The Last Wave

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Mark B I am sure there is a case to be made this movie is effective. Culturally I am sure there is so much you have to know to make the movie make sense. The big reveal of I guess is something but it seemed to just wedged in as a plot device. Maybe it was obvious to the film maker in his head, but sorry the symbolism was tiresome, the plot not really held together by what was put on screen, and it was a slog. Atmospheric absolutely, but that only gets you so far. This one was not for me. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 04/12/25 Full Review Scott B one of the top ten movies I have ever seen in 76 years. the acting is superb, there are so many scenes that have impact...even decades after they are first seen. I can't believe its poor reviews! give it a chance. be prepared to see an extremely unique and troubling film, in that there are so many odd things that are presented to us. an Australian lawyer is trapped in a web of intrigue and mystical horror when he is asked by the state to defend an Aboriginal for the death of another. as the movie goes on, he realizes he has been sucked into a "dream time" nightmare he never awakens from. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/21/25 Full Review CodyZamboni Z Movie is effectively eerie, With a creepy vibe with visions and dreams, punctuated by equally scary music and sound fx, Compelling most of the way , as Chamberlain uncovers his dark destiny Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/17/24 Full Review Siemen R Interesting idea. Poorly executed. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/09/24 Full Review William L The Last Wave is one of those films that is fine enough - interesting premise, focus on atmosphere, thematically well-intentioned - without ever making the jump to being really compelling or particularly tight. In its goal to remain ambiguous and mysterious, the film feels vague, unguided, and noncommittal, with a treatment of dreams as premonition that leaves too much to the imagination; we're intended to interpret the film as culture clash in a more explicit sense, with a quiet tax lawyer suddenly confronting a lifestyle that may as well be alien with the potential for profound consequences lingering around the corner as apocalyptic visions swirl. But the massive scope of the factors at play never really translates well, so these supposedly important trances end up more like a rationale to get a sleep aid prescription. Combining that with an ending that feels very Indiana Jones with a visit to a secret grand Aboriginal shrine beneath Sydney and a babbling priest, The Last Wave comes off as a bit exploitative and strange, though perhaps I'm judging the film a bit too harshly because of how random the hodgepodge of art styles is in the shrine. To me, this one treads similar ground as many other colonialist criticisms but just didn't come together neatly. (3/5) Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/14/21 Full Review dave s Is it an apocalyptic nightmare? Is it a legal procedural? Is it a social commentary on the destruction of Aboriginal culture? Peter Weir's The Last Wave is a bit of all three, working on some levels while failing on others. Richard Chamberlain plays David Burton, a tax lawyer assigned to represent five aborigines who have been charged with killing one of their tribesmen. Nothing if not effective in creating a distinctly uncomfortable atmosphere, the film is filled with some striking images and intriguing scenarios, all the while complimented by an appropriately eerie score. Unfortunately, its lack of commitment in determining which direction it wants to go becomes frustrating and offsets a lot of the good things it has going for it. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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