What can you say about Robert Redford? He's been in a lot of movies and has dabbled in some directing too. I've always liked him as an actor and although the movies he's directed don't always appeal to the masses, they've always appealed to me. They have a beautiful cinematic feel and the storylines are excellent but I'm digressing here. The Last Castle was not directed by Redford but he was the primary character and to make things interesting, he's playing opposite `Mr. Soprano' himself, James Gandolfini. Gandolfini has made a living being a bad character on the popular TV series and he gets to do it again in this movie.
The Last Castle is about a well-decorated General (Robert Redford) being convicted for a war crime and sent to a military prison. Colonel Winter (James Gandolfini) is the warden overseeing the prison and is a no nonsense type man. Although General Irwin is convicted of a war crime, he's no less respected and the moment it is made known to Winter that this great war hero is coming to his prison, Winter quickly gets his establishment `cleaned up' and his personal war memorabilia collection polished up to impress this man. Things don't quite turn out the way Winter hopes as General Irwin alludes to the Colonel's collection as a sign of a soldier never having seen combat. This comment basically sets up the remainder of the movie as the two battle wills and wits with ultimately one left standing.
The interesting thing about this movie is that there really isn't a `bad' character in it. Gandolfini has refined the art of playing a character that does bad things occasionally but still being likable and he carries that into this movie. Although some of the things his character does can be out right despicable, you find yourself still occasionally rooting for him or at the very least sympathizing with him. Redford's character is likable throughout and he has always had a way of exuding a quiet strength and charm that is difficult to ignore. But this movie seemed to show what a talent Gandolfini is.
As much as I liked the performances of the main actors, there were some flaws with this movie namely some of the plot events. The stunts were interesting but a bit on the ridiculous side and in the context of the characters and the personalities they exude, I'd have a hard time believing that Gandolfini's character would allow a mutiny to occur in his prison. There's one scene where the prisoners were able to build a catapult out of common building materials and essentially use it to bring down the guard towers. Now as interesting a concept as this is, it does sound rather ridiculous and all the more so on the screen.
Overall, I liked the movie but there are some plot events that you have to take with a grain of salt. Suspend reality for a bit and you'll enjoy the movie.
The Last Castle is about a well-decorated General (Robert Redford) being convicted for a war crime and sent to a military prison. Colonel Winter (James Gandolfini) is the warden overseeing the prison and is a no nonsense type man. Although General Irwin is convicted of a war crime, he's no less respected and the moment it is made known to Winter that this great war hero is coming to his prison, Winter quickly gets his establishment `cleaned up' and his personal war memorabilia collection polished up to impress this man. Things don't quite turn out the way Winter hopes as General Irwin alludes to the Colonel's collection as a sign of a soldier never having seen combat. This comment basically sets up the remainder of the movie as the two battle wills and wits with ultimately one left standing.
The interesting thing about this movie is that there really isn't a `bad' character in it. Gandolfini has refined the art of playing a character that does bad things occasionally but still being likable and he carries that into this movie. Although some of the things his character does can be out right despicable, you find yourself still occasionally rooting for him or at the very least sympathizing with him. Redford's character is likable throughout and he has always had a way of exuding a quiet strength and charm that is difficult to ignore. But this movie seemed to show what a talent Gandolfini is.
As much as I liked the performances of the main actors, there were some flaws with this movie namely some of the plot events. The stunts were interesting but a bit on the ridiculous side and in the context of the characters and the personalities they exude, I'd have a hard time believing that Gandolfini's character would allow a mutiny to occur in his prison. There's one scene where the prisoners were able to build a catapult out of common building materials and essentially use it to bring down the guard towers. Now as interesting a concept as this is, it does sound rather ridiculous and all the more so on the screen.
Overall, I liked the movie but there are some plot events that you have to take with a grain of salt. Suspend reality for a bit and you'll enjoy the movie.