Is it merely coincidence that this, The Last Movie, was released in the same year as The Last Picture Show?
The two movies are not just poles apart from the narrative perspective. The former, under review here, is an episodic, disjointed, confused and confusing series of vignettes about the making of a western, quasi-documentary style, if you will. And followed by reflections (and even occasional white-on-black SCENE DELETED frames within the continuing story) by Kansas (Dennis Hopper), about making the movie and its effects upon the local populace; and finishing up with a personal search by Kansas for ... gold, literally and figuratively. This movie was awarded Best Film at Venice in 1971.
The latter you probably know of and have perhaps seen. At the 1972 Academy Awards, it won two Oscars for Best Supporting Actress (Cloris Leachman) and Best Supporting Actor (Ben Johnson); and was nominated for six other Oscars.
The interesting aspects of TLM are: the picturesque setting in the Peruvian mountains; the strong cast of well known actors - Hopper, Peter Fonda, Don Gordon, Dean Stockwell, Russ Tamblyn, Julie Adams, an aging Rod Cameron, and even Kris Kristofferson in his first - very brief - screen appearance; the Peruvian locals who performed with studied, calm impassiveness; and the sound track containing various ballads and typical Peruvian music.
On the other hand, the plot - i.e., the sequence of events - is somewhat haphazard, to put it kindly. Although, as with all good narratives, the end actually begins and - almost - ends the story. In my opinion, the first part, about the final shootout of the western, is a sly satire of that genre, in a number of ways: the action scenes by the outlaws and others are ridiculously over-the-top; Sam Fuller (a real director of movies) is delightfully camp in the role of director; and the presence of a wanna-be local man as 'director' with local 'assistants' performing an outrageous parody of a filming crew must be seen to be fully appreciated. That is a brilliant touch by the screen writers and is sufficient, alone, for me to recommend this movie.
The story and movie fails, however, after the western movie is wrapped - in the first 20 minutes or so. After that, Kansas remains in the area and gets involved with the local talent, and other Americans, looking out for just a 'good time' with the usual feminine delights. And also, where he gets involved in a wild goose chase to find gold in them there hills and mountains. So, I'll leave it to you to find out exactly what happens to Kansas.
It's not a movie that can compare to The Last Picture Show, as I said. But it's still worth seeing as an example of the type of fakery that invades all our lives as we traverse our own existential search for identity, reality and security. Here, though, I think Dennis Hopper also succeeded in displaying much that is stupid, unsavory and false about the movie business.
So, see it if you can. Give it seven out of ten - mainly for Hopper's performance and his moxie for making the movie, in the first place. But, with graphic male and female nudity a few times, for adults only.
The two movies are not just poles apart from the narrative perspective. The former, under review here, is an episodic, disjointed, confused and confusing series of vignettes about the making of a western, quasi-documentary style, if you will. And followed by reflections (and even occasional white-on-black SCENE DELETED frames within the continuing story) by Kansas (Dennis Hopper), about making the movie and its effects upon the local populace; and finishing up with a personal search by Kansas for ... gold, literally and figuratively. This movie was awarded Best Film at Venice in 1971.
The latter you probably know of and have perhaps seen. At the 1972 Academy Awards, it won two Oscars for Best Supporting Actress (Cloris Leachman) and Best Supporting Actor (Ben Johnson); and was nominated for six other Oscars.
The interesting aspects of TLM are: the picturesque setting in the Peruvian mountains; the strong cast of well known actors - Hopper, Peter Fonda, Don Gordon, Dean Stockwell, Russ Tamblyn, Julie Adams, an aging Rod Cameron, and even Kris Kristofferson in his first - very brief - screen appearance; the Peruvian locals who performed with studied, calm impassiveness; and the sound track containing various ballads and typical Peruvian music.
On the other hand, the plot - i.e., the sequence of events - is somewhat haphazard, to put it kindly. Although, as with all good narratives, the end actually begins and - almost - ends the story. In my opinion, the first part, about the final shootout of the western, is a sly satire of that genre, in a number of ways: the action scenes by the outlaws and others are ridiculously over-the-top; Sam Fuller (a real director of movies) is delightfully camp in the role of director; and the presence of a wanna-be local man as 'director' with local 'assistants' performing an outrageous parody of a filming crew must be seen to be fully appreciated. That is a brilliant touch by the screen writers and is sufficient, alone, for me to recommend this movie.
The story and movie fails, however, after the western movie is wrapped - in the first 20 minutes or so. After that, Kansas remains in the area and gets involved with the local talent, and other Americans, looking out for just a 'good time' with the usual feminine delights. And also, where he gets involved in a wild goose chase to find gold in them there hills and mountains. So, I'll leave it to you to find out exactly what happens to Kansas.
It's not a movie that can compare to The Last Picture Show, as I said. But it's still worth seeing as an example of the type of fakery that invades all our lives as we traverse our own existential search for identity, reality and security. Here, though, I think Dennis Hopper also succeeded in displaying much that is stupid, unsavory and false about the movie business.
So, see it if you can. Give it seven out of ten - mainly for Hopper's performance and his moxie for making the movie, in the first place. But, with graphic male and female nudity a few times, for adults only.