At 88 years old, Anthony Hopkins continues to impress. In what he’s stating is his last film, he plays Sigmund Freud on the eve before his death. The story requires Freud’s character to reflect on his life and career while debating God, science, and sex with C.S. Lewis (Matthew Goode). That reflection also allows Hopkins to look back at life and question his own existence. Let’s face it: Hopkins is one of the most renowned actors alive. He has two Oscars lots of blockbusters, and has earned his place amongst the greats. That’s why it’s so damn frustrating that FREUD’S LAST SESSION isn’t better.
The movie is based on a short off-Broadway play and, sadly, feels like it at times. It’s essentially two people debating for an hour and forty minutes while the director, Matthew Brown, attempts to mix things up by inserting several uninteresting flashbacks. Had FREUD’S LAST SESSION been a tight eighty-five minutes removing the flashbacks, I would’ve recommended it. As is, it’s a hard pass. There isn’t much here except for philosophical mumbo-jumbo with two outstanding performances from Goode and Hopkins.
I hope this isn’t Anthony Hopkins’s last film. I want to see him go out doing something silly. Hell, even another THOR cameo would do the trick.
FREUD’S LAST SESSION is hitting theatres on December 22nd.
