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Summary: What it means to have Integrity *and* Pride
Review: One of the best of it's year- good enough to get overlooked for an Oscar. When I left the theater I was unsure if I wanted to cry or to think. To say it deals with what it means to be a soldier or take responsibility for one's actions is still too surface. The heart of the movie is more what it means to truly have pride in oneself, in the positive sence. I think the theme of the movie is summed up well in a comment by Redford's character when talking to another convict: "You made a mistake for 3 seconds. You were a good Marine for 3 years. By my reckoning, that makes you about 95% Marine." The approach of the protagonist, Redford, is not to deny culpability for ones crimes- quite the opposite. He shows true integrity in his decisions, and encourages others to do so as well. But it is combined with a call for respect of one's self, rather than a denial of those aspects of us which reflect the heart of God. Integrity and respect are in the end more important than the perpetration of violent crimes.There was nothing in this movie that was predictable, including the ending. The viewer gets caught up in the action and does not expect the twists that happen. And there isn't only deep psychology going on here- there's alos a lot of fun action. Not bloody, though as far as violence I looked away from the screen a few times. Not a movie for children, though parents may feel comfortable bringing their adolescent children in. And as far as the general movie aspects, great acting all around. Redford, of course is wonderful, with his way of acting with his body, but so are his best friend with the stutter and the prison director. I could simultaneously feel sorry for him and see him as a perpetrator of evil. Wonderful writing, with the depth of a chess game. Cinematography has a certain grainy aspect which adds to the flavor or the movie. Directing also top notch. I am not patriotic in any way, nor do I favor the armed forces. At the end of this movie I wanted to stand up and salute the flag.
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Summary: Jerry Goldsmith Rules
Review: Jerry Goldsmith is one of my all time favorate composers. Ever since I first heard the Patton soundtrack and saw the film in the late seventies I have always liked his themes from war pictures to westerns. He is one of those composers you can't pin down, for example earlier this year Chapter 3 records released two film scores on one CD recorded in 1971 and they could have not been composed by the same man but they were.
I loved this score which has echoes of Patton and another great film he scored called MacArthur both of wish I urge people to check out. I very much hope Mr Goldsmith has not any plans to stop composing anytime soon.
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Summary: Much deeper than Patriotism
Review: The Last Castle is much more complex than many people give it credit. Most importantly Robert Redford will not do movies just for making movies, or money's sake. There is a message in it, and it is not about patriotism which does seem to stand out in just a mild review. The General is very logical, and readily admits that he was guilty in going against a presidential order, and that choice cost the lives of eight good, valiant, and dedicated men. He accepts that his punishment is just, and he is in prison to do his time, and to get on with his life. He takes responsibility for his actions and their loss. No one ever says the Colonel of the institution was not a combat officer, but it is analyzed by the General because of war mementos the Colonel has - the trappings of war that no true warrior would collect. But a second more important reason for this understanding are his methods of leadership. While the Colonel is concerned about what inmates have done, and about having absolute control over them, the General is more concerned about what potential each has and the positives they can do in their rebuilding. Individualism verses team work. All of the inmates have been trained in a very structured way and have survived for a time in that structure before having err'd and ending up in this prison. Each has a common base, and inner pride which is being misused, misdirected or even punished. The Colonel uses command by fear, and the General, who does not want command anything begins to lead by respect only. This is not about a mutiny, or a prison riot; it becomes a lesson in leadership, responsibility, and of understanding and obeying the rules. The General uses positive leadership, and the Colonel negative leadership. It becomes an emotional movie because of the simplicity of the General's leadership.... You become very aware of where he is going long before the event even occurs. The General also applies Sun Tsu's methods of warfare against the Colonel who has read the book but never had to actually use those methods. Application becomes key. It becomes a classic case of using an adversary's strengths against himself. It becomes moves of a chess board 'within' the castle. A much deeper movie than the first impression. Does the flag symbolize good or distress?
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Summary: It's not only patriotism
Review: When I have read the critcs of this movie "the last castle" here in Germany, all the critics goes back to the patriotism and why Robert Redford plays that part of General Irvin.
I find that movie actually not patriotism in that way, it's that way: never mind what uniform wear or profession you have. It's important who you are and to find out who you want to be.
The movie has good action, it's story is exciting especially the "chess"-game!
It's wonderful to me to watch that movie !
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Summary: "THEY CANNOT TAKE AWAY WHO WE ARE!"
Review: Robert Redford and James Gandolfini give two enuthusiastic stunning performances. This movie is a blow by counter blow, flick that will leave you whooping and smiling. No one should miss the Last Castle! If in all possible, whether your a Robert Redford fan or not, see it! You will not be disapointed!
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Summary: Great Entertainment
Review: The Last Castle There are lots of reasons to attend movies. I go to be entertained, to be wafted along for two hours of distraction and feeling good as I connect with the characters, to be intellectually stimulated, inspired, to learn.... This movie covers the first couple bases extraordinarily well, so long as you are willing to suspend your disbelief at certain points. Frankly, I read some of the early Amazon reviews of this movie and passed on it. Then, I saw other reviews rave about it, so I took the plunge and, apologizing to my other half for nixing it early on, suggested that maybe she was right and we should watch it. We did not regret it. There was not one lagging moment in the story. It is tightly written and edited, doing a great job of taking you along on the emotional roller coaster a good story is supposed to deliver. Now, if you are the kind of movie-goer who does not connect emotionally with stories (and it estimated that up to half the population falls into this "non-affective" category) then you might not enjoy this film. But if you like fantasies and action adventures, this is a great one. Sure, the message is a bit cliche'd. But the story works nicely and the acting is excellent. Screenplay story structure guru Robert Mckee talks about the concept of the negation of the negation and the end of this film offers a good example of the ultimate revenge.
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Summary: The Last Castle
Review: This movie was done with a great deal of sensitivity to the characters and their perspective so the audience understood where the characters were coming from. The actors did a excellent job in establishing their roles. The beginning of the movie starts slowly building to a crescendo at the end and the audience exploded into applause at the end of the movie. I will definitely be purchasing the DVD when it comes out.
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Summary: I kinda liked it
Review: A testosterone-driven movie with a bang-you-over-the-head evil vs. goodness storyline. Yet after 2 1/2 hours on a rainy Saturday afternoon I left the theater satisfied that Robert Redford had restored order to the universe. Don't go to this movie if you expect to be challenged with mixed-up versions of right and wrong. Even though he plays a convicted criminal, Redford never veers off the righteous path. And even though he plays a celebrated warden, it's clear from the start that there's nothing virtuous about Tony Saprano ... er, James Gandolfini. What makes the predictable worth sitting through is the match-up between these two soldiers--big men with big egos and, it turns out, big armies.
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Summary: Stoic Heroism
Review: Robert Redford has seemed to approach most of his roles with what I would just call emotional detachment. Some would argue that he is in fact a wooden actor. I was never in Redford's camp until he made THE NATURAL. His performance in that film was both stoic and heroic. But what really won me over in that film was Redford's personification of the thinking man's hero. That trait is what he really brings to this film to make it work. This film is a chess game between brain and brawn. I can't really describe the charisma that Redford brings to this role but you know that his Cheshire smirk is on the side of righteousness and his dogged determination can not be thwarted. Equally noteworthy is Jerry Goldsmith's score. Once again Goldsmith comes through both emotionally and psychologically because he brilliantly knows which buttons to push musically. It is very rare that he makes a mistake in his approach to scoring a film. There is a certain level of humanity that must be recognized and that recognition is something worth fighting for. I like this movie because it grips you emotionally and you genuinely want to see justice prevail.
Rating: 
Summary: Pawn Takes Castle
Review: Robert Redford easily carries this derivitive film... Part VICTORY, BRAVEHEART with a huge touch of SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, CASTLE entertains without treading new ground. James Gandolfini never becomes the threat needed to add the tension to make the film a true audience pleaser. Sure, there are some fun moments but they are few and far between and separated by plenty of false realities. Steve Burton as the second villain does a good job but again, there is very little tension what way he is going to turn by film end. So, this is what I consider an average film.
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