Truly Dreadful Film

Awesome Movie

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

A military prison run by a heavy-handed warden (James Gandolfini) is the setting for this action drama.A disgraced three star military General (Robert Redford) is sent here to serve a sentence for a miscalculation that led to the deaths of a few of his troops.Things tick along okay for a while, but soon Redford and Gandolfini cross paths and the rest is history. Military history.Redford leads a rebellion against the warden, and soon wins the respect of the other men. This leads to one of the most fun finales that I've ever seen in a film - where the prisoners fully rise up and take on the guards.Things start out a little slow, which might put off fans who are looking for pure action, but as we reach the second half of the film things begin to pick up.There's also a subplot where Delroy Lindo plays one of Redford's colleagues, and the two men still have a good companionship. As Gandolfini's nefarious antics hit a fever pitch a lot of the film focuses on getting the audience hopes up that Lindo will arrive in time to help save the day.The cast here is great and, in another world, The Last Castle could easily have been a classic - however it falls short, hence my 7/10 rating. Some films have that 'wow' factor that can't be predicted or can't be measured, and The Last Castle doesn't quite have that.

A court-martialed general rallies together 1200 inmates to rise against the corrupt system that put him away. The Last Castle is a 2001 Action, Drama, Thriller starring Robert Redford, James Gandolfini and Mark Ruffalo. I'm very glad that i own this movie because it's truly very good and moving it's basically a film about a court martial who goes in jail and he gets screwed in there because the system of the whole prison is corrupted and the main bad guy is played by the amazing James Gandolfini as for our hero his name is Lt. Gen. Eugene Irwin played by the great Robert Redford as for Ruffalo he plays Yates an ex pilot the last 20 to 30 minutes of the movie has the inmates going against the guards and Col. Winter and a big battle starts but unfortunately the movie ends in a very touching way with Eugene getting shot for trying to hang the American flag upside down although that wasn't what he was trying to do he actually puts the flag in the right position in a way of respect and he dies by his wounds. The Last Castle is sure not for everyone but anyone who loves great war movies or drama or just pure action in Jail you will probably love it or have a good time.

There is the realm of critics and viewers who castigate Tony Scott's "Crimson Tide,"(also featuring James Gandolfini before he became Tony Soprano) and many of the films Michael Bay made (Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, The Rock),and Scott's "Man on Fire". You know, all the really good stuff, made by directors who know how to create films which compel us simpletons to turn up the volume at home, or just say "Wow. WOW!" as we walk across the parking lot to the car, and then discuss the film with our partner all the way home."The Last Castle" is one of these flicks. Two-starred in Maltin, the reviewer doesn't get it, calling the plot-lines obvious, the story predictable, the pace per formula. Who cares? Robert Redford and James G have so many scenes where you are simply galvanized by the struggle of good versus evil. And what is so intoxicating about that battle in this film, (set in a military prison where Redford is a disgraced, former Marine general, and Gandolfini is the commanding officer), is the "good" is the evil, and the "evil" is the good (see Shakespeare, William!). As good as Redford and Gandolfini are, the young Mark Ruffalo, just steals the film as a prisoner, the cynical conflicted son of a Congressional Medal of Honor winner who was a POW with Redford.What a wonderful surprise, to come across this on a retirement afternoon on HBO2. Just an inspiring Friday afternoon matinée!

(plot) A court-martialed general manages to fire up over a thousand prisoners and rebel against the corrupt system that imprisoned him. The only problem is that James Gandolfini stands in his wayI didn't dislike Last Castle at all. As a matter of fact, I had a decent time with it. It pushed some emotional buttons for me, and passed the time nicely. At over two hours long, I didn't look at the clock once. The acting is phenomenal, and the story does more than enough to engage your interest. The problem? It's a little too routine, and has a "Been here, done that" aura surrounding it. But it's above the norm for the acting, and the acting alone. Redford & Gandolfini are both outstanding. Redford is the perfect hero in every way. He is able to make us believe in his plight, and I couldn't wait to see him get back at Gandolfini. James Gandolfini plays one of the most heartless people I've ever seen. I hated him, and that just shows how good of an actor he is. Mark Ruffalo is also excellent in one of his earlier rolesFinal Thoughts: I did like it, but it is rather predictable as well. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. It has much more good than bad. Worth the watch6.4/10