Last Summer

This is an overly cinematic movie with very little dialogue. I've seen other reviews describe it as a visual poem and they might be right but i guess it just wasn't for me. I can see someone who has gone through the experience of having to let go of a lover because they're going to different places enjoy this or maybe someone who really likes small details and beautiful shots.

What I do wanna highlight is the nature of their relationship. It is very peculiar in that words aren't really needed most of the time. Maybe it is because of all the time they've been together but they seem to understand each other and just enjoy each other's company. There's a lot of intimacy but I wouldn't say it's overly romantic.

Overall if you're looking for a slow artistic movie with a lot of focus on details and nature this one might be for you but if you're looking for a movie with drama and/or a more developed storyline I wouldn't really recommend this one.

The story and the characters were all very cohesive and well written. The plot was pretty solid, and the themes were noticeable.

However, all this said, the execution is a whole other story. While I understand the cinematography was trying to set a tone of despair and depression, it was rather boring and dragged on for too long. Many of the shots were utterly pointless and a waste of time. The acting was fine, but not really convincing.

The way it was edited and shot, made it seem like there was only 1 camera. The editing itself had its problems too, with cuts between people in conversations abrupt and ametuer-ish.

Also the movie has TONS OF EXPOSITION DUMPS through his voice overs. While voice overs done right are awesome, they can also fail spectacularly which is what happened here.

Honestly I don't understand how this movie has so many good reviews, no one in their right mind would give it above 4 stars.

Not the worst movie I've ever seen, but pretty damn atrocious.

DON'T WATCH THIS MOVIE

Director/writer Mark Thiedeman has created a visual poetic look into the friendship, compassion, and love of friendship between two teenage males at that point in life when the foundation of their past life must give way to their individual adult path. The visuals of nature and home are warm and lazy just like a hot summer demands.

Here in this setting Jonah and Luke, friends sense early childhood, give to each other the affectionate expression of companionship their friendship has developed into. They are each others comfort at this pivotal and often confusing time in life. Jonah must move on as his intellect and spirit demands it. Luke does not have this drive, this need for experience beyond the life they both know. Where Jonah is intellectually developed he is fearful of whats next but he must go. Luke is more emotionally developed because he knows Jonah better than Jonah knows himself and he must let Jonah go or it will ruin their friendship. If you love someone let them go!

I must say I do not believe this is a story of two gay males living as openly gay in a southern town. I can see how many others come to that easy conclusion. We see suggestion of love through their affection and need to be together. We never see them together beyond cuddling! As the photography shows nature growing and existing in this summer setting we are also given two boys living in nature and each is open to the natural need of humans to seek companionship and experience this new emotional want. Neither passes judgement on the other. Society bars this type of friendship with unfortunate labels but here Mark Thiedemann has created a poem, a fantasy, a dream of not necessarily what is but a celebration of what can be in real life.

Certainly a unique film that will appeal to those who are given to poetry and symbolism in life!

Last Summer is about two teenage boys, Luke and Jonah, during the summer after their last year of high school in a small town in Arkansas. They have been best friends since they were toddlers and lovers for an unspecified amount of time - presumably since puberty made it possible. Their families and everybody they know knows about and supports their relationship.

Jonah is a gifted student, artist and musician, while Luke isn't good at anything except sports, so they complement and help each other. They will be parting for the first time in their lives at the end of the summer, when Jonah goes north for college and Luke stays.

This is a blissful, idyllic fantasy that feels completely true. If I didn't know that boys like these would NEVER receive such support in such a town (they even sit together in church), I would believe it was a true story, even a documentary. Although rationally I know it's impossible, it's so real and true emotionally that what ends up being impossible is NOT believing in it.

Nothing much happens in this movie. There's some voice-over narration and some dialog, but it's primarily a sensual movie, a series of exquisitely beautiful visual and aural images that are impossible to describe adequately. Images of nature, of the boys in extreme closeup, many abstract images that are unidentifiable but powerfully evocative of the quiet, sensual, languid world in which the boys live. The score - when there is a score - is lyrical piano music by Beethoven and Schumann.

Last Summer is like a poem - about love, about beauty, about peace, about perfect harmony with the natural world. It's extraordinary and indescribable.

I never recommend that straight people watch gay movies, because if a gay movie is acceptable to straights it's by definition a failure. But this movie is so beautiful that I'm breaking that rule. Whoever you are, your life will be enriched if you see it.

I felt like there were two different films going on here; one subplot was the relationship between the two graduating kids, enjoying what may be their last summer together, while mapping out what might also be their futures. Lots of discussion of jonah going off to school, while that may or may not be in the cards for luke. Sweet. Cute. Minimal dialog. You can really feel the love and appreciation they have for each other. One sad moment is when jonah says "i wish you'd ask me to stay"... luke says "no, can't do it." we know why he can't, but it would have been romantic to explain why he couldn't. Or was it too obvious ? Maybe. I do respect when writers and directors give the viewer credit for understanding things. I was surprised luke didn't take that moment to explain himself. Oh, the second subplot? The long, drawn out scenes of nature, background, forests, colors, light shading. That should have been a short film (documentary ?) all by itself. I found myself fast forwarding through the long scenes where not only is there no dialog, but it's a long time before we even see a character in the film again. Written and directed by mark thiedeman. Mixed feelings on this one. I enjoyed watching the scenes with the two guys, but didn't dig the long, drawn out bumpers between the scenes. Or maybe i just have a short attention span.