![Last Orders [2001] [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/511xfCzaDUL.jpg)
Product Description Jack Dodds was a regular guy, so why the strange last order to have his ashes thrown off the pier at Margate? And why did his wife refuse to do it? As their Mercedes speeds towards the sea, an emotional mystery unfolds, where the men try to understand Jacks death by reliving their life through him...the war, the children, the good times and the bad. The journey becomes a pub crawl full of drink-ups and punch-ups and the men discover that through it all, its your friends that break your heart. and your friends that mend it. Review With Last Orders, Australian-born writer-director Fred Schepisi has done a fine job of bringing Graham Swift's Booker Prize-winning novel to the screen. Schepisi simplifies the book's complex structure a little (we get flashbacks within flashbacks, often switching time and place mid-way through a line of dialogue), but it's all handled so lucidly and sensitively that we're never left in any doubt as to when and where we are. The setting is Peckham, South London. Jack, a butcher, has recently died of cancer, leaving instructions that his ashes should be scattered off Margate Pier. Three of his oldest friends and drinking companions, Ray, Lenny and Vic, plus Jack's son Vince, meet at their local pub to carry out his wishes. Jack's widow, Amy, doesn't join them; she has an errand of her own to attend to. During the day's drive to the sea, memories and associations crowd in on each of them, reflections on love and fate and death in richly layered profusion. Schepisi has assembled a cast of British cinema's most seasoned professionals: Michael Caine, Tom Courtenay, Bob Hoskins, David Hemmings, Helen Mirren and Ray Winstone. The location settings--South London and Kent--exude authenticity, with Brian Tufano's widescreen photography adding dignity. For Schepisi this is a personal project, and he's clearly in love with his material. Just occasionally the film skirts sentimentality, but it's pulled back from the edge by its humour, honesty and commitment to wry, downbeat realism. On the DVD Last Orders arrives on DVD in a clean anamorphic 16:9 transfer with Dolby 5.1 sound. There's a good range of extras: interviews and filmographies for all six principals plus the director; a "making of" featurette (everyone genuinely seems to be having a great time); written production notes; and not just the theatrical trailer, but a "trailer evolution video" showing alternative versions, plus ditto for the film's publicity poster. -- --Philip Kemp
P**Y
Interesting
Watchable
B**E
Really enjoyable movie
Well made very believable film transported me back to my youth in the 60s .
S**S
Not really happy with magpie
I first ordered this product before christmas because someone wanted it as a present and when the dvd arrived all I got was a empty dvd case, I complained about this and yesterday I received a replacement but actually did need it for christmas, but the recipient of the dvd was happy to finally get it and does enjoy the film
P**S
Follows Book Storyline
I recently read the book form of this story without initially realising that a film had been made of it. Once I did and realised the great cast that it had decided to give it a go. Personally I felt that it was a little gem.The story closely follows the plot storyline of the book which is either a good or bad thing depending on your taste and despite the somewhat gloomy nature of the story it was told in a quite light and at times humorous way with little flashbacks helping to give it a little depth. Personally I felt that it might have been better with a slightly younger cast as it is easier to make an actor older than it is younger (the image of Bob Hoskins with a rug on his head was quite amusing) but other than that minor quibble I found it highly enjoyable.
P**Q
... but just wanted to give a mention to the excellent soundtrack that most of the other reviewers have overlooked ...
Wholeheartedly concur with the other favourable reviews here but just wanted to give a mention to the excellent soundtrack that most of the other reviewers have overlooked in their reviews. It is a wonderfully atmospheric and appropriate soundtrack composed by the Australian pianist Paul Grabowsky and performed by some of the finest of the current generation of UK jazz musicians. For me the soundtrack begged for comparison with that to 'Sideways' (another of my favourite films). Jazz seems to be particularly suited to films dealing with age-related rights of passage and what 'Sideways' perhaps did for middle-age 'Last Orders' does for later life, bringing out humour, sometimes gallows humour, amongst the pathos.
A**R
Simple, heart warming, light hearted
If you like British films, this one is an easy uncomplicated look at the last will of a dying man and the comradeship of his friends to carry out his final wish on his death. Popular actors play out this heart warming film, shot on location in London and Canterbury and Margate. A simple plot, but a very poinient film.
A**D
EastEnders for the big screen
Great reviews for this film but not from me. I found it depressing and rather predictable. The acting is competent but no better than that and for the actors who came from the East End such as Ray Winstone and Michael Caine they're just playing themselves pre-stardom. I don't like the assumed syndrome that all working class people are basically miserable, skint with multiple skeletons in the closet but get through it with the help of the local boozer. I'm working class and fortunately do not share those characteristics (although I do like a drink and I needed one after this film).It's true that society used to hide things away more than it does today - as this film illustrates - but I think we all know that and why not keep it for the realm of documentaries? Surely films should be more about entertainment? Perhaps other people's misery is entertainment for some - hence the success of EastEnders. But not for me. I wrote this review as a warning to anyone who shares my feelings. Save yourself a couple of quid and get down the pub for a pint!
L**Y
good read
quite an old copy of the book, but good value
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