Review of Last Summer (2014) by Lanning : — 04 Feb 2011

Another fascinating "End of the 60s" film that puts a capstone on a remarkable decade. I don't ever think I've seen an "end of innocence" theme portrayed quite so literally or more startlingly.

A decade where everyone "grew up" quickly, became disabused of their naïveté, were politicized, found their voices -- how interesting that Rhoda is, in the end, silenced and rendered passive.

She's the most articulate character in the movie up until she is raped. The rest is silence. In fact the rape marginalizes her right out of the end of the film. This is very well written, and Cathy Burns as Rhoda was not only nominated for a supporting actress Oscar, but I'm thinking maybe she actually should have won it.

And speaking of suddenly growing up, coming of age, it's great to see Barbara Hershey, Richard "John Boy" Thomas, and Bruce Davison growing up into acting adulthood. I wonder, perhaps if it weren't for The Waltons, if Thomas would have had a bigger acting career.

He really is very good in this one, topped only by Cathy Burns.