Movie Review: “The Last Five Years” Leaves You Both Heartbroken And Lovestruck

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Based on the musical, a struggling actress and her novelist lover each illustrate the struggle and deconstruction of their love affair.

“The Last Five Years” has left me both heartbroken and love sick. A musical originally written by Jason Robert Brown for the stage, premiered at Chicago’s Northlight Theatre in 2001 and was then produced Off Broadway in March 2002. Since then it has had numerous productions both in the United States and internationally. Most recently, and to the absolute delight of this critic, the story and music were adapted for the screen by writers Jason Robert Brown and Richard LaGravenese. The story explores a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein (Jeremy Jordan), a rising novelist, and Cathy Hiatt (Anna Kendrick), a struggling actress. Cathy’s telling of the story is done in reverse time, beginning the show at the end of the marriage, and Jamie’s is told in chronological order starting just after the couple have first met. The character’s story lines do not directly interact except for a wedding song in the middle of the show.

In most love stories – especially tragic ones – it’s easy and common to choose a character to side with. Not so in “The Last Five Years.” Both characters share with the audience the best and worst parts of their personalities. I ended up loving and hating Cathy and Jamie equally. The show is done almost entirely in song, with only Cathy and Jamie’s voices telling the story. We begin and end the story in their New York apartment. Cathy is sitting alone lamenting the end of her marriage (“Still Hurting”) at the beginning of the show. We shift to meet Jamie. It is five years earlier and he has just met Cathy. Jamie is overjoyed to be dating outside his Jewish heritage as he sings “Shiksa Goddess.” As the show ends, Cathy is ecstatic after her first date with Jamie. She sings “Goodbye Until Tomorrow” proclaiming that she has been waiting for Jamie her whole life. Simultaneously, but five years forward, Jamie sits in their shared apartment writing laments over the relationship with “I Could Never Rescue You”.

As Cathy waves Jamie “goodbye until tomorrow”, Jamie wishes Cathy simply “goodbye.” Through failed auditions for Cathy, and rave reviews for Jamie, we are swept along on a train wreck waiting to happen, but I was so easily invested into these two people’s lives that I didn’t care if I already knew how it was going to end. I wanted to know their story anyway. The hopeless romantic and mother in me wanted to reach through the screen and shake them both until they saw what they were throwing away. I have absolutely no tolerance for broken vows, wedding vows being on the top of my list. Normally when a character in a show gives in to infidelity, I am completely against them from that point forward. The writing and storytelling through music is so perfectly done in “The Last Five Years,” that even when Jamie tries to find comfort in another woman’s arms, I’m ready to forgive him. I still love him and want him to realize he can still make it work with Cathy.

Although it’s been over 15 years since I was handing out resumes and lining up for auditions, I was struck with bittersweet moments of nostalgia when Cathy attends fruitless audition after audition. Seeing Cathy’s heart breaking as her career slips away is only bearable because we are given glimpses of how much Jamie loves and supports her. Then the entire flavor of the story flips as we see how Jamie and Cathy both loose sight of the love they have for each other and sink into self absorption. Not since “Ragtime” has a musical moved me as much as this one did. Not only is the story well told, the music is moving and brilliantly performed. The transition from stage to film can often leave the essence of the story behind in lieu of flashy camera work and special effects. “The Last Five Years” transitions brilliantly. The cinematography enhances the story and pulled me completely into Jamie and Cathy’s world.

Now playing in select theaters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmcDMiWIE6A

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