When it comes to entertainment, there’s a certain school of thought that things belong on boxes – the easier it is to identify something, the easier is it to understand and sell it. So we have genres. But when stories mix certain elements, and make bold choices, the narrative becomes stronger and keeps the audience on its toes. Case in point. When someone says “detective story”, one might think Sam Spade or Jake Gittes. Well what if you throw in eccentric characters, against type casting and pepper the whole affair with a certain British flair and some ’70s era pizazz? Now you’re getting something unique, entertaining and unexpected.
So that leads us to where we are today. TV and film director Tim Kirkby gives the above mentioned flair to elevate Howard Michael Gould‘s writing. Kirkby has a solid background in comedy (the British equivalent of Doug Kenney) and one of the strengths of the film is how he pairs the drama of this detective yarn with sly, whip smart and understated humor. How very British of him.
Charlie Hunnam carried the film very well, and Mel Gibson simultaneously elevates the story all the while chewing the scenery. What great casting choices. Anyway, we had a blast speaking with Kirkby about Last Looks, a film which took a whopping twelve years to get made – from its inception intended as a TV series, then a novel and finally feature length film releasing this year. So sit back and enjoy our swift and smart discussion with Tim!
Charlie Waldo (Charlie Hunnam) is an ex-LAPD superstar who left the force and now lives a life of simplicity and solitude deep in the woods. Alistair Pinch (Mel Gibson) is an eccentric actor who spends his days drunk on the set of his TV show. When Pinch’s wife is found dead, he is the prime suspect and Waldo is convinced to come out of retirement to investigate what happened. The case finds Waldo contending with gangsters, Hollywood executives and pre-school teachers, all in pursuit of clearing Pinch’s name … or confirming his guilt.
RLJE Films will release the action/comedy LAST LOOKS in Theaters, On Demand and Digital on February 4, 2022.
