Last Night

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90 min.

Directed by: 

Massy Tadjedin

Starring: 

Keira Knightley

Sam Worthington

Eva Mendes

Guillaume Canet

Griffin Dunne

Screenplay by: 

Massy Tadjedin

Rated Parental Guidance; Mature Theme, Sexual Content. Cinemascope.

Last Night is nothing new; at its heart, it’s the tale of two people in a struggling marriage who flirt with the idea of cheating over the span of one night. But Massy Tadjedin, in her directorial debut, takes this simple premise and infuses it with such subtlety and depth that it should be a guideline for what separates a tired story from an engaging new adventure.

Lit with warm hues and the shadowy feel of night, the film focuses on Michael (Sam Worthington) and Joanna (Keira Knightley) Reed, a married couple who are relatively happy, but free of the real passion that keeps couples fueled for years. They are, however yanked out of their bland complacency at an office party. Joanna spots Michael in an intimate moment with his beautiful co-worker Laura (Eva Mendes). Unfortunately, the timing is particularly bad; the next morning, he must go away with Laura on a business trip.

While Michael is out of town, Joanna is faced with a temptation of her own. While out for a morning coffee, she runs into an ex-fling, Alex (Guillaume Canet).  As Michael tries to decide whether he should act on his attraction to Laura, Joanna faces the man who got away – the too-perfect romantic ideal who always seems to bubble to the surface at times of marital discontent.

Though Knightley might be passionate about her period pieces, she’s never better than in modern moments, and as Joanna, she shows presence and a real sense of maturity. In scenes with Canet, their chemistry oozes from every shot. A look or gentle, off-hand touch speaks volumes about their connection. You want to cheer for cheating, because their connection feels so real.

Massy Tadjedin has quickly established herself as a notable and talented new filmmaker. Last Night is an impressive first feature, knowing when to savour a moment and linger, and knowing when to retreat and tease our curiosity.

– Monika Bartyzel, Cinematical