The Last Castle
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| The Last Castle | |
|---|---|
| Image:The Last Castle Theatrical.jpg Original Theatrical Poster | |
| Directed by | Rod Lurie |
| Produced by | Robert Lawrene |
| Written by | David Scarpa Graham Yost |
| Starring | Robert Redford James Gandolfini |
| Music by | Jerry Goldsmith Tom Waits |
| Cinematography | Shelly Johnson |
| Distributed by | DreamWorks Distribution LLC |
| Release date(s) | 2001 |
| Running time | 131 min |
| IMDb profile | |
The Last Castle is a 2001 movie starring Robert Redford and James Gandolfini. Domestically the film grossed $18 million against its budget of $72 million. The film has scored a 54% rating at Rotten Tomatoes.[1] The original movie poster, which depicted an American flag flying upside down, was cancelled due to the public sensitivity following September 11, 2001, which preceded the movie's release by only a few weeks.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Eugene Irwin, a Lieutenant General of the U.S. Army, is court-martialed, stripped of his rank, and sentenced to imprisonment in a maximum security military prison. The warden, Colonel Winter, who had greatly admired Irwin before his conviction, runs the prison with an iron fist, questionable tactics and implied cruelty.
The inmates were sent to the prison for crimes they had committed while wearing the uniform of the United States military, such as murder and drug smuggling, considered to be shameful and contrary to the honorable duty of a soldier. Irwin, sent to the prison because he ignored a presidential order and sent troops on a mission that ended in death, is considered to be guilty of pride. At one point, Winter rationalizes to Irwin his abuse of the prisoners by saying that he need only to look at the inmates criminal records should he wish to reassure himself that he is justified in his actions.
Though at first apathetic to the general plight of his fellow inmates when they try to enlist his help in getting conditions improved at the prison, Irwin begins to realise that his hopes for a quiet dignified life after prison are unrealistic (due to the estrangement from his family resulting from his long absences while on tour) and begins a new mission. He initially attempts to unify the prisoners with building a "castle wall" of stone and mortar - a project they had already been assigned to work on by Winter. When he does succeed in earning the respect and camaraderie of his fellow inmates and restores a sense of honor and dignity to the men, a displeased Colonel Winter orders his guards to destroy the wall with a bulldozer. Former Marine Corporal Ramon Aguilar takes a stand between the bulldozer and the wall, in an act of defiance similar to that of the anonymous protester of Tiananmen Square (who famously faced down a tank). Aguilar's bravery is punished by Winter ordering a sharpshooter to fire a normally non-lethal rubber bullet directly into Aguilar's temple, killing him. The wall is destroyed and left in ruin. Irwin and his prisoners pay final respects to Aguilar in formation, singing what they can remember of the Marines' hymn.
Irwin, rallying the men, begins a plot to throw the prison into utter chaos - to show Brigadier General Wheeler (the warden's superior officer, who is arriving to carry out an inspection) that the warden is unfit to run the prison and have him removed. Using various improvised weapons and tactics similar to that of a military unit, they manage to capture an armored vehicle with a water cannon and a Bell UH-1 helicopter, which they use to cause destruction and riot. Colonel Winter eventually regains control by threatening to use live ammunition against the prisoners. Irwin however still tries to raise what Winter believes will be the American flag upside down, signalling that the prison is no longer under control. Shooting Irwin, Colonel Winter is arrested as he and the prisoners see that Irwin had actually raised the flag the right way up.
[edit] Cast
- Robert Redford - Lt. Gen. Eugene R. Irwin
- James Gandolfini - Col. Winter
- Mark Ruffalo - Capt. Yates
- Steve Burton - Capt. Peretz
- Delroy Lindo - Brig. Gen. James Wheeler
- Paul Calderon - Sgt. Maj. Dellwo
- Jeremy Childs - Cutbush
- Clifton Collins Jr. - Cpl. Ramon Aguilar
- George W. Scott - Thumper
- Brian Goodman - Beaupre
- Michael Irby - Enriquez
- Frank Military - Dr. Lee Bernard
- Robin Wright Penn - Rosalie Irwin (uncredited)
[edit] Trivia
- The movie was filmed entirely at the former Tennessee State Prison in Davidson County.
[edit] References
- ^ The Last Castle on Rotten Tomatoes, accessed October 10 2007
es:La última fortaleza fr:Le Dernier château it:Il castello (film) lt:Paskutinė tvirtovė pl:Ostatni bastion fi:Viimeinen linnoitus tr:Son Kale zh:叛將風雲
