11 reviews
The Last Passport is a great movie! An awesome story of normal people dealing with life's problems. There's a good moral, with great perspective! The acting can be a little stiff and seem forced at times, but the end makes up for it. Jimmy Hager gives a good performance...sometimes a bit stiff, but most of the time very genuine with his feelings, but not over the top. Chris Cruthfield is another great job. Jimmy and Chris seemed to have good chemistry and timing. I was never sure where it was really heading or what to expect, but it was a pleasant and heart warming story that makes you think about your place and attitude.
How many of us take responsibility for our actions 100% of the time? My guess is less than 1%, and I am certainly not in that one per cent. This play (though presented as a movie, it is much more of a play set in one room) shows us an example of a man who takes responsibility for his actions 100% of the time. And yet, this same individual does not seem to follow his own advice when it comes to his own personal life. The ending of the film will convince you of that. He is very good at offering really good advice to strangers, but does he avail himself of the social services he needs to live a more comfortable life? I found that part of the excellent script to be lacking a bit. The acting is obviously from the B class (with a few exceptions), but we forgive the amateur hour actors because the dialogue is strictly in the A category. This movie is reminiscent of films like My Dinner with Andre and Swimming to Cambodia; other movies that are presented in one or two sets. It was the dialogue that made those films superior; just as the dialogue makes this film superior. Issues include family relations, dealing with the death of a loved one, dealing with the alienation of an offspring (something I am familiar with), facing the truth about one's circumstances and taking action to make positive changes about one's circumstances (the most important element of the film), the numbing experiences of dealing with bureaucracies, breaking down stereotypes, and other profound issues. It was a wonderful surprise to see this film to reinforce a few of my beliefs. Highly recommended.
- arthur_tafero
- Dec 4, 2023
- Permalink
This would make an excellent stage play. It's so eloquently written with its wonderful take on life's foibles and insecurities. The lead is what makes this film with his scholarly take on life. And yet the film doesn't take itself 100% seriously. After all, life often makes us shake our head in comedic disbelief. The ending is truly worth waiting for and exhibits a real crispness and surreal clarity. There is enough in this film to lead to different interpretations; and that is exactly what makes The Last Passport such an enjoyable viewing. It does have a David Mamet kind of feel to it. While most of the acting is quirky, some is truly heartfelt!
- farleycates
- Sep 12, 2024
- Permalink
A jewel of a little story done on a shoestring that brings to life precious nuggets of humanity that can come to light just waiting in a passport office. Jimmy Hager's character interacts with an endless stream of interesting characters coming thru the door and he affects each of them in different but positive ways. Is he an angel?.....you have to watch the ending to find out. Comic relief provided by Dave Blamy is a welcome pace changer.
The way in which this film was made proves that huge budgets are not necessary if the story is sound and interesting. Set only in a believable passport office and done in 30 days, from script to post, it is probably unique and in a class of film of its own.
The way in which this film was made proves that huge budgets are not necessary if the story is sound and interesting. Set only in a believable passport office and done in 30 days, from script to post, it is probably unique and in a class of film of its own.
The notion of waiting in line for a passport has horrified us all. But this movie had me ready to run down and apply on the chance that I might meet such interesting people.
The setting is elegant in its simple boxy form. The drab colors reflect the feel of a public office. One can almost smell the musk and the disinfectant.
The characters are unique yet seem to fit together like puzzle pieces.
Molded together with a simply premised plot, the film captures the worldly thoughts and trials of the common man, and a old fella with goodly advice. A recommend this film.
The setting is elegant in its simple boxy form. The drab colors reflect the feel of a public office. One can almost smell the musk and the disinfectant.
The characters are unique yet seem to fit together like puzzle pieces.
Molded together with a simply premised plot, the film captures the worldly thoughts and trials of the common man, and a old fella with goodly advice. A recommend this film.
- parker-allen
- Nov 15, 2011
- Permalink
I watched The Last Passport with my teenage son. Knowing the story behind the story of how the film was made in 30 days for only $5,000 allowed me the luxury of not expecting a Hollywood blockbuster. In a time where all movies seem more interested in CGI, special effects, explosions, sex, nudity, and violence, and they forget that we want a story. This film delivers and doesn't need anything but a compelling story and wonderful characters. This movie had everything any blockbuster has and more.
I've watched it twice now and look forward to watching it again to find all the hidden clues and wonderful messages I may have missed the first two times.
Jimmy Haggar is simply wonderful and doesn't even seem to be acting. I look forward to finding more material he is in and for whatever Lucky You brings next.
Great job!!!!
I've watched it twice now and look forward to watching it again to find all the hidden clues and wonderful messages I may have missed the first two times.
Jimmy Haggar is simply wonderful and doesn't even seem to be acting. I look forward to finding more material he is in and for whatever Lucky You brings next.
Great job!!!!
- cosmo-940-994217
- Jan 2, 2011
- Permalink
I really didn't know what to expect out of this little film, but I had heard good things about it. It started off a little slow for my taste, until it took some surprising turns that me aware that I was watching a very deep film. It reminded me a little of The Twilight Zone shows, but it was much more complex in the characters. I kept thinking I was watching my grandfather and what it would be like for him to sit in a passport office.
The ending was something that made we want to watch the film again, since there were so many little details that got through the cracks on the first time. We need more of these types of films. Yes, its no Hollywood type film, so if your looking for that then I would not go see it. If your looking for rich in story, then this little flick has plenty of that.
The ending was something that made we want to watch the film again, since there were so many little details that got through the cracks on the first time. We need more of these types of films. Yes, its no Hollywood type film, so if your looking for that then I would not go see it. If your looking for rich in story, then this little flick has plenty of that.
- kentsmithphoto
- Aug 4, 2012
- Permalink
This movie is so inspirational in so many ways. Yes, created between some incredibly talented people in 30 days for only $5,000. And the story, is not a story its everyday life. The talent this movie holds came together and built this film. It shows they exercised the very same morales we teach our children everyday. Be kind, be respectful, be patient.. You can literally see in this film that behind the cameras a set that took place was looked upon as a chapter in their lives- past, present, future. Heart and Soul was poured and a delightfully heart shaped filmed was produced. Its a great reminder and eye opener to the fact that we each have the ability to look around us and see everyone as an equal, as a human being. This story line is passionate, heartfelt and a good morale booster to encourage change. Change for the good.
- xochitlmoreno704
- Mar 25, 2014
- Permalink
This is a great little film that captures perfectly the phenomenon of interminably waiting in line at some bureaucratic government agency and inevitably baring your soul to the complete stranger sitting next to you , who you will never see again. The characters in the movie encompass just about every bizarre, stressed out, nerdy, dangerous, goofy person you might run into in this situation. I am in love with the older gentleman George, the sage of the film, who gushes wisdom and compassion and good old southern charm to anyone who happens to sit next to him. If you have ever been left to wait for hours on end and have let your mind wander to a surreal world where anything might happen, you should see this film! For the minuscule budget and extremely short shooting schedule I give this movie a 10! It goes back to a time when you watched a movie for a compelling story not for the special effects and extravagant sets.
This movie just gets better and better as it goes on. The main character of George is like the Dalai Lama who dispenses wisdom and piety with every character he encounters. This is a film about the human condition in all its complexities and full of surprises. At the final scene all I could say was, "Oh my god, oh my god", it is that moving. The fact that it was written and produced in 30 days on a shoestring budget that probably only covered the cost of the film is quite remarkable. It is a movie that will make you pause and think about your own life and what you are doing with it. Or, not doing with it. George is the man you will want to talk to. And of course, George has a story of his own, and what a story it is!
- rbsr-74906
- Jun 12, 2024
- Permalink
I will cut off half of the waiting to stand up and go(at the end)
the film reflects realities like: he choose what to do with his money
but that attitude in a better, or non entirely human society, would be rewarded with minimum decent life, we are not aware of the variations of Human Resources, and are not recognizing this changes by placing in new actualized schemes of respect for all fases of life.
I had some questions in my youth about elderly maybe too early according to my friends, but there were things so bizarre that I can not keep them inside me(my grandad who was a man of correct manners, some day he let me approach him and I asked: why are you sitting there and he answered me I am waiting for dead,and I reply but yesterday you were walking the park alone for 3 hours(he was 92) and you still have a lot of life to live, and he answered now I want to die, that was too much to digest so I let it pass. As all that I have been unable to understand along my life later I realized in a moment of light. I connected that my grandma, his wife died 2 months before hi gave that answer, but I was incapable of understanding it until my 18 when the response strike and derailed my thoughts, and I needed to walk ,to think about the lost of an all life wife. As for my grandad he kept sitting in that (dam chair LOL)for a month until he got a pneumonia,was hospitalized and died. For me was clear(for this example and others) that life was to big to be understood rapidmont,or easily, now I am 68 and my mon is 91 and I have a bag of "to be understood matters"
I had some questions in my youth about elderly maybe too early according to my friends, but there were things so bizarre that I can not keep them inside me(my grandad who was a man of correct manners, some day he let me approach him and I asked: why are you sitting there and he answered me I am waiting for dead,and I reply but yesterday you were walking the park alone for 3 hours(he was 92) and you still have a lot of life to live, and he answered now I want to die, that was too much to digest so I let it pass. As all that I have been unable to understand along my life later I realized in a moment of light. I connected that my grandma, his wife died 2 months before hi gave that answer, but I was incapable of understanding it until my 18 when the response strike and derailed my thoughts, and I needed to walk ,to think about the lost of an all life wife. As for my grandad he kept sitting in that (dam chair LOL)for a month until he got a pneumonia,was hospitalized and died. For me was clear(for this example and others) that life was to big to be understood rapidmont,or easily, now I am 68 and my mon is 91 and I have a bag of "to be understood matters"