Last Night [Blu-ray]

It's a national sport to dismiss Keira Knightley as a talentless pretty face (particularly in the UK.) Her acting range is limited but in the right role she is way better than her critics care to admit. The girl is a true 'movie star' - the camera just LOVES that face - and in 'Last Night' we movie star Keira and Keira the actress at their best.

'Last Night' is a slight tale of a seemingly happy 20-something married couple tempted by infidelity over the course of a single night. He (Sam Worthington) by work colleague Laura (Eva Mendes) and she (Keira Knightley) by old flame Alex(gorgeous Guillaume Canet). It's a modern, very `cool' and sober take on the eternal themes of lust, lost love, fulfilment, loyalty, trust and choices. Both are pursued and both are tempted but who will give in?

Perhaps in the current climate of global economic crisis, war and revolutions the angst of fairly well-heeled and `beautiful' people may seem a tad too trivial for some. This might explain the film's poor performance in the USA. The film doesn't trivialise though - that's the point. Neither does it moralise. Unexpectedly (for me anyway) it makes you think. In addition it looks gorgeous and captures the essence of a particular kind of city living perfectly. All the acting, from a credible international cast (no fake US accents here) is believable. Mind you, the on-screen chemistry between Keira Knightley and Guillaume Canet is so "hot" that you are left wondering why on earth she ended up with the dull guy. In this context the casting of Sam Worthington is perhaps a weakness in an otherwise interesting film.

My review posted online after watching it at the cinema:

This film is beautiful. Set in America, but with an international cast, Last Night provides a gripping insight into the relationship of a married couple who even at the end of the film, don't really seem to have any major problems with their relationship, yet both end up cheating on the other, to varying extents.

Not only is the cinematography beautiful, but so is the cast, the script and the performance. Subtle movements of the body, the slight quiver of the lip, the deep, held breaths; it was a pure, heart-breaking joy.

I must confess, the reason I chose this film over the other was for Keira Knightley. She is a guilty pleasure of mine and I think that this film is an example of some of her best acting. Her voicing was brilliant; not the usual well bred English accent, but something much more vulnerable. Sam Worthington, who I admit I had to look up, was splendid- a far cry from `Avatar'. He playedKnightley's Australian husband who is away on business for most of the film; a wonderful stereotype played rather freshly. Eva Mendes did a great job, though despite the scene where her character is softened in the pool, I did feel she was, well, a bitch. Most of my praise must go to Guillaume Canet, who playedKnightly's old French flame. His acting was superb; gentle, soft touches, the right amount of passion: the way he held his emotions were award winning. It was surprising for me to discover how the same basic acts can conjure different emotions within, with Canet's role generating sympathy to balance Mendes'sdislike.

This film whilst not a complete tear-jerker, did give me the ol' wet-eye. Heart-breaking yet somehow satisfying, right until the abrupt end.

I'm am shocked at the lack of attention this film has received and shocked at the meagre 6.6 on IMDB. I can't wait to watch this again with friends, or even by myself with a massive tub of ice-cream with servings of self-pity on a winter evening. I would recommend this highly for the acting, direction, and the simple beauty of it all.

Joanna and Michael (Keira Knightley and Sam Worthington) have been married for four years, having originally met in college.

At a party she gets to meet Laura (Eva Mendes), a new colleague of Michael's, and is suspicious when she sees the rapport between them, and later learns that she was one of the team away on a recent business trip with Michael, a fact he had not mentioned. At home later she accuses him of having an affair, which he firmly denies.

The next morning he is off on another business trip, again with Laura in the business party.

Joanna bumps into Alex (Guillaume Canet), who she had a relationship with some years earlier. It is clear that they both still have strong feelings for each other.

Laura is clearly out to seduce Michael - will she succeed? Or will Michael stay faithful to Joanna?

Alex is clearly out to seduce Joanna - will he succeed? Or will Joanna stay faithful to Michael?

This was emotionally exhausting, superbly acted, and utterly believable.