There's an undeniably good heart bubbling within writer/director Christopher P. Smith's indie drama The Last Ryde, a quiet little inspirational flick centered around two men at decidedly different and yet the same points in life.
Anthony (Jeff Macolino) was a once promising architect, an up-and-comer for whom booze got in the way and wrecked his career, his marriage, his family, and more. On the verge of suicide, Anthony is living a day-to-day existence as a rideshare driver resenting everyone and everything.
George (John Maciag), on the other hand, has seemingly had a successful life that is winding down. He is terminally ill with 48-hours to live, and he's determined to make connections, make amends, and die in peace.
Of course, their paths will cross.
The Last Ryde is the kind of film you can't help but root for even if you can't quite get yourself it's actually a good film. There are those films we love for other reasons, and The Last Ryde may be one of those films for those seeking a simply told yet meaningful story.
Maciag, in particular, infuses George with a quiet dignity that seems to say volumes even when he's not uttering a single word. He reminds me of the Brian Dennehy character in The Ultimate Gift films.
While you might think that The Last Ryde fits squarely within the faith-based genre, an early F-bomb will likely tell you that this is a bit too edgy for that genre yet fits nicely within the realm of inspirational flicks bathed in real-life circumstances.
The Last Ryde isn't likely to please most cineastes or film critics if we're being honest. That's fine. Film critics don't always have to be happy for a film to work. Sometimes, a film plays for the people who need to see it. The Last Ryde is most likely that kind of film. As someone whose spouse died by suicide, I resonated with Smith's messaging even if I didn't always click with the film.
Released via Filmhub, The Last Ryde is slowly rolling out to most of your major streaming platforms.
Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic
