My Last Best Friend

At the Movies with Gus Mollasis

What’s better than watching Eric Roberts capture the magic on the big screen? Well, that’s easy - watching him portray two parts in MY LAST BEST FRIEND, a film that is one part mystery, one part suspense, and one part character study. Roberts seamlessly plays two identical characters- both named Walter Stoyanov. This intriguing tale is set during the beginning of the outbreak of Covid-19, as the virus is introduced to the streets and people of New York City. The two men at the center of the story are as close as brothers- and theirs is a relationship built on genuine care and concern and one big secret. As one of them contracts the growing virus known as Covid-19– the other tends to him during these trying times. Eric Roberts is sublime in both parts. Showing both a sensitive side and one that is sinister –and capable of hiding many things in broad daylight- like his real name and the secrets from a dark past.

It’s not surprising that the man nominated for a Golden Globe for his acclaimed role as Paul Snider in Bob Fosse's Star 80, and the man who appeared in the iconic The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984) could pull off the task. In recent years, fans will know him for his work in the legal drama Suits (2014–2019), and the HBO series The Righteous Gemstones (2022). The film also stars Carol Alt as Sarah Rennard, a TV Legal host and Rico Simonini as John McCallany, an FBI Special Agent. Both are quite good as they try to solve this murder mystery set during the outbreak of a pandemic and in the backdrop of New York City.

Writer and Director Filippo M. Prandi captures a mood, an eeriness and sadness if you will, that embraces and smothers a city that is never supposed to sleep, a city that the protagonist Walter claims is his city and one that he now barely recognizes. Brandi’s attention to detail sets New York in an original and wounded light as we watch two men named Stoyanov having their lives and city getting turned upside...

Just watched it on Amazon. Finally a movie where the double-role thing isn't just a gimmick. In this movie it actually makes sense. I loved the premise and the final payoff. Great performance by Eric Roberts.

I simply loved this movie. It's a great movie that dares to cross genre (not a lot of movies do it anymore). You think it's a drama about a very peculiar type of friendship (I even thought it was all in Walter's head), just to find out that the movie is also an investigative thriller that focus around the "Two Walters" of this movie. Watch it!