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Genre: Drama
1 votes
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IMDB Review
Release: 4 November 2009
Directed by Glendyn Ivin, Last Ride is an Australian drama based on the novel The Last Ride by Denise Young. The film depicts a boy on a ride into the desert with his father who is wanted by the police across Australia. Kev played by Hugo Weaving and his Chook played by newcomer Tom Russell, embark on a journey to an unknown future. On their escape from law, both Kev and Chook at certain points push their limits of trust on each other. The movie portrays the complexities of a father-son relationship that needs to survive. The movie also tries to give a message that a child can learn as much lessons and morals from his parent’s misdeeds as from the sweet and charming bedtime stories.
Weaving an outlaw with his 10-year old son Chook portrays touching humanity. There are some of the most exuberant and stunning locations in South Australia. With a deep sense of sorrow, Ivin gives some quick bursts and strongest moments. Last Ride evokes the genre of road movie in which the father and the son escape the law and harsh landscape of Australia. The cinematographer Greig Fraser impressively captures the locales in a manner to ideally portray Ivin’s thoughts and ideas. The movie the former lives of Kev and Chook in flashbacks and the audience soon discovers the character of Max played by John Brumpton. The audience also discovers the reason why Kev is so unwilling to be found by the Australian police.
Since Russell is a newcomer, we cannot underestimate him for his slated performance in the movie. But he is simply adorable as a son. He is quite careful, cautious at the same time frightened and calculating. You can easily infer this from the portrayal of Russell in the posters of the movie. But Kev played by Weaving as a person and as the portrayal of his relationship with Chook dominates the screen. What makes audience appreciate the performance of Weaving is that he successfully portrays both anger and compassion with ridiculous ease. He readily switches mood without upon the audience realize that he is doing so and the result is a superb performance. The emotions that present Kev’s love and fear for son Chhok’s life makes the audience anticipate his reactions when the drama unfolds.
Weaving’s character in Little Fish is a testament for his love to portray rugged and damaged men. A survivor, Weaving very successfully offers glimpses on the softer side that almost every man has. Though the first half-hour are least captivating, once Kev and Chook reach remote countryside the movie presents something really worthwhile to the audience.
Last Ride is pleasing to the eyes that are beautifully drawn with sequences of dawn. Though the script is not very promising, the movie is simply stunning for its visuals. The landscape plays a major part in the movie and enables the audience to come across places that were recently missing in Australian cinema.
