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Review and Commentary

Highlight(s)

You’re Investment In Ziba [86/100]

Deba Hekmat has that IT factor to us. Whether it’s her voice, her eyes, or how she handles the weight of what Ziba is going through, yet pushes through to present normalcy, there is something undeniably there. I’d even say it isn’t that “Take all the air out of the room” type of IT factor.

Instead, I would call it the kind of star power that mainly gets noticed when the camera is focused on her and when she is in the scene with another person, that light gets shined on them. That is a strong factor in why you get so invested in Malcolm, or most people in the film.

But, speaking specifically of Hekmat, and what she does with Ziba, it is provide that middle ground which is hard to find. Ziba isn’t made to be someone you feel pity for, isn’t the life of the party, a burnout, trying to play catch-up, or any of that. She is formed to be an individual, the kind that people long to see, for they don’t often feel like they see themselves in what gets released into the zeitgeist.

Everything about Ziba suggests someone who is trying for the sake of others, perhaps even to deceive herself, but she is losing the energy, the ability, and the will to maintain a façade. And that’s why we mention Hekmat’s eyes and voice – her look gives you that person who, on the surface, is present, happy, and excited about what’s to come, but then there are lapses where you see beyond all that, if you catch her slip. Which, when you do, leads you to see who is there just for the good times and who actually loves and honors the person.

With Hetmat, you are truly taken on a journey that may feel like it shouldn’t have been confined to a 1-hour and 36-minute movie.

Ziba and Malcolm’s Interest In One Another [83/100]

Of all the characters introduced, the only one beyond Ziba who gets to be seen beyond how their representative is Malcolm. I’d say, like Ziba, we get to see a level of vulnerability there that makes it easy to understand why Ziba becomes close to him, and he isn’t made to be an outsider who wasn’t considered for all that Ziba had planned.

I would even say that how Malcolm is presented is why the two on-the-fence topics below exist. Like Ziba, he’s portrayed as a whole person, with a life outside the group, and isn’t just a few lines of him repeating what’s next. His past, present, and future plans are showcased, allowing him to be seen as a human being. He is presented in such a way that Ziba’s attraction doesn’t feel like it exists just because it is scripted, but there is something genuinely to admire, like, and want to be attached to.

On The Fence

Wishing You Got More From The Story and Characters [74/100]

There is a noticeable gap in the time and investment allocated to Ziba and Malcolm compared to the rest of the group. One of the reasons this is notable is that Malcolm isn’t an original member – he joined the group recently. So, for him to have his past, present, and questionable future presented in such a way, only to be second to Ziba, seems off.

Take note, Tara is Ziba’s best friend, and it seems, beyond knowing she has a crush on one of the boys in the group, there isn’t much there. Shea and Merf? Beyond the jobs they are currently seeking, again, not much there, and with Merf, this is shocking because he has known Ziba since they were 7, yet he often feels like an afterthought. You don’t get the sense that there is a friendship that has at least been a decade, never mind them being friends before everyone else got involved!

And don’t get me wrong, the look, the personalities, they will draw you in. The problem is that once you make that initial investment, you are continually pushed to focus on Ziba and Michael to the point that these supporting characters may barely feel notable or as if they have full lives.

The Ending Is An Ellipsis [73/100]

Last Swim doesn’t have an ideal end, considering the journey you go on. I wouldn’t say Ziba’s story ends in a way you’d expect, want, or need for a film that isn’t guaranteed a sequel or series continuation.

Then add in what felt like a shocking and unnecessary moment towards the end of the film, and Last Swim becomes notably frustrating. Mind you, if this were to unfold further, you might be able to forgive what happened. However, absent from that? It creates a jump the shark moment, which negates the tone and vibe the film had going for it.

Overall

Our Rating (79/100): Mixed (Divisive)

Last Swim is the type of movie that would have worked perfectly for a mini-series or a show that ran for two, maybe three seasons. However, as a film, it can feel incomplete in the worst way, for you see through Malcolm and Ziba what could have been done, but then the ball gets dropped. Add in an ending which feels rushed and out of left field in some ways? While Last Swim is by no means bad, despite a good start and middle, it does not stick the landing.

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