One
Last Thing
(no
poster available)
Starring:
Michael Angarano, Cynthia Nixon, Sunny Mabrey, and Johnny Messner
Directed
by: Alex Steyermark
Written by: Barry Stringfellow Bluntly
speaking? One
Last Thing is remarkably touching if you can manage to leave your cynical
viewing self at the door. It is a quiet film that roars. The tale the piece weaves,
while there are afew hang nails en route to the plot, is realistic and reminds
you of the spirit folks can possess. Story
goes … sixteen-year-old lower middle class anykid Dylan Jameison (Michael
Angarano) is terminally ill. He
has decided to live his last few months fast and furious - well trying to get
as many smiles in as he can before he departs. His mom (Cynthia Nixon) is trying
to be realistic and strong for her son. They do not have the funds to take a world
vacation, so she has arranged Dylan receive a big wish by one of those last wish
foundations. Dylan
asks to go fishing with his hero, football ace, Jason O'Malley (Johnny Messner).
But,
while partaking in his medicinal marijuana with his two close friends, he starts
fantasizing about the poster on the wall of super model de jour Nikki Sinclair
(Sunny Mabrey). Dylan decides he wants his last wish to be a date with the super
model rather than his fishing trip - it's his last wish after all right? Easier
said than done. Dylan
announces his intentions - on air at the press function - to switch last wish
dreams and becomes a kind of local hero in the tri-state area. Nikki,
the super model of Dylan's eye, is actually presently in need of a little positive
PR after whacking a fellow model from the cat walk ala Mike Madsen. She tries
to wiggle out of the morally correct obligation by showing the boy her true selfloathing
warty soul. But we learn beneath both their pains lay spirit and hope. Sniff. One
Last Thing is a tearjerker with sweet laughs, and the players are grand. You
must forgive a couple of the hick ups the film has trying to move itself along,
because the truth is any one who has lost someone to cancer (or in that slow process
of knowing it's coming death sentence by terminal illness) will be touched - deeply
- and I believe still manage to walk out with a smile. Now, that's filmmaking.
The audience I saw had difficulty with New York and its friendly residence. I
wholly disagree and thought that is precisely how a real New Yorker reacts to
the world - it aint all Cagney films and Frank Miller stereotypes in the ruby
red appleonious. Did
I mention the film comes with a BluntReview.com mega-mansteak alert seal of
approval? Oh yes, those of you into visual collection of the more stunning
of the male species (Humanous Manesaurous Loverlyrexptor) will want to add one
Johnny Messner to your catalog of rare finds. Messner, as the exquisite foot ball
player - with a heart of gold mind you - is down right delectable. The director,
Alex Steyermark, actually tries to blind the audience to one of the film's more
"obvious" plot movements by having this Johnny fella half naked (tattooed
torso, bulging forearms, and all) bubbled up in a turn-of-the-century-style one-man
tub in the NFL locker room. The scene is frankly, stoo-pid and unbelievable especially
for a rather smart-edged film - but who's nit picking when that kind of 'Grade
A' beef-n-braun is shamelessly on display before you? Not I. Keep an eye out for
this guy - and Bruckheimer give the lad a call - 'cause frankly Jer, he'd look
swell in a fatigue wear dust-filled action film with things slow-mo blowing up
around him. Cynthia
Nixon as Dylan's mom is very good. She handles the delicate matter of losing a
son like she's living it. There's absolutely no hint of her sharp self from 'Sex
in the City.' Cyn shows you, it was just a part and she's ready to move on out,
and get a piece of the pie. The
boy Michael Angarano as Dylan grows on you. His wildly nonchalant attitude towards
impending death starts to make sense - partly because of Mike's acting skill and
partly because of the sensitive direction. The
film is moving and refreshingly honest with a really tough subject many will relate
to and perhaps find cathartic. I wouldn't advise viewing if you're presently in
a situation where you, or some one you love is leaving, but it was remarkably
healing… Snack
recommendation: Nadda or you'll be choking in the theater 'tween the laughs and
tears.
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