Last Days
Directed by Gus Van Sant
Starring Michael Pitts and Asia Argento
By Tim Letteney
Last Days marks Gus Van Sant’s third
exploration of untimely death using an elliptical style of filmmaking
(Gerry, Elephant). The film follows a musician named Blake (Michael
Pitts) and examines the three days before his suicide. This character
is wholly inspired by Kurt Cobain, right down to his iconic black
and red striped sweater. The essence of Last Days and elliptical
films in general lies in what takes place off screen. Van Sant leaves
it up to the viewer to create images that link Blake’s three
day journey together.
In Last Days, Blake has become so decimated from his rampant
heroin use that he purely exists as an iconic shell. He is transformed
into an elusive and mentally ill ghost that is rarely seen and barley
heard. Blake literally becomes negative space, allowing his surroundings
to define more about his character than his heroin induced and mumbled
dialogue ever could. Ellipses are created in the narrative by playing
with time, and revisiting scenes that have already passed through
another character’s perspective. These intersections compensate
for the lack of audible voiced development.
Allusions are made throughout the film as to why Blake decides
to bite a shotgun, but that is all they are, allusions. Van Sant
points no fingers; he lets the viewer piece together their own motivations
and their own truths. Last Days is a truly remarkable film.
The pacing is slow and the subject matter is dark, but the images
of this lost icon will haunt you for days, much like Blake haunting
his own house, and Cobain continually haunting current trends in
pop culture.
If you would like more information about elliptical films and
one of its originators please visit Robert-bresson.com
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