Hey folks, Harry here... I'll be writing my review momentarily... here's Massawyrm in the interim.... Enjoy....
Hola all. Everyone's favorite Chain-smoking, Dr. Pepper swilling, indie schilling Christ clone gone strangely awry Massawyrm here with a look at one of this seasons best offerings, The Last Castle. Now this was one of those films no one was quite sure about. Yeah the trailer looked cool and there was a host of cool talent attached to it, but the original poster, an upside down American flag (which of course was pulled) led to initial fears that this might be, well...just plain un-American.
Well, cast those thoughts aside friends. This movie kicks major ass, while at the same time proves itself to be the patriotic film America's been looking as of late. Let me say this now: If you hate the U.S. military, the U.S. government or anyone that puts any kind of weight whatsoever into the flag and what it stands for, then stay as far away from this movie as humanly possible. It will just piss you off from start to finish. This movie is entirely about what it is to be a patriot, what it means to be a soldier and what it takes to be a leader. However, if you love your country or if you understand what it means to be a soldier then this movie will no doubt move you like it moved me.
This film is one hell of a character piece with a handful of great principles, many of whom will garner nods this year for their performances. If Redford or Gandolfini escape the Oscars without so much as a nomination it will be a crime. They are both in top form, Gandolfini himself giving probably the best performance of his career to date and Redford, well, being Redford, returning to the masculine powerhouse charisma that made him the fixture in the industry that he is. He hasn't been this cool since "Sneakers". He just takes this role and blows the hell out of it, owning it every second he's onscreen.
Then of course there's Cliff. Clifton Collins Jr. (AKA Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez), a great young actor who I've been a fan of for many years and got a chance to hang with on my trip to L.A. (more on that in the next week). You'll remember him from such films as "Tigerland" (one of my deep fried indie faves), "The Replacement Killers" (as the gun dealing, SUV driving, gold toothed punk kid), "187" and one of my favorite it's-late-and-I-just-want-to-laugh-my-ass-off movies "The Stoned Age" (as Tack the Cack, the pimple faced, Ox beer swilling dirtbag). I've just always dug this guy and his range. When I got the chance to meet him on the set of Roger Avary's new film "The Rules of Attraction" we hit it off immediately. He's just one of those cool guys who loves what he does and really appreciates it when people recognize him for it. I mentioned to him that I was a fan, particularly of his character Tack, and he immediately went into doing lines from the film. It's a role he's always loved and had fun with. When I asked him about The Last Castle however, he was tight lipped. He wasn't supposed to talk about it just yet.
Well let me tell you, this is the role everyone will remember him for from here on out. This is that "Oh, isn't that the guy from The last Castle? I love him." role. Cliff works his magic on the screen and really holds his own alongside Redford as the stuttering young marine corporal. Can you say "Best supporting actor nomination"? I can. And I will. Best supporting actor nomination. Really, he's that fucking good. He mixes moments of subtle comic delight with moments of vulnerability, taking the best that he's shown us in many of his other roles and improving upon it ten fold. I was really taken aback by just how good he was, I mean I had my hopes for him, but come on, how does one hold his own alongside two veterans like Gandolfini and Redford and still manage to be memorable. Well, he does it. One of the most memorable moments in the film is his, a powerfully moving scene in the rain. I won't spoil it for you, but when you see it you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. This is a man we most certainly haven't heard the last of.
The basic premise of the film is this (Very Mild Spoilers ahead): Robert Redford is a very well respected 3 star general convicted of a crime and sent to a military prison run by James Gandolfini. The General and the Warden obviously have different ideas about certain issues and that's when the tension begins. And then, well, eventually all hell breaks loose. While this movie seems like it's steeped in convention, it is not. Yes, this is a prison movie, but contrary to what I've seen in a couple of early synopses, Redford is not wrongly accused. He's not an innocent man and he knows it. That right there is what sets this apart from other great prison films (Like Shawshank Redemption and An Innocent Man); we don't sympathize with him because he's innocent, we sympathize with him because he's guilty, but he's dealing with it, and refusing anyone's help to try and commute his sentence. He has accepted justice and knows exactly who and what he is.
Gandolfini plays the corrupt warden, desperately trying to gain the respect of his inmate, thinking it the ultimate validation for what he does. When that respect isn't garnered, we begin to see the warden's madness. Redford begins to gain the respect of his fellow inmates, not because he's trying, but because he simply is a great man. he is the perfect father figure to his men. A soldier to the core.
This movie is powerful and moving, a perfect mix of action, character and patriotism, that grabs you from the get go and holds your attention for every single moment, despite it's slow burn pace. This is a "scenic route" action film, sure it takes awhile to get where it's going, but you don't care because it's one beautiful, pleasant ride. And when it finally gets to the third act, bam! it moves at a breakneck pace that takes it on home to the amazingly moving final scenes. Do not miss this film, especially if you're one of those "man this year really sucks for movies" people. This is one of those films that reminds you that Hollywood can make a really good big budget film when they really want to. Obviously they really, really wanted to. This is one hell of a film and is going to make killing in the current "God bless America" climate. And don't be surprised when it nabs a ton of nods next spring. It's just that good.
Well, until next time friends, smoke 'em if ya got 'em, I know I will.
