Line #4 Film/LastDays


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/last_days.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:''Rock and roll will never die.'']]
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4	''Last Days'' is a 2005 experimental drama film directed by Creator/GusVanSant that's [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory very loosely]] inspired by the suicide of Music/{{Nirvana}} frontman Music/KurtCobain. It marks the final installment of the director's ''[[ThematicSeries Death Trilogy]]'', which previously consisted of ''Film/{{Gerry}}'' and ''Film/Elephant2003''.
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6	The film follows Cobain {{expy}} Blake (Creator/MichaelPitt), an introverted musician slowly losing his grip on life. He spends most of his time taking long walks in the woods, isolating himself from his bandmates, and creating his own songs. With so much baggage on his mind, Blake knows that there is only one option to escape the pain and he has to find the right moment to seek it out.
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8	This is the debut feature from Picturehouse, a joint venture between Creator/NewLineCinema and Creator/{{HBO}} (who also produced the film) created to release art-house and independent fare.
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10	----
11	!!The film provides examples of:
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13	* AnachronicOrder: There are moments where the film goes back in time to give clarity on a certain event. This is often done by repeating the same shot from before and either extending it or cutting it short.
14	* AnachronismStew: Minor example but early on, Blake watches the music video to Music/BoyzIIMen's "On Bended Knee". In real life, the song was released months after Cobain's suicide.
15	* TheCameo: Blake's friend at the rock club is played by Creator/HarmonyKorine.
16	* DrivenToSuicide: Given the real-life inspiration, this is a ForegoneConclusion.
17	* {{Foreshadowing}}: Early in the film, a pair of [[UsefulNotes/{{Mormonism}} LDS missionaries]] shares a message about Joseph Smith's First Vision to the band. The concept of listening to voices [[spoiler: seems to be implicated when Blake ends his life at the greenhouse.]]
18	* LeaveTheCameraRunning: Done quite frequently. At one point, Blake falls down outside the house and the camera simply turns to stare at a part of the forest for quite some time.
19	* LonersAreFreaks: Blake has some unusual quirks, like wearing a dress and pretending to shoot his friends while they're asleep.
20	* {{Minimalism}}: There is no real story here, just a simple chronicle of a rock-and-roll star's final moments.
21	* ShoutOut: Scott informs Luke that the detective is not a [[Series/WalkerTexasRanger walker, Texas ranger]].
22	* SoundtrackDissonance: The movie opens and closes with Janequin's "La Guerre" as performed by The King's Singers. The cherry, triumphant piece contrasts with Blake's deterioration and death.
23	* SuddenlyShouting: After making a bonfire for himself, Blake mumbles "Home on the Range" before yelling the chorus.
24	* TheOner: There are multiple, uninterrupted shots as per usual for a Van Sant film. The most prominent example has to be the long [[{{Dolly}} dolly shot]] of Blake messing with the instruments from outside the window. The process was so complicated it took the crew up to twelve times to do a successful run.
25	* TheUnintelligible: Blake tends to mumble a lot and it's really hard to make out what he's saying.
26	* TheUnReveal: We are not given a clear reason as to why Blake takes his own life. [[spoiler: His method of doing this is also left ambiguous.]]

Context Film / LastDays