Last Ride is a Australian movie about a father, Kev (played by Hugo Weaving), and his son, Chook (played by Tom Russell), on their last road trip together through the Australian outback. What's great about this movie is that it doesn't follow the typical father/son discovering each other movie formulas and just tells a story.Kev is a man running from something. He is quick tempered and lives a lifestyle that is fueled only by thievery and violence. It is not a good life in which to raise a son, Chook, who is dragged along for the ride in the only life he has known, and begins to suspect that everything is not entirely what it seems.This film takes place mainly outside and has a very naturalistic feeling to it. There are a lot of beautiful desert and bush shots and all of the small town shots look authentic.A lot of people complain that the central character is completely unlikeable, but I think these sort of characters with a twisted morality are really plausible. You meet a violent man like Kev every once in a while and you wonder what has happened and what happens in their lives. And even amongst the more middle-class population, you meet people all the time who really aren't cut out to be parents and are too proud to get help - some of them still try to do well, some of them don't even bother.However, there is a point to these criticisms of the central character, there is not much in the movie that uplifts you. Not only that, but you can see how it's going to turn out right from the beginning and so watching this movie is waiting for the train wreck with very little positivity to take away at the end for either of the central characters.I don't think it's one of the great movies, but it is a good one: an interesting story, interesting characters, nicely shot and great actors.My only gripe is that it's yet another successful Australian movie that is frankly depressing and it's becoming a little bit of a cliché to have dark Australian outback stories.

I am a big fan of Australian films. Remember Mad Max? Well this film is Australian and it's not bad. Starring the great Hugo weaving you can't really go wrong. It is a Father son story of a not so great Father that does love his son.The story rolls along nice enough. Sure there could have been a bit more character development but it's not bad. The scenery looks amazing! The shot in the dessert with the water running over it is just spectacular. Credit to the DOP. The young boy playing Hugos son I don't think has acted in anything before this. It shows in some scenes but overall he is not bad. I was though expecting the film to climax a little more but all in all I liked it. Check it out.

I'm loving Australian cinema at the moment. It's showing a side of Australia we never see after years of Crocodile Dundee and Steve Irwin. I loved Kenny and loved Beautiful Kate even more. While I don't think it's quite in the same league as the latter, it's still yet another movie which shows the beauty of Australia's great outdoors.But despite its visual warmth, the backbone of the movie is its dark story. It reveals itself gradually through-out the plot. You will hate Kev (the father), but there will come a point where you will actually come to accept him. Weaving is, as to be expected, solid and his co-star Tom Russell (Chook, the son) looks set to have a great future in the business.It's a very good movie that you should check out if you get the chance. 8/10

I saw this movie a few nights ago on the 18th of June at the Palace, in Brisbane. There was a question and answer session afterwards with Hugo Weaving and the director.The movie is quite good, i have not read the book. It starts off slow but a lot is accomplished, considering it's relatively short runtime. Hugo Weaving definitely gets into the role of Kev and Tom Russell definitely has potential.The movie is realistic and is not at all Hollywoodized. If you like dramas then i suggest you go see it. However there are some disturbing thematic material so be warned.I myself wish that we got more of a variety of movies made here in Australia. this movie is not too different to other that have already been done but at least hopefully it'll be a success and the government will learn to fund then Australian film industry.