The Last Kiss

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the Wayne Cochran song later covered by Pearl Jam, see Last Kiss.

The Last Kiss
promotional poster for The Last Kiss
Directed by	Tony Goldwyn
Produced by	Gary Lucchesi Tom Rosenberg Marcus Viscidi Andre Lamal
Written by	Paul Haggis (screenplay) Zach Braff (Uncredited) Gabriele Muccino (film L' Ultimo Bacio)
Starring	Zach Braff Jacinda Barrett Casey Affleck Rachel Bilson Blythe Danner Tom Wilkinson
Music by	Michael Penn
Cinematography	Tom Stern
Editing by	Lisa Zeno Churgin
Distributed by	- USA - DreamWorks - non-USA - Lakeshore Entertainment
Release date(s)	September 10, 2006 (Deauville Film Festival & Toronto Film Festival) September 15, 2006 (wide release)
Running time	115 mins
Language	English
Budget	$20 million
Official website
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

The Last Kiss is a 2006 film which is based on the 2001 Italian film L'ultimo bacio, directed by Gabriele Muccino. The film stars Zach Braff, Jacinda Barrett, Casey Affleck and Rachel Bilson. The screenplay was written by Paul Haggis, and directed by Tony Goldwyn. The plot revolves around a young couple and their friends struggling with adulthood and issues of relationships and commitment. Much of the movie was filmed in and around Madison, WI. As with Garden State, Braff was involved with the film's soundtrack. The first teaser trailer was released on zachbraff.com in mid-June 2006.

1 Cast
2 Plot
3 Reception
4 Soundtrack
5 Box Office
- 5.1 DVD
6 Trivia
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Cast

Zach Braff as Michael
Jacinda Barrett as Jenna
Casey Affleck as Chris
Rachel Bilson as Kim
Michael Weston as Izzy
Eric Christian Olsen as Kenny
Marley Shelton as Arianna
Lauren Lee Smith as Lisa
Harold Ramis as Professor Bowler
Blythe Danner as Anna
Tom Wilkinson as Stephen

[edit] Plot

Michael and his live-in girlfriend Jenna appear to be enjoying the perfect relationship: Jenna is pregnant prior to the opening of the film and her parents are pressuring the pair to get married. Jenna claims that Michael's work pressures and her own dissertation rendered it an inopportune time for marriage. The real reason, unbeknownst to anyone, is that Michael feels trapped and scared. Although he considers Jenna an ideal companion, Michael is harboring second thoughts.

Upon a chance encounter at a wedding, Michael meets Kim, whom he confides in about his relationship. Kim guesses he is about to break up with Jenna and becomes flirtatious. While Michael becomes intrigued by Kim's youthfulness, openness, and spirit, he does not succumb to temptation. The two part ways with Kim telling Michael where she attends school and where she usually hangs out.

Michael eventually seeks her out at the Memorial Union but tells Kim he was in the area only because of a client meeting. Kim senses his interest and, while Michael drives her home, invites him to a party. Michael accepts. Back in the office, Michael constructs an excuse to be away from Jenna on the night of the party. He asks Chris, his friend and co-worker, to cover for him in case Jenna calls. Chris suspects Michael has met another woman and wishes to avoid becoming involved, as Chris himself has just left his wife; he knows first hand how painful a breakup can be. Michael denies the existence of another woman and merely says he will 'be with an old college friend.'

After the party with Kim—who Michael says makes him 'feel ten years younger'—the two kiss several times, preceding Kim inviting Michael to her dorm for the night. Guilt over cheating on Jenna prevails over temptation, however, and he refuses. Unfortunately for Michael, Izzy's father (Izzy is a mutual friend to Michael and Jenna) dies that night. Several friends and acquaintances, including Jenna and Chris, go to Izzy's home with their condolences. There, Jenna realizes Michael had not been, as he claimed, with Chris. Jenna confronts Chris but Chris refuses to answer her questions, which only fuels Jenna's suspicions that Michael has indeed gone astray.

When Michael arrives home that night, Jenna becomes confrontational; Michael at first denies he was out with Kim, but eventually admits he had seen another woman. Although he points out he didn't sleep with her and that the outing meant nothing, Jenna yells at him and kicks him out of the house.

Alone, depressed, and desperate, Michael receives a call from Kim. Kim apologizes for being demanding earlier and asks him to come over for conversation only. Michael agrees. Upon arrival, the pair immediately engage in sexual intercourse. The next morning, Michael tries sneaking away without waking Kim but notices once he gets out the door that he left his keys behind. Upon his return, Kim demands to know why he hadn't said goodbye. Michael tells her simply that he did not want to wake her, as he had to be at work early. Kim takes the missing keys out of her pocket and returns them after Michael promises to call her.

At work, Michael plans on leaving early to seek out Jenna. On his way out, Kim visits his office unannounced, wanting to give him a mix CD. Michael confides he still loves Jenna who was, in fact, pregnant with his baby. He apologizes to Kim for not telling her about Jenna's pregnancy and leaves her in search of Jenna.

Michael pulls up to Jenna's parents' home, and Jenna's father gives a stern lecture about commitment and adulthood and offers advice on winning Jenna’s forgiveness. The father urges Michael to be completely honest and never stop trying. Equipped with his wisdom, Michael goes into Jenna's room. On the verge of reconciliation, Jenna asks if he was telling the truth about having sex with Kim. Michael says he was telling the truth (which he was, at the time), but as a result of her father's advice, he confesses he went back later that night. Even though Michael claims he was only being honest, Jenna becomes inconsolable and storms out of the house and back to their apartment.

Michael follows her back and finds himself locked out. He stakes out on the front porch until Jenna agrees to talk. Both day and night, wet and dry, Michael remains at the front door with many neighbors taking notice and some even providing beverages to him. Jenna's father even proceeds to drive by in his car and notices Michael, who sees him. A proud smile develops on his face as he drives off, indicating that Michael has taken his advice seriously. Slowly but surely, she begins to relent, first tossing out a blanket during a cold evening, then dropping off a sandwich the next day. During the evening of what would have been his third night on the porch, Jenna breaks her silence and speaks to Michael through the closed door. She laments about mourning the loss of the relationship like the loss of someone's life. Later that evening, Jenna opens the door and Michael goes inside.

[edit] Reception

After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, critical reaction to The Last Kiss was mixed. On Rottentomatoes, 44% of the "Best of the best" critics gave the film a favorable review although it received a "Two Thumbs Up" rating on the television show Ebert & Roeper (with guest critic and actress Aisha Tyler sitting in for Roger Ebert).

[edit] Soundtrack

The Soundtrack was released on September 4, 2006 on Lakeshore Records. It can be purchased on iTunes or Amazon.com

Tracklisting:
01. "Chocolate" by Snow Patrol
02. "Star Mile" by Joshua Radin
03. "Pain Killer" by Turin Brakes
04. "Warning Sign" by Coldplay
05. "Ride" by Cary Brothers
06. "El Salvador" by Athlete
07. "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap
08. "Reason Why" by Rachael Yamagata
09. "Hold You in My Arms" by Ray LaMontagne
10. "Prophecy" by Remy Zero
11. "Paper Bag" by Fiona Apple
12. "Today's the Day" by Aimee Mann
13. "Arms of a Woman" by- Amos Lee
14. "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk (Reprise)" by Rufus Wainwright
15. "Paperweight" - Schuyler Fisk and Joshua Radin

[edit] Box Office

As of April 9th, 2008 the film has grossed $11,614,790 domestically and $4,118,563 in foreign markets.^[1]

[edit] DVD

According to IMDb, The Last Kiss has earned $19.8 million in DVD gross rental revenue as of February 25, 2007.^[2]

[edit] Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

It was rumored that Rachel Bilson called for a body double during the sex scenes because she was uncomfortable being nude in front of the camera.^[3] She does appear topless in the final film, but the flesh-colored bra used to cover her breasts is plainly visible on screen.
Rachel McAdams was originally cast as "Jenna". The original filming dates were delayed and McAdams dropped out just a few days before filming was scheduled to begin.
Michael's staying on the front door for several days is reminiscent of the East German film Die Legende von Paul und Paula (The Legend of Paul and Paula), where Paul is also camping in front of Paula's apartment in order to win her back.
It also can be seen as reminiscent of the Walk to Canossa, where Henry IV stayed several days outside of the fortress of Canossa, fasting and wearing only his penitent-shirt, to make pope Gregory VII lift the excommunication which had been put upon Henry before.