One Last Last Heist

By: Paige Zinaman

Comedy, drama, action and intrigue are four of the main components that make up director Darrin Rose’s film One Last Last Heist. Going into the movie you don’t really know what to expect from it. Although it is a short film, it was very comedic and unexpected. In the times we are in right now, One Last Last Heist is a very enjoyable and fun watch. Written and directed by Darrin Rose, this movie is equal parts drama and comedy that is centered in a man’s point of view of what crime means and finding love.

Ramesh (Suresh John) is an armed robber who sets up his heartbroken friend Cormac (Darrin Rose) on a meet-cute, which also happens to take place during a heist. Ramesh enlists the help of Cormac to pull off one last robbery that will allow them to all start over. He introduces Cormac to Janko (Marito Lopez), who is skilled at driving and disguises. Together the three men and a mysterious fourth person – a woman named Erika (Ava Julien) – work together to complete the task at hand.

Throughout the film each character brings something new to the table, but it is the performances from Darrin Rose and Ava Julien that really sets the tone for what the movie is all about. The chemistry between both Rose and Julien is very noticeable from the scenes that they are in together and one of the main driving forces that pushes the story further. Yet it’s also their ability to play off each other in a comedic sense that really sets them two apart. Ava Julien brightens the room from her first word to her very last words, whereas Darrin Rose has you in so much laughter that you’re in tears. Additionally, he has the ability to quickly make you sober up and pay attention to the story. Rose captures the audience through his words, making you see a flawed man struggling with a life of crime and the love that remains at the root of all.

I think it’s the companionship and breathtaking work between director Rose and cinematographer Stuart Campbell that really drew my attention from the start as the movie begins with flashbacks from Cormac. The flashbacks play a huge part of the whole movie and they are beautifully done. The lighting and mood that each offers to One Last Last Heist viewers is one of the most amazing pieces of film work that I’ve seen. To see Rose and Campbell put their two visions together on the screen, you can truly tell what the story is about and see that their visions were very well portrayed.

One Last Last Heist is a film that should be seen without hesitation. It’s one that I know I needed to see in this currant time. The direction and acting is some of the most brilliant I’ve witnessed on screen, which sets it apart from any others. It leaves you wanting more as soon as you see the end credits role. I recommend this One Last Last Heist to anyone who, like me, has had a rough time these last couple of months and needs to laugh and see some action while also seeing a love story unfolding.