The Last Five Years (film)

The Last Five Years is a 2014 American musical romantic drama film written and directed by Richard LaGravenese. It is an adaptation of the 2001 off-Broadway musical of the same name by Jason Robert Brown.

The film stars Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan as Cathy Hiatt and Jamie Wellerstein, respectively. Cathy is a struggling actress, and Jamie is a burgeoning novelist. The story chronicles their five-year relationship, but with a unique narrative structure. Cathy's story begins at the end of their relationship and moves backward in time, while Jamie's story begins at the beginning and moves forward. Their timelines only intersect at their wedding.

The film features a primarily sung-through score, with few spoken lines of dialogue. The songs showcase the characters' individual perspectives and emotional journeys, highlighting the joys and challenges of their relationship, as well as the contrasting paths their careers take. Key themes explored in the film include ambition, love, loss, commitment, and the complexities of relationships in the context of professional pursuits.

The film received mixed to positive reviews, with praise for Kendrick and Jordan's performances and the musical score. However, some critics found the adaptation to be less impactful than the stage version due to certain staging choices and alterations to the original material.