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| Poster artwork for the Australian drama film Last Ride. |
Journey To The End by Linh
Young
film-maker Glendyn Ivin makes his feature directorial debut with Last Ride, a film that is more
compelling than the typical road movie. Last
Ride is based on Denise Young’s novel about an ex-criminal recently
released from prison, who takes his ten year old son with him, after committing
a terrible crime.
Ivin
collaborated with his producers Antonia Barnard and Nick Cole to create a film
that goes beyond the ending of the novel and into darker and deadlier
territory. Barnard and Cole added their own creative insights into Mac
Gudgeon’s excellent script, and also allowed Ivin to include his own artistic
fingerprints.
They
are familiar markings, as they bear similar tones of family connections, coming
of age and inspirational themes like his award winning short film Cracker Bag.
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FINAL FAREWELL: Kev (Hugo Weaving) takes
Chook (Tom Russell) to the cemetery in the film Last Ride. Image: Madman Entertainment.
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Ivin
also gathered his former colleagues from Cracker
Bag to work on Last Ride,
including film editor Jack Hutchings and cinematographer Greig Fraser.
As
Greig Fraser boldly captured the spectacular views, sounds and characteristics
of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges from all angles, Hutchings masterfully
pieced together all the scenes and sequences into a seamless flow of cinematic
imagery.
The
superb cast is led by Hugo Weaving (Transformers,
The Matrix Trilogy) with child-star-on-the-rise Tom Russell, who plays ten
year old Chook.
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DANGER: Kev (Hugo Weaving) keeps a close
eye on his son Chook (Tom Russell) in the film Last Ride. Image: Madman Entertainment.
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Hugo Weaving is perfectly cast as the gruff and quick-tempered former prisoner Kev, whose recent release from gaol reunites him with his son, Chook.
Weaving
gives an exceptional performance as Kev, a character who’s scarred from within
after years of living and growing up with an abusive father, yet outwardly he
shows some tenderness towards his son.
Tom
Russell plays Kev’s ten year old son Chook, who slowly becomes closer to his
father until he discovers the reason behind their sudden departure.
Russell
is able to convey the fear and trust Chook has for his father, while showing
courage and tenacity in Chook’s coming of age.
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ON THE RUN: Kev (Hugo Weaving) and
his son Chook (Tom Russell) walking on Lake Gairdner in the film Last Ride. Image: Madman Entertainment.
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Last Ride moves you to a different heart-space emotionally, while moving your gaze away from drab suburbia to the visually alluring outback of South Australia. The stunning Lake Gairdner, northwest of Adelaide and Port Augusta, is one of the few salt lakes you can drive on, and it is magnificently captured on film. The arid, dry and breath-taking panoramic views of the Flinders Ranges and the luscious greenery of the National Parks look enticing. The film showcased the regional beauty of South Australia in all its natural glory. Last Ride is a wonderful emotional and dramatic outback drive with some unexpected Australian humour connecting a desperate father and his impressionable son.
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AMAZING: Chook (Tom Russell) is awe-struck
by the beauty of The Flinders Rangers in the film Last Ride. Image: Madman Entertainment.
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Director: Glendyn Ivin
Writers: Mac Gudgeon (screenplay), Denise
Young (novel)
Cast: Hugo Weaving, Tom Russell, John
Brumpton, Sonya Suares, Anita Hegh, Adam Morgan, Kelton Pell, Chrissie Page,
Chris Weir, Rachel Francis, Levine Ngatokorua, Mick Coulthard
Producers: Antonia Barnard, Nick
Cole, Anthony Maras
Cinematographer: Greig Fraser
Original Music Composer: Paul Charlier
Film Editor: Jack Hutchings
Production Designer: Josephine Ford
Costume Designer: Jodie Fried
Running Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes
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