Last Orders | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

79% Tomatometer 91 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings

Fred Schepisi's thoughtful ensemble drama looks back on the life of Jack (Michael Caine), an amiable London butcher who leaves behind his devoted wife, Amy (Helen Mirren), and a group of loyal pub-dwelling buddies when he dies. Charged with bringing his ashes to the sea, Ray (Bob Hoskins), Lenny (David Hemmings) and Vic (Tom Courtenay) make their way to the ocean with Jack's foster son, Vince (Ray Winstone), fondly remembering their old friend along the way.

Last Orders

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Critics Consensus

With a cast that includes some of the best acting talent in Britain, Last Orders is a rewarding character-driven ensemble piece.

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Critics Reviews

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Last Orders | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Philip French Guardian Schepisi always handles actors sympathetically and here he has a perfect cast, most of whom can draw on their own and their parents' experiences. Oct 11, 2010 Full Review Last Orders | Rotten Tomatoes (2) David Stratton Variety Delicately handled and superbly textured, this fine adaptation of Graham Swift's Booker Prize-winning novel deals with all the really big subjects: love, friendship, death, life. Mar 27, 2009 Full Review Last Orders | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Alan Morrison Empire Magazine Ambitious in structure and casting, it packs a lot into its screen time. Quality craftsmanship for a discerning crowd. Rated: 4/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Last Orders | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Andrew Collins Radio Times Perhaps it took an outsider's eye - Schepisi is Australian - to capture the indomitable spirit and the absurd brave face of this island and its islanders. Rated: 4/5 May 29, 2021 Full Review Last Orders | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Eddie Harrison film-authority.com ...the elegiac sadness of the reflection on alcohol-soaked lives still has a bitter pungency today... Rated: 3/5 May 20, 2021 Full Review Last Orders | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: B Jan 17, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steven G Absolutely brilliant, talented cast make this story. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/26/23 Full Review Frances H In the final summing up, what's in a life? Drama, dreams, experiences, relationships, family and friends. Life is what we make of it, and looking back on it all at the end of it is key. And as the character of Jack says on his deathbed, the first one of a group of friends to die is the lucky one, which is precisely my wish -to b the first one of my circle to go. This film looks at life all along the way and sums it up as rewarding, no matter what. And excellent cast of my favorite veteran Brit actors give their best to a movie that makes you think and reminisce at the same time. Definitely worth a watch! Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/12/21 Full Review Audience Member Touching and important story of parenting, love, self v other, finding your calling, and friendship. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/16/19 Full Review Audience Member Last Orders is a British set comedy drama about a bunch of friends who have been asked to scatter their late friend's ashes in the seaside town of Margate. The story is a sober but enjoyable one and although the film is maybe a little dull at times, it still manages to be one of reflection and humour that are very well mixed together. Starring such actors as Michael Caine, Helen Mirren, Bob Hoskins and Ray Winstone, this is one film with a real Crème de la crème of British talent and also one that for some people could be a real highlight.As said I did feel the plot plays out a little boring at moments but it never gets so dragged down in dullness that it becomes bad. The whole tone is never really happy even in the well, happiest of times, something always seems to come a long to make the moment a little sadder and this is one reason I couldn't ever love this film. Having said that all the sadness surrounding the passing of Michael Caine's character Jack and the spreading of his ashes is one of fine characters, each with unique personalities and back stories which interweave into each other's very nicely.I felt of all the acting on show here it is really Helen Mirren who shows off her talent and is just fantastic as Amy(Jack's widow) who is a depressed yet loveable character, caring for her intellectually disabled daughter who has never said a word to her in her life. It is all yet again rather sad but Amy has been created to be just used to it all, even Jack's death we see has bothered but not broken her, she is just a sad person but one who can still have a laugh now and again. Bob Hoskins is good as Ray who is Jack's best mate and he seems to bring a good presence to the screen alongside all the others. One more person to compliment is Ray Winstone as Jack's adopted son Vince, Winstone seems to work the character rather well, blending an honest man with a man who also has demons and anger, brought out a lot by the character of Lenny(David Hemmings).I couldn't help but feel this is a kind of movie that tried to maybe push for awards, and it did work, but maybe not on the level they really wanted. Sure Mirren deserved the credit but as a picture this is nothing special, the kind of movie that is alright don't get me wrong but just not good for numerous reasons. Fred Schepisi is not one of those reasons, I mean I didn't think either his directing or writing were great but importantly they are steady and make the picture one that is a close one, where you connect with the characters, Schepisi really tries to draw you in and make it as if these people are real.I think this movie is the kind of thing that sure, on a quiet Sunday lazing about, this is the kind of thing that may just be very enjoyable. I felt throughout the film goes for the sweet stuff from the first minute with heart and emotion everywhere trying to hit you hard so you too maybe shed a tear. For me this isn't strong enough a movie to make me sad but I do admit there are scenes in it(especially with Mirren in them) that make your heart drop, and the scenes to be fair with her daughter are both heartbreaking but also show us Mirren's complete talent. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review william s You want a finely acted,emotional tinged character driven gem then you've come to the right movie. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Australian writer-director Fred Schepisi is a master at immersing himself in stories set in worlds foreign to his own. In this British drama, based on a Booker-Prize winning novel by Graham Swift, four lifelong friends carry out the last wish of a recently deceased friend to scatter his ashes in the seaside town, Margate. It has a serene, elegiac mood on memory, structured around flashbacks, with seamless transitions. This is an affectionate, unsentimental celebration of friendship, among ordinary people at the later stages of life, without ever feeling patronizing. Schepisi's unassuming style and effective use of the widescreen format blends beautifully with an understated approach to the material. The casting is close to perfection. Schepisi has assembled an ensemble of the finest actors in England: Michael Caine, Tom Courtenay, David Hemmings, Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren, Ray Winstone; and among the younger versions of the main characters are JJ Field, Cameron Fitch, Nolan Hemmings, Anatol Yusef, Kelly Reilly, and Stephen McCole. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Fred Schepisi Director Michael Caine Jack Bob Hoskins Ray Tom Courtenay Vic David Hemmings Lenny Ray Winstone Vince
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Synopsis Fred Schepisi's thoughtful ensemble drama looks back on the life of Jack (Michael Caine), an amiable London butcher who leaves behind his devoted wife, Amy (Helen Mirren), and a group of loyal pub-dwelling buddies when he dies. Charged with bringing his ashes to the sea, Ray (Bob Hoskins), Lenny (David Hemmings) and Vic (Tom Courtenay) make their way to the ocean with Jack's foster son, Vince (Ray Winstone), fondly remembering their old friend along the way.

Director
Fred Schepisi

Producer
Fred Schepisi, Elisabeth Robinson

Screenwriter
Fred Schepisi, Graham Swift

Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics

Production Co
Winchester Films

Rating
R (Some Language|Sexuality)

Genre
Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 15, 2002, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016

Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.3M

Runtime
1h 49m

Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR

Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
Last Orders | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

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