Alexander the Last (2009)

67% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
34% of users liked it
(1,060 ratings)

Independent filmmaker Joe Swanberg (Hannah Takes the Stairs, Nights and Weekends) writes, directs, and produces this intimate marriage drama focusing on the troubled union of an artistic young couple. As temptations both sexual and creative in nature challenge the couple's monogamous relationship,… More Independent filmmaker Joe Swanberg (Hannah Takes the Stairs, Nights and Weekends) writes, directs, and produces this intimate marriage drama focusing on the troubled union of an artistic young couple. As temptations both sexual and creative in nature challenge the couple's monogamous relationship, the facade of happiness fades to reveal the hardships of modern marriage. Jess Weixler, Justin Rice, and Jane Adams star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 12 min.
Directed By: Joe Swanberg
Written By: Joe Swanberg
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Mar 14, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Feb 23, 2010
Studio: Film Science

Critic Reviews

Manohla Dargis, New York Times
Alexander the Last, a 72-minute series of loosely connected scenes, follows an actress's lurching conversations and tentative gestures in life and the theater.
Peter Debruge, Variety
At a slight 72 minutes, the DIY director's latest bout of psychosexual titillation (which is being made available on-demand in conjunction with its SXSW fest premiere) feels undercooked.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
What looks like a drama of adultery turns out to be an exploration of how the spaces between people can separate them or join them, often at the same moment.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a pretentious mess...
John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
With its self-conscious references to the artistic process and to art itself (in a scene that wouldn't be out of place in a Godard project, a character reads Poe's 'The Bells,' almost in its entirety), this is Swanberg's most moving and impressive film...
Leo Goldsmith, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
Clearly a transitional film for Swanberg, with a more assertive authorial voice on the one hand and more tentative (and unspontaneous) work with professional actors on the other.
Joshua Tyler, CinemaBlend.com
A collection of indie movie clichés, the kind of film where every character is an actor or a musician or some sort of artist.
Mark Keizer, Boxoffice Magazine
Mumblecore has always lived in small moments, sometimes excruciatingly small, but rarely have these moments added up to a memorable takeaway message. Here, they do.
Norm Schrager, Filmcritic.com
Swanberg aspires to the next level -- in story scope, character development, and artistic commentary -- and just misses the mark.
Robert Levin, Film School Rejects
Absent any major dramatic moments, and without once relying on the crutch of overacting, the women enact a sisterly bond fraught with difficulties.
Adam Keleman, Slant Magazine
Part of that restless, productive team of mumblecore savants, Swanberg allows his actors to do what they do best: act.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

While Alex(Jess Weixler) is rehearsing for a play, her husband Eliott(Justin Rice) is on tour with his band. Jamie(Barlow Jacobs), a fellow actor in the play originally from Tennessee, needs a place to stay , so she offers him one of their couches. It is there that he comes to the… More
While Alex(Jess Weixler) is rehearsing for a play, her husband Eliott(Justin Rice) is on tour with his band. Jamie(Barlow Jacobs), a fellow actor in the play originally from Tennessee, needs a place to stay , so she offers him one of their couches. It is there that he comes to the attention of Alex's sister, Hellen(Amy Seimetz), a photographer. So much so, that he gets invited along to clothes shopping with the sisters. "Alexander the Last" is a soulful and sensual exploration of the conflict between the creative and personal lives of artists. While it might be easy to go with the whole reality versus fiction dichotomy, I think a better route would be a permanent versus temporary contrast.(That having been said, there is a bravura sequence where director-editor Joe Swanberg cuts back and forth between Alex and Jamie rehearsing a sex scene and Jamie and Hellen having sex.) Whereas marriage is expected to be permanent, a play's run or a band's tour is only for so long, before returning home to somebody special. After each project is completed, the artist moves on to the next project with a different set of collaborators. I think that's why marriages started while working on a film or television series never seem to last, no matter how intense the initial feelings.
Mark A

A film that investigates intimate relationships, sexual temptation, and work that forces one to deal with uncomfortable personal issues. Alex (Jess Weixler) is an actress whose marriage to Elliot (Justin Rice), a musician, is on shaky ground, although they are obviously in love. Alex… More
A film that investigates intimate relationships, sexual temptation, and work that forces one to deal with uncomfortable personal issues. Alex (Jess Weixler) is an actress whose marriage to Elliot (Justin Rice), a musician, is on shaky ground, although they are obviously in love. Alex gets a part in a local stage production in which she must portray intimacy with her costar, Jamie (Barlow Jacobs), at the same time that Elliot leaves on tour. As the film unfolds, we see issues of trust, suspicion, and jealousy play out before us. Yes, it is not obvious that all this is going on, and there are times when this viewer wasn't even sure who was doing what to whom, but to say it was totally disjointed and incoherent is not fair to the film or the actors. This is not a prettily packaged, predigested bit of pablum. One does have to do some work here to connect the dots, but the film feels authentic, and the emotions are easily discernible. The dialog, unfortunately, seemed awkward rather than natural and was too obviously improvised. The film would have benefited from more direction on that score. The constant micro-managing by the stage director, played by Jane Adams, brought just a touch of humor to the production, just because it was so over the top meddlesome. The scenes with Elliot and his (female) band mate (Jo Schornikow), rather than adding another layer of sexual tension, seemed designed to bring music in as a natural element of the film, rather than as a mood enhancer. And the music, played by the actor/musicians themselves, was actually quite good. This was mercifully short at just over an hour, but seemed quite a bit longer, only because so little action really occurred.
Jeff T

A mosty lovely, tiny portrait of what it's like to be young, trying on grown-up clothes (and taking them off). Sweetly acted and unlike many "mumblecore" films, beautifully shot, this has moments of pure delight.
Lovable M

It seemed superficial to me and I felt that it didn't really accomplish anything...like a story or a well formed plot.