Customer Reviews

The Last Time I Committed Suicide

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

They said Seinfeld was a show about nothing, and the mainstream reviewers of this movie give this movie a bum rap! Well folks this is it, loud and clear from the heart. This movie bring light to a generation exploring the few things left in this world untarnished, and the curious natural flow which resides in every human. Neal Cassady was more than an influence and a friend to Kerouac. He was an influence on the every person on that Merry Prankster bus careening down the highway to mystical destinations. He was an influence spanning generations, and will remain that in those to come. In this film, Cassady (Thomas Jane) is pouring heart and expirience out to Jack in letter flash-backs, reliving an episode to an friend while revitalising his spirit. Yes it's true that this was all written in one sitting by Cassady on Dec. 17, 1950 during a benzedrine trip. The free spirit doing what it takes to get by, and as a young heart not knowing, though thinking what is best for himself. A tradgedy of sorts, though self-inflicted through earlier decisions. This movie, as with the original letter, is constant benzedrine flash, movie as the Beats did, in a scatter of emotions and crazy sites. Nothing like something that can get a spark glowing in the restless empty soul searching for release.

"The Last Time I Committed Suicide" was adapted for the screen by director Stephen Kay from a letter written by Beat icon Neal Cassady to his friend, author Jack Kerouac. In this letter, Cassady recounted his youthful adventures in Denver in 1945-1946. During this time, Cassady supported himself working the graveyard shift for a tire company and spent his days chasing women, "borrowing" cars, and hanging out at the pool hall with an older deadbeat acquaintance named Harry. The film's sights and sounds often mimic Cassady's frenetic personality. His skirt-chasing and petty mischief are set to the sounds of bebop, and the film's cinematography sometimes exhibits a hyperactive nervousness. "The Last Time I Committed Suicide" doesn't seem to have a point...or even a focus. It is simply a dramatization of the events of Neal Cassady's life when he was 18-19 years old. He was no more or less aimless than than he was to become, although he did not yet consider aimlessness to be a vocation in itself. Actor Thomas Jane does a nice job as Cassady, although he appears too old for the part. Keanu Reeves put on some weight for his role, and he is convincing as Neal's vaguely creepy and frequently drunk pool hall buddy Harry. Adrien Brody and Gretchen Mol also contribute interesting supporting performances. This is not a bad movie. But the audience's reaction to this film is going to depend entirely upon their attitude toward -and knowledge of- the real Neal Cassady. "The Last Time I Committed Suicide" is simply a slice of his life. There is no attempt to place Cassady's experiences in any larger context, concrete or abstract. So the film doesn't have general appeal. You either find Cassady interesting or you don't. So I'm recommending "The Last Time I Committed Suicide" to fans of Neal Cassady and students of Beat culture. I doubt that anyone else will have much patience for it.

I have always been a big fan of the beat generation, pretty much ever since I could read. Unfortunately, Neal Cassady never got to publish a novel. But he is famous for his long letters to Jack Kerouac. This film is based on a 30-something page letter to Jack from Neal. (A copy of the letter can be found in the "Beat Reader" edited by Ann Charters). Thomas Jane does an excellent job capturing the essence of Cassady. I consider him one of the greatest overlooked actors today. (See him also as Mickey Mantle in "61*") Claire Forlani is also excellent, also overlooked. Keanu Reeves also does well, in his post-Bill-and-Ted, pre-Matrix days. See this movie, because in the immortal words of Neal himself, "Time is now and now is all we have!"

I don't know what leonard maltin is talking about. This film defines the basis of what the beats saw as their purpose. Nothing. Neal Cassady would, four hours and days, stand in one place and swing a hammer. His only goal was not to touch the ground. It is a statment of the existential nature of people. Leonard Maltin seems to be one of those people who fell in love with hollywood movies when he was a child (ions ago) and never realized that the demise of the all powerful studios was a step in the right direction. I would suggest that he do a little more reading and take less consultation from Mr Big Hollywood.

This is a movie for fans of Jack Kerouac and the Beat ideals charactorised in his novel.His hero and inspiration for every major figure of the Beat generation,Neal Cassady is shown here in postwar Denver struggling to find peace of mind. The moves around its simple plot(based on a letter Cassady sent to kerouac)about Cassadys relationship with a sucidal gildfriend and a lustful schoolgirl.Cassady has two options,to settle down or continue his life of stealing cars,romancing women(and becoming the icon of the Beat generation)The latter is chosen, a failed chance at peace. Thats all well and good but what makes the film stand out is the general aura of Beatness about it.The stylised techniques used by the Director(found annoying by most reviewers)work to show the intranscience or the unimportence of time.this was one element of the Beat lifestyle. Nothing Beat was ever straight forward, nothing Neal cassady ever did was static(ask Kesey and his merry Pranksters).The unsettled nature of the camra work works in line with our protagnest,inconsistent,paradoxical and non linear. The score also plays a major part bin setting the vitally important mode.The jazz score swing and bops to our charactors movements,Cassady moves to his own private score it carrys him(as his explanations of the effects of music in Kerouacs On the Road will no douth be remembered for fans) The actors are mostly excellient with Thomas Jane poetraying Cassadys charm,roburst sexuality and wide eyed innocence with all the humour that I picture of the man himself. Keanu Reeves in a small part of poolhall hanger on carries himself well even attaining sympathy for his overaged lover of a young girl while keeping the neccessary darkness needed to contrast him to the rambling Cassady. Overall I loved every minte of this movie yet can well understand why people don't. The inherent arrogence of the Beat generation,waistful intellectual ponderings and obsession with the self and triviallity are faults to one person as they are strengths to the fan.this movie is a neccessity to Beat fans and people who view Cassady as a popular icon and lovers of the fifties unsettlement and new ways Kerouac preachs. For the rest, who knows maybe it will be a stepping stone to all things Beat.

I watched this video because I like the works of Thomas Jane. I was not disappointed. You really have to enjoy Jane in order to enjoy this movie because it can be odd at times and slow moving. Keanu Reeves gives a very nice performance here too. There is a lot of making out and a vague nude scene (photographed in such a way it is not real distinctive, thank goodness), so not recommended for young audiences. I really enjoyed all performances in this movie.

After reading "authorized" reviews, you'd have to expect that the movie will be a bore. Afterall, what could you expect from a movie based on a letter written shortly after WWII? I, on the other hand, would like to comment differently. Yes, the plot was fairly weak, but the use of the camera angles, lighting, and cutting to enhance the story was well done. No one can say that the actors did not do a fine job of defining their characters. They were well portrayed and counterweighted the weak story. I congratulate the makers of this film for taking what little story they had and created a movie that was not only entertaining, but made you think as well.

I am writing this because I am in stark disagreement with the Amazon editor. This little film shows excellent directing, cinematography and acting. It stands as testimony against, and is infinitely better then, most of the talantless "indie" wastes of time that you'll see in the country's smaller theaters today. Thomas Jane BECOMES a young Neal Cassady, and displays one of the finer performances you'll ever see on film. In fact, the acting is excellent overall (To which the director should be praised). Admittedly, if you are interested in the legend of Neal Cassady this movie is going to be much more interesting to you. Still, even if you are not, it is a fine story of unrequited love touched with humor and the spirit of the enjoyment of life. It is a touching period piece, excellently delivered and exceptionally written. The other Cassady-driven movie (unrelated to this cast and crew) - "Heart Beat" (1980) - hits you like a stale yellow lamp on boring Sunday afternoon in comparison. This film is vivid and beautiful. It is a shame that a film of this caliber is being ignorantly shuffled under the carpet, becoming prematurely harder to fine with each passing day, while the constant deluge of mindlessness produced by the big studios becomes marketed ad nauseam over the course of decades. Stephen T. Kay made the kind of film that inspires filmmakers.

The soundtrack - also becoming harder and harder to find - cannot be beat (It remained untouched from my CD player for months). Personally, I had never been a fan of jazz music before owning it.

This poetic film takes a few viewings to fully appreciate. Thomas Jane is wonderful as Neal Cassady, and the small part of Harry is brilliantly played by Keanu Reeves in one of his many transformations. He looks short, sleazy, and even (if you can believe it) a little unattractive. The man is a chameleon ! While some may feel that Harry stopped Neal from achieving what he wanted in life, I think he knew Neal better than anyone, freeing him to be his true self, a wanderer and a source of the beat movement

I know very little about the Beat culture and have never read anything by Kerouac, but I still enjoyed this movie. And as other reviewers have said before, the movie doesn't really have a "point" and it's not trying to change your views on the world. What it is doing is telling a story about a young man who is fighting with himself. Neal Cassidy, at the point in his life this movie captures, is torn between a self that wants to settle down with a wife and kid and live in a house with a picket fence, and a self that wants to escape with few ties and see what exactly the world can offer him. I think it's a story that many people can relate to. I, personally, loved the movie. I enjoyed the way in which the told the story, I loved the music, and I thought the actors were fantastic.