One Last Chance

I talk about this every day so excuse me if I've said this before but there's a magical thing about movies portraying life as it is. It's a feeling of identification, I believe; because we all go through the same things everyday, but differently. Personally, I know how it goes with the movie because I'm from a small town, and there you hang out with the same people and expect leaving the place eventually.

Now the case of these three friends…Their town is boring, but some of them it means the whole world; because they can't leave or because they want to stay. Fitz's (Jamie Sives) dad, for example, spends the day playing cards and watching television. Fitz used to live with him but now he's with Barbara (Neve McIntosh). However, he visits and asks the same old questions: "Do you want a cup of tea?". "What did I have the last time", the old man asks. "Coffee, dad". "Then a cup of tea it is".

Questions like those are as common as the ones asked every Christmas. Fitz and his best friends Nellie (Iain Robertson) and Seany (Kevin McKidd) hang out in the bar Seany works; just to hear all the happy persons with nice cars and very happy lives wondering the same thing: "What are you still doing here?". No wonder they hate the holidays. They laugh as if the didn't care but they also have hopes, like one that comes with gold found in a crazy dead man's hand.

"They are wasters", some people may say. "A lost cause". But they know a lot, or at least Fitz does, and they're not afraid of being what they are; because in the end we are what we are. Well, one of them is, and makes some decisions trying to change it, which unfolds a series of complicated events, but if there's one thing that remains in a human being, always, is the essence. Nellie, on the other hand, is a believer, but his everyday life generates doubts in him. In the end, he makes a choice (they all do), involving a chat with a priest that after knowing he has helped desperately asks Nellie to visit him again (the town is actually incredibly deserted) and we realize that's how it goes.

It appears to be an independent work and it seems to be the first one of its director and writer Stewart Svaasand, who delivers a very promising job; keeping it real and quiet, with still cameras all around and a clear concern for the place where the piece happens. To show this, he creates a great sequence of quick cuttings showing different parts of the town. It is combined with delightful common music of the location (by Donald Shaw) that in the end becomes a major character.

The cast is, I consider, within the best and most natural this industry can offer. With Jamie Sives at the top, coming out completely different as his sad, monotone, suicidal Wilbur; and concluding a new reflexive, excited and concerned human being. He's great and I will continue with the task of watching everything he's done. McKidd, an actor with more projection and now known because of "Rome", makes a decent job in portraying the ignorant, unconfident man of the group; and Robertson finds his inhibited Nellie with the tone of voice.

"One last chance" comes as another breeze of fresh air from the United Kingdom, and it gives us another chance of hope…Hope of having good times with more movies like this one.

I dragged my husband to see this film, and our expectations were low after reading some negative reviews. But, I knew Stewart Svaasand at Telford College (Edinburgh) so was curious to see his first feature film. I really enjoyed the first half - it was warm-hearted and all the actors were great, but it does trail off a bit after that and I even wondered how long was left (a sin in the cinema!). However, there's a nice feel about it - I think it's a good thing it's no "Shallow Grave" - what an overrated film that is, and unfavourable comparisons with that load of cr*p "Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels" (which basically just looks like an overlong Bacardi ad), can only be a good thing too. This is no "Donnie Darko" but I still think it's an accomplished first feature. Very envious of Svaasand's success actually - wish I'd stuck at film ! Looking forward to the next one - congratulations from Josie

though this is just a light entertaining movie, what it lack was the hard hitting black comedy that has made other movies like this; i.e. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, The Hard Word, Snatch, Lucky Numbers, much more enjoyable. though it could keep the charm it was aiming for, though with the back stabbing and betrayals need a more sharper edge to them. The laughs that were presented were funny, though not to the point where you would be out of breathe from the sheer bewilderment of the situation.

the performances were good, though the director made all the characters to sympathetic that there wasn't anyone you would love to hate.

but this is still charming even if it isn't as densely layered movie which it could have been.

Quite entertaining for the first 45 minutes then it starts to feel like it's treading water. Trying to be a cross between 'Local Hero' and 'Shallow Grave' it doesn't have the charm of the former or the guts of the latter. Borrowing from too many other films it lacks it's own distinctive style. It would possibly make a quite watchable television drama but is out of it's depth on the big screen. The music was good. (5/10)

What a great Movie. A story of a small town and three mates that live for each other. From an Australian point of view it's seen as solid mateship.

A movie about three Guys that get into trouble as we all have at some time or another without even trying and will they get out of it with a no luck at all. I loved this from start to finish, I am not sure if it was because I didn't know what to expect but I like the easy plot and cast of usual people in a small town where everybody knows everything.

I look forward to more movies like this rather than over budgeted epic's with big stars and CGI. Bring back the hometown hit. This deserves a look, 4 out of 5 Stars from me.