Details
Movie Description
Fred Schepisi's adaptation of Graham Swift's prize-winning novel is a quietly graceful portrait of four working-class Brits, bound by years of friendship, that unites some of England's finest actors in a powerful and deeply moving ensemble production. Michael Caine stars as Jack Dodd, the charismatic leader of the group, whose death and last wishes sends his friends on a nostalgic journey from London to Margate to scatter Jack's ashes in the sea. After forty years of warming the seats at their favorite pub, longtime friends and WWII veterans Ray (Bob Hoskins), Lenny (David Hemmings), and Vic (Tom Courtenay) are forced to face the loss of one of their own as they make the "epic" journey accompanied by Jack's flashy, prodigal son Vince (Ray Winstone). Noticeably absent from the group is Jack's long-suffering widow Amy (Helen Mirren), who travels to visit her autistic daughter instead of accompanying her husband's ashes, in a painful journey of her own which sheds light on her complex relationship with Jack. As the four men make their way to Margate, going from pub to pub, they reflect on a lifetime of memories of Jack, which are recreated in a series of multi-layered flashbacks that explore the delicate interweaving of their friendships; full of secrets, resentments, and deeply rooted loyalty. Schepisi masterfully handles the multidimensional plot lines while deftly allowing his talented cast to portray their flawed and profoundly ordinary characters.
Film Notes
IN THEATRES: FEBRUARY 15, 2002
Industry Reviews
"...[Mr. Schepisi] has succeeded beyond all expectation....Watching LAST ORDERS is like finding that perfect stage of moderate drunkenness in which the senses are sharpened rather than dulled, and time passes with leisurely grace..."
New York Times - p.E1 - A. O. Scott (02/15/2002)
"...A funny and touching film that is gorgeously acted by a British cast to rival GOSFORD PARK's..."
Rolling Stone - p.76 - Peter Travers (03/14/2002)
"...The final shot of Schepisi's movie finds a visual way to suggest the great silence that surrounds us..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (03/01/2002)
"...Beautifully acted..."
USA Today - Mike Clark (08/16/2002)
"...Schepisi has a rare talent for handling complex, multi-layered narratives....Schepisi is further aided by Michael Caine's richly nuanced performance..."
Sight and Sound - Geoffrey Macnab (08/01/2002)
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