The Last Face

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The Last Face

R

2017

2h 11m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

8%

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48 Reviews

35%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Miguel (Javier Bardem), a Spanish doctor, puts himself in harm's way to deliver medical treatment to the victims of military uprisings. Wren (Charlize Theron) is the spokesperson for an organization that funds medical assistance for impoverished nations the world over. They meet in Liberia, where Wren is immediately impressed with Miguel's selflessness, medical skill and charm. They begin a torrid affair, one they must learn to balance with their important work.

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Critics Consensus

The Last Face's noble intentions are nowhere near enough to carry a fundamentally misguided story that arguably demeans the demographic it wants to defend.

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Gary M. Kramer

Salon.com

"The Last Face" is the worst kind of good-intentioned noble failure, one that muddles its message because it tries too hard to tell it.

Nov 17, 2017

Full Review

Claudia Puig

TheWrap

Rarely has a movie felt so simultaneously inane, stultifying and offensive.

Jul 28, 2017

Full Review

Christy Lemire

RogerEbert.com

Sean Penn turns African strife into a two-hour perfume commercial with The Last Face, veering between gauzy impressionism and shrieky melodrama with his latest directorial effort.

Rated: 1/4

Jul 28, 2017

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Is Penn actually comparing the "brutality" of civil war in Africa to the "brutality" of personal relationships among Western professionals?

Feb 11, 2021

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

While not a perfect film, there is a passion that comes forth when viewing The Last Face as a whole, a passion of a director that is infectious.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 30, 2019

Full Review

Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

Theron and Penn are both deeply committed to these causes in real life. However, the film's bumbling mix of drippy romance, fetishized violence and self-serving sermonizing in a context-deficient void only makes a mockery of that commitment.

Rated: 1/5

Oct 15, 2019

Full Review

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Functional Fitness 1

Such an awesome movie! Warning: Extremely graphic and offensive. If rotten tomatoes rates the movie as 1 or 2 stars, it'll be a great movie! If rotten tomatoes rates the movie as 4 or 5 stars, it'll be a terrible and boring movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/25

Full Review

Scott W

I have traveled extensively throughout Africa. People often ask me why I keep returning, and my answer is simple: the people. Despite the historical hardships they’ve endured, their smiles never fail to warm my heart. "The Last Face" profoundly impacted me, evoking a sense of guilt for not having done more to help. The film's core message—how much can one person do to make a difference? —resonates deeply with me. I was left stunned and somewhat depressed after seeing my friends depicted once again facing such immense challenges.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/09/25

Full Review

Jelisije J

I get where all the actors and director was coming from with the CLEAR in your face people are suffering in Africa let me stretch scenes of doctors tired, people dying, crying,......... and here is a terrible love story for the ages as well.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/08/23

Full Review

norman w

I couldn't watch the whole movie it was so bad. It had no cohesive plot or decipherable story line. Probably why Robin Wright couldn't get any backing for it. t Your time can be better spent looking for a better movie to watch.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

What might have been a powerful story with an important message turns into a two hour soap opera. Predictable characters who slog through African wars only to return to the comfort of their air brushed lives. Good for background noise only.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Sean Penn dirige uno dei film più discussi degli ultimi anni; un film a due facce, capace di deludere profondamente sotto il punto di vista del "lato umanitario" quanto di soddisfare il lato romantico e fotografico. Immagini forti all'inverosimile, volte a smuovere anche il cuore più freddo, non sono poi supportate dalla giusta contestualizzazione; sembra quasi che il tutto sia girato in una paese immaginario che riassume tutti i conflitti d'Africa. D'altro canto, Bardem e Theron sono in grado di emozionare e di conquistare totalmente lo schermo con il loro rapporto e il loro gioco di sguardi su cui Penn punta molto con una lunghissima serie di primi piani. Sicuramente chi si aspettava un film profondo, fotografia di una specifica situazione, rimarrà totalmente deluso; chi invece si aspettava un dramma hollywodiano in piena regola (come il sottoscritto) potrà godersi il film. La musica è adeguata al contesto.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

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Sean Penn

Director

Charlize Theron

Wren

Javier Bardem

Miguel Leon

Adèle Exarchopoulos

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Jean Reno

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Synopsis

Miguel (Javier Bardem), a Spanish doctor, puts himself in harm's way to deliver medical treatment to the victims of military uprisings. Wren (Charlize Theron) is the spokesperson for an organization that funds medical assistance for impoverished nations the world over. They meet in Liberia, where Wren is immediately impressed with Miguel's selflessness, medical skill and charm. They begin a torrid affair, one they must learn to balance with their important work.

Director: Sean Penn
Producer: Bill Gerber, Matt Palmieri, Bill Pohlad
Screenwriter: Erin Dignam
Distributor: Saban Films
Production Co: Gerber Pictures, River Road Entertainment
Rating: R (Disturbing Images|Brief Sexuality|Language|Strong Bloody Violence|War Atrocities)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 28, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 28, 2017
Runtime: 2h 11m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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