​FILMS

last cab to darwin

2015 review number 125:

Last Cab to Darwin: (Drama/Comedy): 78 out of 100: The euthanasia debate has been around for a while. This Australian film explores how the right to die affects an individual who is afflicted with terminal cancer, plus the effects on friends and acquaintances of one's decision to end their life. It could so easily have been a torturous, distressing experience given the nature of the topic, but the humour enables the film to be more than just a sob story.

 

Rex (Michael Caton) is a Broken Hill taxi driver who discovers that he has only three months to live. He has no family, only a lover, Polly (Ningali Lawford) from across the road, and friends who are his drinking buddies played by such acting veterans as John Howard and David Field. He comes across some news that Dr. Nicole Farmer has successfully pushed for a bill to give patients the right to die in the Northern Territory. Upon hearing this news, he embarks on a road trip from Broken Hill to Darwin to have Dr. Farmer end his life because he doesn't want to spend his last days in a hospital. Along the way, he meets up with a troubled Aboriginal man in Tilly (Mark Coles Smith) and a British woman, Julie (Emma Hamilton), who was a nurse back home but now works in a pub in the Northern Territory.

 

This is Michael Caton's movie. He delivers a powerful, dramatic performance with splashes of humour. He makes sure we can empathise with him. He is ably supported by Lawford who adds the romantic angle to the story. She is probably the only reason for him to continue living and the heartfelt moments they share illustrate this point. It's not all lovey dovey as they do get on each other's nerves which accentuates some of the lighter moments. There is also humour to be found when Rex meets up with his mates. Field contributes most of the funny lines and he does so with aplomb. Things become more serious when Rex meets up with Tilly on his way to seeing Dr. Farmer. This is where the central theme loses its focus as we learn more about Tilly's character. He is an unlikable character at times that you wonder why Rex continues to drive him to Darwin. Weaver is solid as usual and it's easy to see why the Americans have grown to appreciate her acting. After all, she has been nominated for two Oscars after only a few years in Hollywood.

 

The harsh Australian landscape has been captured brilliantly on film. It's a credit to the cinematography by Steve Arnold to portray the environment Rex must face. Not only does he have to deal with his pain, but he must also battle the conditions. I read a review that stated that there was too much of the desert landscape shown, but without these features, the viewer would think it was a breeze to drive from Broken Hill to Darwin.

 

The score by Ed Kuepper provides just the right atmosphere. It isn't sentimental at all, which could have been the case given the subject matter. There are also several classic Australian songs on the soundtrack to demonstrate this is a 100% Aussie production. Along with the quirky characters, everything is quintessentially Australian. Some viewers however might complain that the Ocker Australian is maximised in several of the characters.

 

Not as sensitive as the recent Holding the Man, with both movies exploring the theme of death, Last Cab to Darwin is still a solid piece of filmmaking, efficiently directed by Jeremy Sims. He sure has come a long way since regularly baring his bum in a 1990s soap opera called Chances. He has taken his chances with this movie and succeeded.

 

Starring Michael Caton, Ningali Lawford, Mark Coles Smith, Emma Hamilton and Jacki Weaver

(124 minutes)

Parental Advice: Coarse language and adult themes

Additional scene during or after credits: No

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hypCdpjTMDI (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Sunday 23rd August, 2015)

 

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