trouble in Mind...
, but failed to win any awards at the festival
Independent Spirit Awards
The Independent Spirit Awards , founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass pyramids containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of independent films. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit...
.