Sean Penn's The Last Face unfortunately fails to deliver the powerful love-story that the film presents itself as. Instead, it is a jumbled mess that is almost incomprehensible.
“Academy Award winners Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem star in this stirring film directed by two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn. Set against the backdrop of war-torn Liberia, The Last Face follows a love affair between Dr. Wren Petersen (Theron), the director of an international aid organization, and Dr. Miguel Leon (Bardem), a relief-aid doctor. As the violence around them escalates, Wren and Miguel battle their own internal conflicts as they try to keep their relationship alive.”
Sean Penn is well known for his humanitarian and activist work around the globe, whether it is raising money for relief efforts in devastated countries, or trying to shine light on tragedies of war-torn countries that may not be on the radar of the average American movie-goer. The Last Face is his attempt to shift that focus on this part of the world, using it as a backdrop for a love story between a relief-aid doctor and the director of an aid organization.
The story skips around almost erratically in different times and countries, illustrating the love-story of the couple as they reflect on their thoughts and feelings about themselves and what they are witnessing through narration. Unfortunately, most, if not all of the entire film is jumbled mess that is almost incomprehensible. Heavy use of slow motion effects try and capture the tragedy of the violence happening to women and children. Penn sacrifices focus on the love story in order to try to artistically show the beauty amongst the violence. If this was the direction he wanted the film to take, perhaps it should’ve been a documentary as opposed to masquerading as a love story that doesn’t take the time make us care anything about it.
The acting isn’t an issue in the film, with Javier Bardem and Charlize Theron leading. Despite some of the pretentious dialogue that leads to painfully dull self-reflection, they make the characters believable, though it just may not be particularly interesting. There are also some very good supporting actors which give a bit of enjoyment to an overall muddled film, including Jean Reno, whom I haven’t seen in a film for years.
The Last Face fails at presenting a comprehensible story that will appeal to the average movie-goer. Although the film carries an important message, the method of telling it leaves much to be desired.
Video
The Last Face is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 2.40:1. The transfer looks very good, with no defects noticed. As the film focuses heavily on establishing itself as almost a piece of art, there are a few methods of filming that may strike the viewer as strange. Heavy blurring on everyone but the main actors in some scenes, or very dark scenes with filters, you really never know what to expect in this department. These effects can be beautiful at times, but only detract from the message that Penn is trying to get across.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The track sounds very good, with an impressive use of surrounds when it comes to the violence happening throughout the film.
Special Feature
Only one extra included on the disc:
- Picturing The Last Face – Cast and crew talk about the deeper meaning of the film, praise Sean Penn, as well as show bits and pieces of behind the scenes images.
Despite the great names attached to the film, The Last Face is focuses too much on how they get the message across than the actual message. A jumbled mess as a film, you may find more information about the tragedies occurring in these parts of the world by research and staying informed.
