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Philosophy is the common ground for the eclectic bunch of characters in “The Last Hurrah.” During their last night together a group of grad students apply their philosophical theories to their love lives. A film with so many characters and so much dialogue could easily come off as overdone and pretentious, but “The Last Hurrah” is a delightful surprise, thanks to a good cast, cool cinematography and engaging, witty dialogue.
“The Last Hurrah” follows a group of young intellectuals celebrating the end of their Master’s program. At the center of this group are three best friends who only have two things in common: their major and their issues with women. Steve (Jon Weinberg), cannot break away from his girlfriend’s suffocating grip. Jason (David Wachs), a ladies’ man who looks like he came out of an episode of “Jersey Shore,” is confident and aggressive, but has never been in a serious relationship. And, Will (Zach Bennett), the star of the philosophy department, has his deep insecurities and over-analytical nature to blame for his stagnant state with dream-girl Nicole (Valerie Ziegler).
Some of the characters are pretty far-fetched, like the hippie drop-out named The Trip and a British guy named God, whose words live up to his name), but they all work and provide a vivid canvass. One of the reasons the assorted bunch works is because of the actors. They bring an ease and comfort to the words they speak.
The dialogue is the driving force behind the success of the film. The long exchanges are intellectual and witty, but fresh, crisp and believable within the context of their field of study. This background paired with likable characters and likable actors help freshen an air of ostentation that a film like this could have created.
The other impressive aspect of “The Last Hurrah” is the cinematography. The film was shot in one continuous shot, which we can imagine is more than just tricky and clever. The director Jonathan Stokes does this effectively and seamlessly, and in a way that accentuates the chemistry of the group and the tone of the evening, making “The Last Hurrah” a bright, energetic, sentimental and optimistic film that brings up questions we should all entertain occasionally.
Sanela Djokovic is a writer living in the Bronx
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