Last Resort (2000)

Despite a lack of imagination in presenting the central dilemma of a mother and son in turmoil, Last Resort nevertheless creates a nicely detailed study of defeated hopes. The brevity of the film (a mere 75 minutes) and its bare-bones narrative prevent it from taking on a more grandly romantic, psychologically probing depth, but director Pawel Pawlikowski has an uncanny sense of the small seaside resort life depicted in the picture. The mechanics of the plot are more or less of the contrived variety, but the cast finds a pleasing reality in it all, especially the riveting Paddy Considine, who manages to make his character's dead-end ambitions endearing and completely believable. Thankfully, the movie eschews the standard faux-grit of many British features of late, replaced instead with a heartfelt look at financial strife for the unwanted. Last Resort was the first feature in the spring 2001 Shooting Gallery film series. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide