Last Night with Kiera Knightley

Written by Jonathan Jacobs

Last Night starring Academy Award Winner Kiera Knightley (as Joanna Reed) and megastar Sam Worthington (Avatar and Clash of the Titans) as Michael Reed is a clever romance drama. Joanna and Michael clearly suffer from detrimental marital strife. He is admittedly content with their relationship despite its mundanity, but his sentiment is unmatched by Laura who is possessed with feelings of jealousy and self-loathing. He is a snazzy dresser while she has reduced her wardrobe to accommodate her feelings of boredom. Her ensemble of plain white granny panties speaks volumes about their passion for one another in the bedroom. On their way to a work related party, riding in a raindrop covered taxi cab, Joanna looks disgruntled and distracted. Michael appears to be frustrated and aloof. Clearly there is an undercurrent of high tension that generates a not so small amount of interest among viewers.

Immediately upon their arrival, the unhappy couple separates. Michael is busy on the balcony with his new colleague Laura (an extra perky Eva Mendes). Laura takes the notion of subtle flirtation to its very extreme. Joanna meanwhile is content inside gathering attention from any of the gentlemen attending the affair (pun intended!). When Laura and Joanna are acquaintanced, there seems to be some catty friction between them. They have the same intentions for Michael, but only one is already married to him! During the party Director Massy Tadjedin shows flashes of the taxi ride home when Joanna and Michael are staring out of separate windows oblivious of one another's thoughts and feelings. They cannot seem to kindle a conversation even if they were provided a gasoline-doused matchbook for their troubles.

Back at their contemporary apartment in New York, Joanna's rail thin body is still littered with granny panties though her nipples are provocatively protruding. What a waste of young sexiness when there is no sex occurring! Rather than relying on the subtle art of intimation, Joanna flat out accuses her husband of having slept with Laura during their last work trip to Los Angeles. She refuses to give up the ghost and relentlessly peppers him with harsh questions about his intentions and attraction to her. Joanna goes to far as to suggest that Michael must want to sample Laura's "newness" (British for Strange I think!). Don't we all mate! It is obvious her imbibitions of alcohol and addiction to smoking are problematic. One obsession/addition fuels another. Their bitter dialogue concludes with a cliffhanger from Joanna who bluntly asks if they married too soon.

With the cat away the mouse comes out to play! While skulking about on a seemingly mundane day, Joanna encounters her former lover Alex (Guillaume Canet). Alex is different that Michael. He is far more loquacious, confident, and pours on the charm like piping hot coffee into an empty frigid mug. Surprise, surprise, they have saved each other's numbers and have deliberately not changed their means of communication. We later find out they had a torrid affair during a temporary marital spat between Michael and Joanna. Alex and Joanna have immeasurable chemistry, both sexual and cerebral. The stage is set for Alex and Joanna to gallivant about town together drinking and smoking and exploring their mutual attraction. Meanwhile, Michael and Laura dismiss their coworkers and the real test of his commitment begins. Which one will break, or will both deliver themselves into the devilish hands of extra-marital bliss?

Last Night is designed to elicit one of three reactions from moviegoers. The first is outrage over the frailty of the modern institution of marriage. The second is complete moral ambiguity brought on by self-guilt or prior experience with cheating. The third and most likely reaction from the audience will be arousal. What could be sexier than the chase? There are two gorgeous women, each appealing in their own right, each completely different but no less desirable than the other. Each are giving off heady vibes of licentiousness and desire. Both seem to want to be dominated. Everybody is honest about their marital or relationship status and they reveal their emotions every step of the way. Yet, somehow, only one of the married couple (Michael and Joanna) officially cheats (moving beyond emotional cheating and going straight for the jugular) and it is the one I never suspected would succumb to temptation.

Kiera Knightley is priceless as Joanna. She is equal parts neurotic, thrilling, smart, paranoid, and ravenous. Eva Mendes never fails when cast properly in the role of the seductive woman chasing her prey. Her buns are hot and fresh from the bakery! Sam Worthington for me lost my respect by being so one-dimensional and dull in his two blockbuster action films. In Last Night he redeems himself beautifully. We get the impression that he can act and act well. He is talented and there is no denying his appeal as a leading man. Though I am not familiar with Guillaume Canet's work, I very much look forward to following his career. He produces electricity through his eyes, and that causes viewers' enjoyment of tawdry seduction to increase tenfold. Overall, this is a major contribution to the contemporary romance field and one I would recommend you watch any night. Just beware not to antagonize your partner's pre-existing suspicions.