I thought this could be something special because Samara Weaving is in it, but I was wrong. I really like Weaving, she's my favorite up and coming actress, but this film... Sorry, but it's not good at all. This is a very boring thriller that simply doesn't work. Samara's role was nothing special, and Brian Cox was in it for just a few minutes and did nothing. The lead actor didn't make a strong impression and he's in every scene, and his acting is very bland. And the plot... Well, it really didn't make much sense. Skip this one.
67 Reviews
You aren't rewarded for watching this
FilmChamp2020 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The ending is awful. Just pitiful. Completely a slap in the face in the end. Nothing good came from this movie. The revenge was awful, as in, it was all rushed. No emotion at the end. No action. There is no satisfaction in this movie. A high schooler could have made this a better movie.
The movie had potential and momentum, but it never reached a climax. Everyone suddenly just changed at the last second. A man spent years planning and searching for revenge and his girlfriend. Bumps into an old high school classmate. Then falls for her in a span of 2 days and chooses her over his once thought to be dead girlfriend. I feel insulted for trying to feel something for the characters. The way the story flowed and lead up to the end was just insulting. I think it boils down to poor story telling and writing. I enjoy Samara a lot, but she was the only thing good about this movie.
If you want a satisfying revenge and love story, you will be left with blue balls. Skip it.
The movie had potential and momentum, but it never reached a climax. Everyone suddenly just changed at the last second. A man spent years planning and searching for revenge and his girlfriend. Bumps into an old high school classmate. Then falls for her in a span of 2 days and chooses her over his once thought to be dead girlfriend. I feel insulted for trying to feel something for the characters. The way the story flowed and lead up to the end was just insulting. I think it boils down to poor story telling and writing. I enjoy Samara a lot, but she was the only thing good about this movie.
If you want a satisfying revenge and love story, you will be left with blue balls. Skip it.
A decent script that doesn't quite result in the film it should've
jtindahouse28 May 2020
The producers of 'Last Moment of Clarity' must have been absolutely stoked when they managed to land Samara Weaving in their film. She's certainly a rising star and is getting some pretty good credits attached to her name. The problem they found themselves with though was that Weaving isn't really the star of the movie, or at least her character isn't. Instead the much lesser known Zach Avery is the star of the show and sadly he doesn't quite have the acting chops to do that just yet. The result is a bit of a wasted opportunity. You can see the potential the script had and why Weaving was enticed to sign on, but the actual final product is a messy shadow of what it could've been.
The first half of the film is a mystery, followed by the second half which is more a regulation thriller. If I had to pick which half I preferred more it was probably the first half. It at least had some curiosity behind it and had you wondering what tricks the film had up its sleeve. The second half, while not bad, does feel a little more run-of-the-mill and like you've seen it a thousand times before.
The film moved at a good click and I never really felt bored by it. There were a lot of technical flaws and if that sort of stuff bothers you then you might struggle a little with this film. If you are able to put that sort of stuff aside though and just enjoy the story for what it is then you might enjoy this one. It's not a film I suspect I'll remember, but while I was watching it it was a decent enough time.
The first half of the film is a mystery, followed by the second half which is more a regulation thriller. If I had to pick which half I preferred more it was probably the first half. It at least had some curiosity behind it and had you wondering what tricks the film had up its sleeve. The second half, while not bad, does feel a little more run-of-the-mill and like you've seen it a thousand times before.
The film moved at a good click and I never really felt bored by it. There were a lot of technical flaws and if that sort of stuff bothers you then you might struggle a little with this film. If you are able to put that sort of stuff aside though and just enjoy the story for what it is then you might enjoy this one. It's not a film I suspect I'll remember, but while I was watching it it was a decent enough time.
Great little Indie Gem!
catfanatic88819 May 2020
I watched this for Samara Weaving, one of today's finest young actresses but I was intrigued for most of the movie. Very well cast film also features the beautiful actress who was on Mr Robot, too. She's a standout and steals every scene she's in. I would call this a dramatic mystery. It's not really scary but interesting. I also liked and appreciated the ending very much! I would recommend it to people to give it a go.
Very amateur
hilmicakir10 June 2020
A MOMENT OF DECENCY
clarkishome20 May 2020
Dull.
bombersflyup21 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Last Moment of Clarity fails to enrich my life.
The setup's terrible, this happened that happened, with flashbacks, I hate that stuff. Why not start at the beginning, you can still fast track it. Lead actor Zach Avery's entirely deadpan throughout, have an expression bro. Story's weak, ending's ludicrous, with random untrained characters taking out multiple mafia guys and in the end he doesn't choose to stay with the girl that he couldn't live without. Just throw away the whole point of the film! What no, he still chooses her.
The setup's terrible, this happened that happened, with flashbacks, I hate that stuff. Why not start at the beginning, you can still fast track it. Lead actor Zach Avery's entirely deadpan throughout, have an expression bro. Story's weak, ending's ludicrous, with random untrained characters taking out multiple mafia guys and in the end he doesn't choose to stay with the girl that he couldn't live without. Just throw away the whole point of the film! What no, he still chooses her.
like an early 80's european thiller flick
ops-5253521 May 2020
Its a decent film, but its hard to get involved with at first. even though the plot and story are small its intricat. productionwise there aint much negative to say, the actors radiates true feelings all along, so for an indie production at a fairly median budget its a good thriller drama.
the dislikes i have countered is that the pacing maybe a bit slow, and the score are of a very cheap standards.. for the rest its a ''go'' from the grumpy old man
the dislikes i have countered is that the pacing maybe a bit slow, and the score are of a very cheap standards.. for the rest its a ''go'' from the grumpy old man
Boring and lumbering
biancob-1670230 May 2020
This is a film by two amateur filmmakers?! 🙌
Top_Dawg_Critic20 May 2020
Sure this film wasn't perfect, but when I noticed it was put together by two amateur filmmakers - this being their first ever production, as writers and directors - and I'm guessing brothers, Colin Krisel and James Krisel, I was very impressed! This is by far one of the better B-grade independent films I've seen in a while, and mad respect for their effort and final result.
Now before any of the wannabe critics with their low ratings who clearly don't know how to review a film say this review is fake or paid, click on my username to see my 1000+ ratings and 900+ reviews. In my profile you will see (and learn) how to properly rate a film. Complaining about an actors eyebrows (user G9) is simply infantile. A true movie buff will take all aspects of the entire film (read below) and also consider the production value and experience of the filmmakers. You can't compare apples to oranges. After all, new filmmakers have to start somewhere, right?
Now this little gem; from the start, I noticed the excellent cinematography and color choices, especially in the different countries and sets. Next I was very pleased with the score and sound - very fitting and not overbearing which is what you get in most B-grade films. The 90 min runtime was just right, however the pacing needed picking up for the most part. The casting was excellent with very convincing performances, with the exception of the newb (this film being his 5th full length feature, probably his fist as lead) actor, Zach Avery as Sam. His inexperience showed, but probably wouldn't be as obvious if a seasoned director quarterbacked his acting for each scene. The directing by the Krisels was on point - you'd never expect this was their first ever film. For that matter, their directing was better than some seasoned director's films I've seen lately. Their story was great, suspenseful and refreshing. There were some plot and technical issues, as well as the pacing I already mentioned, but again, you'd never know this is the first ever screenplay by amateur filmmakers.
Overall I really enjoyed this film and its little plot twists and suspenseful scenes. I can't wait what these two new filmmakers put together for their second film entry on their resumes. Again, mad respect and props to the Krisels for their first film being a gem!
It's a very much deserved 8/10 from me.
Now before any of the wannabe critics with their low ratings who clearly don't know how to review a film say this review is fake or paid, click on my username to see my 1000+ ratings and 900+ reviews. In my profile you will see (and learn) how to properly rate a film. Complaining about an actors eyebrows (user G9) is simply infantile. A true movie buff will take all aspects of the entire film (read below) and also consider the production value and experience of the filmmakers. You can't compare apples to oranges. After all, new filmmakers have to start somewhere, right?
Now this little gem; from the start, I noticed the excellent cinematography and color choices, especially in the different countries and sets. Next I was very pleased with the score and sound - very fitting and not overbearing which is what you get in most B-grade films. The 90 min runtime was just right, however the pacing needed picking up for the most part. The casting was excellent with very convincing performances, with the exception of the newb (this film being his 5th full length feature, probably his fist as lead) actor, Zach Avery as Sam. His inexperience showed, but probably wouldn't be as obvious if a seasoned director quarterbacked his acting for each scene. The directing by the Krisels was on point - you'd never expect this was their first ever film. For that matter, their directing was better than some seasoned director's films I've seen lately. Their story was great, suspenseful and refreshing. There were some plot and technical issues, as well as the pacing I already mentioned, but again, you'd never know this is the first ever screenplay by amateur filmmakers.
Overall I really enjoyed this film and its little plot twists and suspenseful scenes. I can't wait what these two new filmmakers put together for their second film entry on their resumes. Again, mad respect and props to the Krisels for their first film being a gem!
It's a very much deserved 8/10 from me.
VIEWS ON FILM review of Last Moment of Clarity
burlesonjesse520 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"I saw something that I wasn't suppose to see". Me, well I saw 2020's Last Moment of Clarity and I initially didn't know where it was headed.
Anyway, Last Moment of Clarity is a ratcheted and calculated thriller that takes about fifty or so minutes to thrill. It's a shadowy film about a guy named Sam who is led to believe his girlfriend was murdered three years ago by accented mobsters. When Sam sees squeeze Georgia on the big screen a la the eighth lead, he goes to sunny LA because he thinks she's still alive.
Sam is played by the brooding Zach Avery while Georgia is played by Margot Robbie lookalike Samara Weaving (Hugh Weaving's niece). Brian Cox who's well-known in any capacity, checks in as a fatherly side character.
So yeah, Last Moment of Clarity is directed by Colin Krisel and James Krisel (it doesn't say if they are brothers or not). These guys were obviously inspired by dudes like Mike Figgis and the legendary Steven Soderbergh.
Using flashbacks, dark cinematography, a romantic twist, and low angles where the camera never seems to sit still, Colin and James give us a disciplined directorial debut that takes a little while to get going. Heck, you think "Clarity" is a drama that takes itself too seriously until it doesn't.
Distributed by Lionsgate and rated R for some bloody images (and a few F-bombs), Last Moment of Clarity is slight neo-noir that's bemused at the beginning yet unfolding at the end. I liked almost every sullen shot used by the Krisels and I pretty much dug the entire musical score (when it was put in at the right moments). Hopefully, Last Moment of Clarity will not be the "last" time Colin and James Krisel decide to helm a tenebrous flick. Rating: 3 stars.
Anyway, Last Moment of Clarity is a ratcheted and calculated thriller that takes about fifty or so minutes to thrill. It's a shadowy film about a guy named Sam who is led to believe his girlfriend was murdered three years ago by accented mobsters. When Sam sees squeeze Georgia on the big screen a la the eighth lead, he goes to sunny LA because he thinks she's still alive.
Sam is played by the brooding Zach Avery while Georgia is played by Margot Robbie lookalike Samara Weaving (Hugh Weaving's niece). Brian Cox who's well-known in any capacity, checks in as a fatherly side character.
So yeah, Last Moment of Clarity is directed by Colin Krisel and James Krisel (it doesn't say if they are brothers or not). These guys were obviously inspired by dudes like Mike Figgis and the legendary Steven Soderbergh.
Using flashbacks, dark cinematography, a romantic twist, and low angles where the camera never seems to sit still, Colin and James give us a disciplined directorial debut that takes a little while to get going. Heck, you think "Clarity" is a drama that takes itself too seriously until it doesn't.
Distributed by Lionsgate and rated R for some bloody images (and a few F-bombs), Last Moment of Clarity is slight neo-noir that's bemused at the beginning yet unfolding at the end. I liked almost every sullen shot used by the Krisels and I pretty much dug the entire musical score (when it was put in at the right moments). Hopefully, Last Moment of Clarity will not be the "last" time Colin and James Krisel decide to helm a tenebrous flick. Rating: 3 stars.
OMG the lead actor's eyebrows
G919 May 2020
Very baaaad
IC-thruyou2229 November 2020
Intrigued, had to complete
daillstate30 May 2021
I liked where it was going and sucked by the ending. Didn't see that coming. Samara Weaver is the reason I watched this and had a curious fun time guessing. Was going to give a 7, but the ending didn't agree with me. I liked the story and the movie though.
Worst of movie from 1900 to 2020
silvapedrosf14 June 2020
Very good movie
Castorian24 May 2020
Great movie, good music, gorgeous women, the lead guy was convincing as a next door dude, but unfortunately the ending was disappointing.
The scene when they make love again after three years is very powerful, with this great music in it.
Congrats to the filmmakers.
The scene when they make love again after three years is very powerful, with this great music in it.
Congrats to the filmmakers.
Aimed Higher than it Could Hit - A Mediocre Melodrama with a Good Cast
TwistedContent19 May 2020
Colin and James Krisels directional debut prides itself as a Hitchcockian thriller - and it is - threadbare, soft, lazy, the 'lite' version. "Last Moment of Clarity" showcases a great cast for an indie movie, the growingly popular Samara Weaving, Zach Avery in the lead role, one my personal favorites from "Mr. Robot" - Carly Chaikin, and also veterans Brian Cox and Udo Kier in roles worth perhaps a couple minutes of screen time. The ensemble, plus the concept was enough to pull me in this endeavor, but it wasn't that easy to stay in it.
Meet Zach Avery's Sam, a troubled guy living a small and contained life in Paris, dealing with painful memories about his girlfriend Georgia's (Samara Weaving) death in a house fire three years back in New York. One day at the movies he sees an actress bearing an uncannily similar resemblance to Georgia, and step by step the obsession takes Sam to Los Angeles in search of this actress. There he meets the helpful Kat (Carly Chaikin), who's my favorite character of this movie, though I might just have a long time crush on her or something. And the mystery slowly unravels... Slowly, and worse yet, in predictable ways. The atmosphere (and pacing) tends to be monotonous, characters and dialogue - also action - are pretty clichéd or have issues with realisticity (in which the movie really tries to ground itself), or just appear cheap. Having said that, the sum of it all works at least on a mediocre level. A good Hitchcockian thriller succeeds at making you think up some theories and guess what's going to happen, in regards of this "Last Moment of Clarity" fails a lot and I found myself bummed out by the high predictability factor. It's not all that bad though - once I got to feel for the characters a little, I was hoping for the very ending I got.
The cast, although wearing forgettable and thin characters, is what did it the most for me. "Last Moment of Clarity" is 80% melodrama, and only then it's a thriller, and I'd say the thriller parts were arguably the worst parts. Though some of the drama feels like just shameless pandering, other pieces, with all their luscious romance and subtle relationship antics, worked. On one hand, it feels like the actors sailed through a tired movie tiredly, but perhaps it's the best possible balance among all the ingredients. Zach Avery provides the troubled lead who kind of lacks emotion, Samara Weaving's character's lesser than You probably think, but hungry guy fans will see the scenes they wish for, and my personal favorite - Carly Chaikin - has a character that's the easiest to sympathize with, even objectively, I'm sure. I was expecting more Brian Cox, but be warned, he's there for a short while, and only to show off a crazy accent.
On a technical level, "Last Moment of Clarity" can feel somewhat drab and ineffectively gloomy, but it is cinematographed, edited and colored well enough. Let's not forget this is an indie feature which's largest chunk of budget very likely went to the names on the poster. Original score's pretty whack though, didn't think that in the first half, but it's really rather flat.
"Last Moment of Clarity" has aimed higher than it could hit & the sum of it lands in the bowl of mediocrities, but there are flavors to enjoy, provided You liked anything of what I just talked about. My rating: 5/10.
Meet Zach Avery's Sam, a troubled guy living a small and contained life in Paris, dealing with painful memories about his girlfriend Georgia's (Samara Weaving) death in a house fire three years back in New York. One day at the movies he sees an actress bearing an uncannily similar resemblance to Georgia, and step by step the obsession takes Sam to Los Angeles in search of this actress. There he meets the helpful Kat (Carly Chaikin), who's my favorite character of this movie, though I might just have a long time crush on her or something. And the mystery slowly unravels... Slowly, and worse yet, in predictable ways. The atmosphere (and pacing) tends to be monotonous, characters and dialogue - also action - are pretty clichéd or have issues with realisticity (in which the movie really tries to ground itself), or just appear cheap. Having said that, the sum of it all works at least on a mediocre level. A good Hitchcockian thriller succeeds at making you think up some theories and guess what's going to happen, in regards of this "Last Moment of Clarity" fails a lot and I found myself bummed out by the high predictability factor. It's not all that bad though - once I got to feel for the characters a little, I was hoping for the very ending I got.
The cast, although wearing forgettable and thin characters, is what did it the most for me. "Last Moment of Clarity" is 80% melodrama, and only then it's a thriller, and I'd say the thriller parts were arguably the worst parts. Though some of the drama feels like just shameless pandering, other pieces, with all their luscious romance and subtle relationship antics, worked. On one hand, it feels like the actors sailed through a tired movie tiredly, but perhaps it's the best possible balance among all the ingredients. Zach Avery provides the troubled lead who kind of lacks emotion, Samara Weaving's character's lesser than You probably think, but hungry guy fans will see the scenes they wish for, and my personal favorite - Carly Chaikin - has a character that's the easiest to sympathize with, even objectively, I'm sure. I was expecting more Brian Cox, but be warned, he's there for a short while, and only to show off a crazy accent.
On a technical level, "Last Moment of Clarity" can feel somewhat drab and ineffectively gloomy, but it is cinematographed, edited and colored well enough. Let's not forget this is an indie feature which's largest chunk of budget very likely went to the names on the poster. Original score's pretty whack though, didn't think that in the first half, but it's really rather flat.
"Last Moment of Clarity" has aimed higher than it could hit & the sum of it lands in the bowl of mediocrities, but there are flavors to enjoy, provided You liked anything of what I just talked about. My rating: 5/10.
6/10 for alltogether not a bad movie and some entertaining factor
stklaus27 May 2020
This movie left me with some lukewarm feelings, so best I tell you what I liked and what not:
minus: the main protagonist Zach Avery - the whole story depends on him and he just can't pull it off, he is not interesting enough, e.g. with Leo di Caprio this would 've been a totally different thing, which brings me to the love scenes:
minus: love scenes - boring and I hate them anyway, which brings me to:
plus: Samara Weaving, she looks better than ever and you even can glimpse some nakedness (if ur interested)
the plot: not bad, but neither original, everyth was seen before, old school Hitchcockian, witch brings me to:
entertainment: the movie gets better the longer it takes, so the speed takes up a bit after half an hour; if u made it that far you should have a good time then
minus: the love story - it develops not very realistic and is mostly used as a plot device, which brings me to:
minus: the ending, I just didn't like it and brings me to the overall rating of 5.5 - 6
Your Experienced Movie Watcher
minus: the main protagonist Zach Avery - the whole story depends on him and he just can't pull it off, he is not interesting enough, e.g. with Leo di Caprio this would 've been a totally different thing, which brings me to the love scenes:
minus: love scenes - boring and I hate them anyway, which brings me to:
plus: Samara Weaving, she looks better than ever and you even can glimpse some nakedness (if ur interested)
the plot: not bad, but neither original, everyth was seen before, old school Hitchcockian, witch brings me to:
entertainment: the movie gets better the longer it takes, so the speed takes up a bit after half an hour; if u made it that far you should have a good time then
minus: the love story - it develops not very realistic and is mostly used as a plot device, which brings me to:
minus: the ending, I just didn't like it and brings me to the overall rating of 5.5 - 6
Your Experienced Movie Watcher
It was ... just average
d-shilling-127 September 2021
Worth watching!
shresthadavid23 May 2020
Eh
Astaroth223 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It's one of those movies you can tell isn't going to be good. Despite this, it has just enough in it to keep you watching in hopes it will improve somehow.
+1 for Samara Weaving's body, +1 for Carly Chaikin, and +1 for the ending & the message that comes with it. Since I consider a "4" to represent a range anywhere from D+ thru C- ... this sincerely winds up being more towards the D+. You won't hate yourself for watching but certainly won't be happy that you did.
+1 for Samara Weaving's body, +1 for Carly Chaikin, and +1 for the ending & the message that comes with it. Since I consider a "4" to represent a range anywhere from D+ thru C- ... this sincerely winds up being more towards the D+. You won't hate yourself for watching but certainly won't be happy that you did.
Good concept, but bad lead.
mike-c-b17 October 2020
For a drifter movie they couldn't have picked a worse actor. Anyone who knows hard work and lives on their own is the person to play a drifter. (Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon had it locked down). Who they picked was a depressed emotionless guy that just looked at the ground the whole time. Any lines he got were shallow/obnoxious/unfunny/etc. The worst part is that you can see when someone thinks they're loved by someone no matter what, so spends no effort being nice to others anymore. Narcissistic. This is the person they want you to have interest in....
Samara Weaving was the best person in it and she was used like money.
Samara Weaving was the best person in it and she was used like money.
Thriller with Twists and Turns
jfgibson7323 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I started out really not liking this movie, mostly because I was annoyed by the main character. Without saying almost anything, he projects such a "woe is me" vibe that it's almost unbearable. He thinks his girlfriend, who he saw get shot, might still be alive and hiding out in plain site as a Hollywood celebrity. This limits his ability to get access to her, but he befriends a woman who has some connections, and he has a couple face to face encounters. He starts to believe he was wrong, just as he develops feelings for the new woman. And that is the moment that his girlfriend reveals that it is her, and she was angry at him for getting in trouble with the mafia. It was a misunderstanding though, and they reconnect. That's when the gangsters close in on them, but they survive and he ends up with the new woman. I liked that ending--he chose a fresh start. My only criticism is that he spends the whole movie completely obsessed and then decides to go the other way with almost no motivation given for him to reconsider his choice. I watched the movie for Samara Weaving, but I ended up being fine with the other performances.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
