The Last Castle (2001)

The Last Castle rides high on a wave of American patriotism, respectful of military service and protocol, and primed to ignite anyone's passion for justice against corrupted ideals. This intense prison drama begins when a court-martialed three-star general (Robert Redford) is sentenced to military prison for defying a presidential command. The prison's warden (James Gandolfini) is a jealous martinet who's never seen combat, and when the jailed general seizes command of the prison to protest the warden's abuse of power, The Last Castle erupts toward a classic showdown between integrity and cowardice. Former critic and West Point graduate Rod Lurie (The Contender) directs this intimate battle with manipulative skill, appealing more to emotions than intelligence, but his stellar cast keeps the action on track, and a potent script returns flag-waving to its rightful place of honor. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

Bad but Very Watchable

The contradictory title of my review sums up my feelings about this flick. It's bad because: (1) It's set in the supposedly realistic environment of a modern military prison, but it's very unbelievable (you'll see what I mean if you make it to the last half-hour). (2) You know, more or less, how it's going to end from the opening scenes, because the set-up is so predictable: noble, god-like prisoner vs. sadistic prison warden who's turned his prison into a hellhole. (3) It shovels a huge load of jingoistic claptrap about the U.S. military that you must either agree with or have the ability to ignore in order to see it through.

But, it's good because: (1) The performances are great. James Gandolfini and Robert Redford make interesting, although unequal, adversaries, and the tension between them feels real. Redford was 65 years old at the time of filming and in very fit condition. So, even though his role is highly idealized, it's not hard to imagine him as a super-soldier trained over a lifetime of combat to stand his ground in the face of adversity. The supporting cast is also excellent, particularly Clifton Collins Jr. and Steve Burton. (However, the lack of important African-American characters, with the exception of the token bigshot played by Delroy Lindo, is a failing of the film, considering how many Black extras are in the movie.) (2) The pacing is excellent, and just when I thought I was going to stop watching, something hooked me in to stick with it. (3) The action scenes are well edited (although hard to believe) and have real energy and excitement in them. (4) The script contains some interesting twists and turns that, while not changing the outcome, bring some depth to the storyline.

To sum up: if you enjoy prison films, lots of manly bluster with some violence, a heroic slant on the military, good acting and action sequences, and can overlook the "WHAT? you've got to be kidding me!" factor of the last half-hour, you might just enjoy THE LAST CASTLE. November 23, 2008

The True Meaning of Heroism

This movie is riveting and entertaining. The violence is a bit much for those uder 14; however, it is a worthwhile buy and a certain winner for those who love heroe flicks. October 12, 2008

a review about kinderguardners.

It's like the longest yard except with dingalings and maffiaso instead of footballs. Robert Redford did a good job of dying at the end. All the weiners in the movie were applaudable. The bridge over the kiwi river was rebuilt even stronger tha ever with the help of the guards who were tired of their team captain. September 21, 2008

- A patriotic film...

The Last Castle is a movie that brings back feelings of patriotism and respect for the worth of the individual. The cast of characters is superb with Robert Redford playing the part of a three star general who knows he has done wrong by challenging presidential authority and is sentenced to serve time in military prison run by a prison warden, played by James Gandolfini, who has power but is not a leader of men.

The two clash and soon they are involved in a war. While Robert Redford wanted to serve his time in peace and in the solitude of his cell, the events that take place surface his true character and a leader at heart; he is soon fighting injustice and protecting the rule of law.

The drama that ensues captured our spirit and we found ourselves enraptured by the characters, as one by one of the men regain their self-esteem and their purpose as soldiers.

The balance between justice and injustice, between honesty and betrayal, between leadership and cowardice is simply superb. As with all DVDs, this one has extra features and we were delighted to learn all about how the movie was made, how some of the actors were playing their first roles and how much they appreciated to be acting with the likes of Robert Redford, one of the best actors of our time. A patriotic film to be thoroughly enjoyed.
August 9, 2008

Leadership, Strategy, and Morality

While this movies suffices for "just entertainment" because of the ability of the actors, any viewer who takes the time to delve into the nuances presented is likely to find it thought-provoking and worthy of discussion. We enjoy this movie on a personal level -- and watch it at least once a year -- but have also used it in management training classes. It deserves viewing with an analytical eye and thoughtful mind. Check beneath the surface and think about the issues and the dynamics of the group/organization/leaders/players/etc. July 11, 2008

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