Review of Last Days (2004) by Ollie W — 09 Mar 2011

Brilliant and patient exploration of what may theoretically have been Kurt Cobain's last days.

Michael Pitt throws himself into the role wonderfully, looking and sounding extremely like the tragic grunge icon and using the kind of subtle method techniques that Van Sant is clearly fond of.

It is, of course, beautifully directed - Van Sant remains typically both neutral and extraordinarily respectful of his subject matter, always allowing the performances (Pitt and a naked(ish) Asia Argento amongst others) to govern the pace and authenticity of the scenes. A particularly memorable scene depicts Pitt jamming on several instruments and looping devices - all captured by a steadily retreating rigged camera, slowly pulling the audience away, asking questions of Cobain's relationship with his audience all over the place and effectively isolating and celebrating the raw, uncontrollable talent Cobain had for instrumentation and song writing.

Sadly overlooked and misunderstood (see reviews below) this not being a biographical, epic-historic tale pandering to the kind of person Cobain's fans wished he was, rather, this is an ultra-real, steady little picture that goes for an almost real time (apart from a few slight time-cuts reminiscent of Van Sant's superb 'Elephant') and very honest portrayal of a man who, despite the sycophantic-al protestations of his loyal fans and disturbed friends and family, was evidently a lonely man slowly slipping into a constant state of drug induced mental illness and simultaneously slipping unnoticed, out of the kind of life he never wanted.