Rating: 3/5
Last Cab to Darwin is one of those circling-the-drain films that makes you reflect on your life and keeps you up at night with deep questions such as “what makes life worth living?”.
Directed by Jeremy Sims, Last Cab to Darwin follows Rex McRae (Michael Caton), a man on an audacious adventure across Australia. After his oncologist tells him his stomach cancer gives him three months to live, Rex makes it his mission to track down Nicole Farmer (Jacki Weaver), a doctor who is interested in legalising euthanasia in Darwin, as a means to make his death quick and easy.
Even though Rex considers himself a lonely man, people in his community — like his boisterous Aboriginal neighbour Polly (Ningali Lawford) — do care about him. While on his journey, Rex forms unexpected friendships with the quick-witted and optimistic Tilly (Mark Coles Smith), as well as the sweet and generous Julie (Emma Hamilton). Through these friendships, the protagonist comes to realise that it is the simple things in life that are important and sharing his life is what makes it worth living.
The cast give admirable performances, especially Michael Caton. Playing both an average senior citizen and a deteriorating old man, his transformation gives the audience time to gradually care for Rex, as his hard-hearted, dry sense of humour is initially difficult for the audience to empathise with.
Although the film tends to mindlessly drag as Rex nears an arduous death, this surprisingly supplies the audience with humour and lightheartedness crucial in creating a plot that is not completely miserable. Last Cab to Darwin is sentimental and reflective — offering rawness and a release for cluttered-up tears, but it also put an admiring smile on my face.