Director: Jeremy Sims
Cast: Michael Caton, Jacki Weaver, Ningali Lawford, Mark Coles Smith, Emma Hamilton
Synopsis: Rex is a loner, and when he's told he doesn't have long to live, he embarks on an epic drive through the Australian outback from Broken Hill to Darwin to die on his own terms; but his journey reveals to him that before you can end your life, you have to live it, and to live it, you've got to share it.
I've been a bit slow on the whole review writing caper, sadly I've been busy with my real job and it has prevented me from spending time writing about what I'd actually prefer to be writing about - movies that I've seen. I went to see LAST CAB TO DARWIN about a week ago now, I took myself on a date (because lets face it, who better to take me on a date than me?) sans crochet as I was still on a no crochet ban thanks to Dr Life Ruiner, and just saw the next thing that was on which was this little gem of a film.
Michael Caton has a slew of films under his belt, a lot of them comdies, so it was wonderful to see him flexing his feels muscles in this heartfelt drama. LAST CAB TO DARWIN is based on a play by Reg Cribb, that was based on the life of a cab driver Rex Bell, a cab driver from Broken Hill who decides to drive to Darwin to die, because euthanasia is legal there (it isn't any more) and he would rather die on his own terms than wait for cancer to kill him. The play ran for three hours, which is plenty of time to tell everything, and at a mere 124 minutes, there must be some things that are missing from the telling of this story. It must be really tricky to get everything that can be conveyed in a stage play into a film script. It requires a much greater sence of immediacy, intimacy, and you have to belive that everything you're seeing is happening in the now. That being said, I think that Sims and Cribb did a pretty decent job of transposing this play into a film script. It isn't perfect, but they've done alright.
Michael Caton and Mark Coles Smith travelling the Oodnadatta Track
image via Icon Films
Rex (Caton) is told that his operation to remove the cancer that is eating away at him has failed and that he is going to die. He hears a Darwin doctor on the radio (Jackie Weaver), talking about a machine she has created that assists patients to die. Rex calls her on talk back radio (overheard of course by everyone in his town) and after that one call decides he's going to do it. No muss, no fuss, just get to Darwin and die. He says he's alone, so there's no one to worry about his decision, but he doesn't take into account that his mates (John Howard and David Field), or his secret girlfriend Polly (Ningali Lawford). Polly is Rex's neighbour, and when there's no one watching they hold hands and spend their nights together, but it's not a relationship that is displayed in the open, it's their little secret. Rex sets off to die quietly, leaving those who love him behind.
Caton and Ningali sharing a secret moment on the porch
Image via Icon Films
On the drive Rex picks up a young Aboriginal man who is on the run from the world. Till (Mark Coles Smith) is a smart-arsed layabout who tries to rob Rex, but ends up being rescued by him and tags along for the ride to Darwin. They form a bond ont their journey and as they travel farther noth they pick up Julie, (Emma Hamilton) and English nurse who leaves the outback pub she works at to join them. Hamilton carries the emotions of this unlikely trio, and tugs at your heartstrings with her performance.
Arriving in Darwin the three of them meet with Dr. Farmer (Jacki Weaver) and begin the process of arranging Rex's death. For Farmer, Rex's death will be a medical breakthrough, he will be her first patient, but there are plenty of hurdles to overcome, signatures to get, people to convince before they can go ahead with Rex's plan to die, not least of all Rex.
The first meeting with Dr. Farmer
image via Icon Films
Caton really delivers an unforgettable performance in this film, and he keeps you drawn in with his incredible talents. The other members of this cast deliver as well, and Sims deserves credit for his direction of this piece. This film has probably bitten off a bit more than in can chew in 124 minutes, but it has both humor and heart and it will keep you captivated as you watch Rex, Tilly, Julie and Polly develop, grow and change. It probably doesn't kick all the goals it aims for, but LAST CAB TO DARWIN will be 20-something dollars you won't regret spending. Take some tissues though, if you suffer from the feels as I do, you're going to need them!
3.5 out of 5
xoxo
The Blonde Bombshell
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