User reviews

This is one of those movies that requires rapt attention to the screen and the ability to "just get into it" and accept it for what it is. After about 20 minutes it grew on me. You need to try to put yourself in their position, not just watch it as an observer.

Yes, it could have been done better or differently, and could have covered a lot more psychological ground, but it worked for me in its own context. The director had a consistent vision, even if some viewers will never get it.

The attitudes of some external characters seemed oddly upbeat and that wasn't explained, but maybe that's how it would be for some. The casters may have studied people in the real world who knew they were going to die, so the world essentially ends for them anyhow. That may be worse than knowing everyone else is coming with you. There are endless psychological angles to this plot.

The vague technical explanation for the world's condition reminded me of "The Road" but little else about it resembled that film. I thought the acting was plenty good and the sparseness of characters and dialog (except for numerous Skype scenes) fit the mood that was created.

Just give a try and don't watch it with shallow, loudmouth people interrupting (I can't see it doing well in a typical theater setting). You may find it quite compelling and it could make you appreciate life more. That's the main effect it had on me.

OK so the flick is far from perfect but it does make you think. The main characters are not the types you would invite to dinner. The female artist is totally absorbed in her painting even though the end is soon to come. She only takes a break for sex, Chineese takeout or, to consult with Mom after a spat with her much older boyfriend. The boyfriend at least makes an effort to connect with family and friends as the clock winds down to zero hour.It is very gritty from the scenes in the couple's loft to the city streets. Made for interesting conversation between my wife and me afterwords. Worth a look on a rainy day.

4:44 The Last Day on Earth is an existential film by director Abel Ferrara that made me wish he went back to making those video nasties that earned him notoriety in the first place.

The film focuses on a couple in love on the last day of earth just before the planet is about to be destroyed by cosmic radiation. Cisco (Willem Dafoe) is an actor, his wife Skye (Shanyn Leigh) is an artist. They are rather benign about the world coming to an end and accepted their fate which incidentally so has many other people in the planet hence the lack of worldwide panic.

Cisco and Skye make love, they argue, talk to other loved ones, she still paints and they are generally bewildered

Interspersed throughout the film are news clips of reporters, commentators and celebrities who contemplate what the end of the world will be like such as Al Gore and the Dalai Lama.

The film is tedious, grim and empty.

Not with a bang but with a whimper...

The story is about how two particular people would spend their last hours on earth if they new the world was coming to and end at a specific time. The story contains little fanfare and no special effects. It did remind me of a play more than a movie, as was mentioned by another reviewer. The story of the two main actors is interspersed with a variety of spiritual leaders weighing in on such weighty matters as good, evil and the meaning of life. Hard to convey much depth given the brevity of these interviews.

At one point one of the characters decides to visit an old friend and his walk thru the city reminds us all that people are still drinking, hookers are still hooking and most importantly lounge singers are still singing. Nice to know that we would all stay in character right till the end. I guess I better go see that new movie today since the world is going to end tomorrow... It all just seems a little improbable and hollow.

The acting was good but would have been better with a much more well thought out script.

This film must have been pure profit for the makers. I think about 20 percent of it must have been archived footage from around the world. The biggest problem I had with this movie is that it reminded me of a mediocre film school project at best. It tried to be artsy but failed. It tried to be philosophical but failed. It tried to be an emotional tale of a shared ending and failed. It tried to tie all these together with the worst music and sound effects that I have heard in some time. My ears are still ringing. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this one unless you happen to be in the mood to be severely underwhelmed.

No bang, no whimper, just kind of a fizzle...

How would you spend your last days on Earth if you knew the world was going to be destroyed in the morning? That's the premise in Abel Ferrara's (King of New York, Bad Lieutenant) claustrophobic new movie, starring Willem Dafoe and newcomer Shanyn Leigh in where the two play a Manhattan couple coming to terms with their final moments of existence.

Ferrara's choice to shoot the majority of the film in one setting with a minimal amount of takes made me feel as if I were watching a play - not at all a bad thing, especially when the lead actor is Dafoe. This play setting, along with the 'the sky is falling' scenario practically begs for fueled performances to which both Dafoe and Leigh delivered. The actors made the most of their surroundings and turned their emoting skills on high, only occasionally finding themselves being caught in fits of overacting. This is where the movie falters, when the attention pays too much to the acting and not the scenario. Still, the little bursts of over-the- top moments weren't enough to detract me from the movie as a whole.

Fans of both doomsday scenario movies and movies that show close-ups of Willem Dafoe's pubic region should walk away eerily pleased from this one.

The ecologically devastated world will end at 4:44 h of the next day. In New York, the fifty and something year-old Cisco (Willem Dafoe) and his younger wife Skye (Shanyn Leigh) spend their last day together in their apartment, waiting for the coming doomsday.

"4:44 Last Day on Earth" is a boring and dramatic movie by Abel Ferrara disclosing the last day on Earth of a couple of lovers in New York. The movie seems to be sponsored by the Skype with many calls from their apartment using this software. The uninteresting plot is basically a filmed storyline with the usual use of religious images by Ferrara and nothing else. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil): "4:44 - O Fim do Mundo" ("4:44 - Last Day on Earth")

New York's bad boy Director is back with another artsy, avant-Garde, personal picture that is surely nothing if not a cranky creation aimed against the mainstream and the Hollywood system. An ultra-low budget display for all the film-school and frustrated filmmakers to show them how to get it done without corporate backing and studio sucking up.

In this film he takes on, no less, the end of the world with a nod to Al Gore, the Dalai Lama, and Buddhism, and other peace-nick people. A left wing shout out to sensitive souls who might just have seen it all coming.

The movie has some beautiful cinematography (not usually one of the Director's traits) and the small cast is on the mark and it makes for a meditation on the madness of our times. There are some indulgences that are unnecessary and distracting (long close ups of sex) that adds nothing and subtracts somewhat, although it fits the theme: loss of lovely things. But overall it is a thoughtful and timely thesis that is an understated, overwhelming passion play. The passion for what is about to be no more.

This is a film where the title sounds good, but the writing and execution suck. Supposedly something (humanity's destruction of the environment) is leading to rapid ozone depletion and it will disappear at 4:44. At this point the writer, having no idea what the ozone layer is and how it works, says the world will end (though how is never stated). Having totally misrepresented the science (since even with no Ozone layer, life would initially continue and man could adjust, though in 5-10 years the global effects would be bad), the rest of the script goes into a tailspin as well. For a planet where it's predicted everyone will die at some specific time within one-day ... life seems to be getting on pretty well (at least what we can see of it since the scenes all take place in the females apartment so, other than TV shots or the few rooftops shots near the end). I mean come on now, would someone be sitting on a TV show calmly discussing the end minutes before it comes? This movie seems to be more of something shoved together so the directors wife (the female star) could say she was in a movie. Not worth watching.

The only reason I bothered watching this is because Abel Ferrara directed it. It was really late and i figured this would be a decent movie to fall asleep to, but ended up watching the entire thing. I read reviews on here prior to my personal viewing, and think some of the negative reviewers completely missed the point of the movie. If you are looking for action it's not here, this is human behavior and psychology at it'z zenith, and last day. I couldn't help relating to some of the characters in the film, and I think some people out there will be able to as well. Ever wondered what the last day on earth would be like? This movie takes place in NYC, so imagine post-911 city dwellers last moments, you might find yourself not far off in your mental gleaming once you view the film. Maybe because it was late at night and I was somewhere between consciousness and unconsciousness, but the film was disturbing and some moments rather creepy. Highly recommended, especially with the state of the world and America today.

This film is fairly disturbing. It is very well acted and absolutely true to life. Some reviewers question the portrayal of many people as going about their daily lives in the face of disaster. As someone who has experienced the possibility of death and spent time in a residence where people were dying, that is pretty much what most people do. Whether it is because denial is such a motivator or just because most folks don't have the funds to change their lives in a big way, most folks just keep on keeping on. You talk to loved ones, say goodbye, settle up unsettled business and put on the clothes you have been saving for a special occasion.

My problems with this film are that the science is not explained and the story contains no concrete lessons. The moral seems to be 'I told you so.' It also is not moving. Therein lies its biggest failing. A quiet, thoughtful end of days film should leave the moviegoer with a desire to avoid the events of the movie. As a person with a history of activism, at the conclusion of this film I was discomfited, somewhat depressed but had no desire to do more about the environment. Why make a movie about an avoidable end of the world if not to move people?

Why should you see it? Because it lays blame where blame belongs: on each and every one of us. The spacemen didn't do it. Terrorists didn't do it. Muslims, Koreans, Communists - none of them did it. We did it to ourselves and the Al Gore clip is not laughable but probably the scariest part of the film because it is real.

If, for some unfortunate reason, you're about to die, here's an advice: do not watch this movie... it's a complete waste of time, even for someone healthy, new born, or just someone with a long life ahead. I was hoping something between Melancholia and The Road... but it turns out to be sad FLOP with lame acting, a poor script, where the actors seem to drift from one line to another with no feeling at all. There's a scene when Willem Dafoe get's to cry some unbelievable crocodile tears... You've been warn! If it's your last day on earth due to health or environmental reasons, you might want to consider in putting an end to your misery before watching this unbearable picture!

Other than the opening sensual scene (which didn't add to the storyline), the only other redeeming quality was the film short run time. The stories references to religion uses montages and didn't advance or enhance the story.I am sure there were significance references that I had missed, but it was hard to stay focused on story that didn't go anywhere. The premise was interesting, "What would you do with your last day on earth?". After watching this movie, "Bore everyone to death" seems appropriate. The movie appears to be an under graduate's senior project with family money to promote it. This was 90 minutes I can never recover.

If you like psychobabble filled dreary little movies with terrible music, lousy editing and an anticlimactic ending .... then this smelly wet dog of a movie is for you.

One would figure with Willem Dafoe in the title role that it would have been at least worth the effort. But this was almost as bad as some of those goofy (arty) foreign movies that make no sense.

This turkey made $8,355 on 3 screens in March 2012 ... then was shut down. That right there should tell you all you need to know.

I am so glad I fast-forwarded to the end after I got a little over half way thru it. I saved at least THAT much time in my life I didn't waste.

4:44 Last Day on Earth (2011)

** (out of 4)

Abel Ferrara's look at the final day on Earth centers on an actor (Willem Dafoe) and his painter girlfriend (Shanyn Leigh) as both of them have different emotions on the big day. 4:44 LAST DAY ON EARTH isn't a complete success but it's not the disaster that some people made it out to be. It's pretty strange that with so many stories that could be told about the final day, director Ferrara took a rather bland couple to make a film about. These people basically have sex, talk, paint, fight and try to come to terms with dying. None of this stuff is all that extraordinary and it doesn't even seem like Ferrara wanted to do anything too outrageous. For the most part the film is pretty simple from start to finish and it's quite laid back as well. Those expecting something crazy from the controversial director aren't going to find it here, although we are treated to one rather graphic sex scene. The performances for the most part are extremely good with Dafoe stealing the film but this here isn't anything new. The actor is so calm, cool and collective in the part that the character becomes quite memorable even though he isn't given much to do in the story. Leigh is also good in her part as is Natasha Lyonne and Paul Hipp in their small roles. 4:44 LAST DAY ON EARTH is far from bad but at the same time the entire picture just has a bland feel to it. Fans of the director or Dafoe might want to check it out but others should probably stay away.

"4:44 Last Day On Earth" (2011 release; 82 min.) brings the story of Cisco and Skye as they await the end of the world, literally. As the movie opens, we are told via TV news clips that as a result of the ozone layer's implosion, the world will come to an end at 4:44 am the next morning (Al Gore was right after all!). Cisco and Skye are in their New York loft, where after they make love, Skye is working on her latest painting. Cisco is calling friends via Skype. At this point we are 10 min. into the movie.

Couple of comments: this film is written and directed by Abel Ferrara, best known for his earlier work "Bad Lieutenant" and "King of New York". Here he ponders what people might do when they are told that the world will shortly come to an end. The first half of the movie is a bit monotonous (it literally plays out in the NY loft), but I thought that the second half, with the clock ticking down and everything takes on a palpable sense of urgency, that the movie takes off. But I can certainly see why this isn't for everyone. Willem Dafoe (as Cisco) and Shanyn Leigh (as Skye) are a treat to watch. I must admit that while I was watching this, I asked my self: what would I do if I knew that the world is coming to an end in less than a day? Of course this topic has been examined in other movies. For a completely different (and yes, better) take on this, check out the excellent 2012 film "Seeking a Friend For the End of the World" starring Steve Carell.

I missed "4:44 Last Day On Earth" when it had its original theater run, but stumbled upon it the other day on Showtime. Glad I checked it out, although surely the deliberate slow pacing of the film will not be to everyone's liking. If this heavy topic is of interest to you, I'd suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

Perhaps it was because I generally like his films from the 80's and 90's (let's think - Ms. 45, King of New York, Bad Lieutenant, The Funeral, even obscurities like Dangerous Game and China Girl), I was curious about 4:44 Last Days on Earth by Abel Ferrara, so I saw it in a (brief) theatrical run. It's a bizarre, even experimental film that's set pretty much all in the apartment of Willem Dafoe's character, Cisco. Ferrara sets this tale of existential angst and contemplation with images of the apocalypse on-coming. There's also a female companion, Shanyn Leigh.

It's not a long film, so there is that if you're wondering if it will be a slog. I didn't find it to be, in large part because Ferrara was making an honest, subtle attempt at trying to change the form of an apocalypse story. He had clearly a small budget to work with, so why not use the prowess and talent of someone like Dafoe? He's really the reason to see this, if you like his work here he delivers a soulful, bare-all performance that doesn't go TOO far like Antichrist for example.

If anything else, this film is a departure for Ferrara to try and explore desperation in an untenable situation - human beings knowing and faced with their end. Is it the strongest representation of how to stage this? Probably not. The director is indulging himself into just exploring things and themes and ideas through his characters, through the paintings we see the girl paint, through, well, Skype chats (if I remember correctly). But there's poignancy to this odd little movie that doesn't shy away from emotional truths, from exposing raw nerves, which is always what Ferrara is good at.

Before ordering this movie I was reading things here such as: Great Job! Loved the Movie. You just have to 'Get Into' it. etc. So I ordered and watched it. My guess is that these reviewers must have been too close to the happy smoke when they viewed this garbage.

Don't buy a ticket, don't buy the movie, don't rent the movie, don't even stream it if you have Netflix! Save your precious 7,800 heart beats to do something else...Anything Else.

What is wrong with the movie? Everything. (period)

It is just too ridiculous to even imagine that the scenes in this movie could possibly even come close to what would really happen if people knew that the end of the world was hours away. Traffic is flowing just fine and walking the streets looks like an average night. Oh, and by the way, there won't be special effects, action scenes, etc. It was the concept of people realizing that the end of the world was emanant that originally caught my attention but: It is just basically two people in an apartment.

I've read that the director, Abel Ferrara, is supposed to be some kind of artiste. But after watching a few things on YouTube, he seems to me to be in desperate need of therapy and/or medication.

What the female star in the movie, Shanyn Leigh (Abel Ferrara's life partner), sees in this old man is beyond me. But that is subject for another discussion.

So that brings us to Willem Dafoe and why he could have possibly made this sorry attempt of a movie. Excellent Actor! My only guess is that he is dipping his foot into several ponds to expand his talent. I just hope he realizes that he should never go near this pond again.

Trust me and save yourself an hour and a half.

I think this movie deserves more respect than it's been given. With all the very unrealistic takes on the end of the world floating around this one actually tantalizes you with an all too realistic perspective.

I have a feeling that those who gave it a low rating were expecting some huge dramatic, catastrophic ending. Instead, this movie focused on the lives of a couple of people and what they felt, did and witnessed with the knowledge that the world was ending.

In short, it isn't for the lazy mind which doesn't want to think. You need to be prepared to place yourself in the characters' shoes and feel what they're going through.

Is a pleasure for me watching Willem Dafoe, directed by Abel Ferrara.

I love the cinema of this New Yorker, really artistic and potent. With a message that is repeating more and more after the pandemic. When one pay attention to Contagion, I watched it in 2011. Nobody at cinema, but I enyoyed it. I has a power with great BSO of Cliff Martinez and the most important, it was a visionari movie. Now everybody talks obout that. Now pay attention to Ferraras movies like Siberia, or that one. The future is in our hands and they are telling us all the time. Now is late but we can do it.

Good to watch, 81 minutes only, tanx. And a pretty much intense movie. Don't understand why people are so furious with his cinema.

Watch it, it worths the time

6 stars out of 10.

I read another review here who said don't watch this film with loudmouth know it all. Have an open mind. In other words, if you don't agree that this is a great film, there's something wrong with you!

Like this film, the reviewer is a pretentious buffoon.

Let me say that I really like Ferrara and think The Bad Lieutenant is a GREAT movie. Up there with the Godfather. And I mean that.

Unfortunately, that may be the only good film he's ever made.

In 444 we spend nearly 10 minutes watching Dafoe shave. Then he gets his nipples licked for another 3 or so. Before having his pubes rubbed. Compelling stuff -- not. It's just all pretentious.

The girl (a painter) asks him in the beginning why he bothers shaving if the world is ending. Well a better question might be, why are you continuing to paint? Shaving takes a few minutes, you're painting for the whole movie. Idiot.

And so goes the movie. I wanted to like it. I'm looking for the impact of Bad Lieutenant, but got a sorry slow uninteresting story.

Dafoe is surprisingly stiff and shows no acting ability at all. Guess he had to make the best of what he got in the terms of a script. Plus, he's supposed to be a successful actor in the movie, but lives in a hovel and complains about rent increases -- he doesn't even own the shoe box!

And why is everyone so calm? Let's be honest, if the end was really coming it would be lootig and pandemonium. As you might expect, the film has a completely unsatisfying ending. Why should the end be any different?