The Last Castle (2001)

Director:

Rod Lurie

Writers (WGA):

David Scarpa (story)
David Scarpa (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

19 October 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

A castle can only have one king

Plot:

A Court Martialed general rallies together 1200 inmates to rise against the system that put him away.

Plot Keywords:

Sadism | Military Memorabilia | Convict | Chess | Martinet

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Robert Redford	...	Lt. Gen. Eugene Irwin
James Gandolfini	...	Col. Winter
Mark Ruffalo	...	Yates
Steve Burton	...	Capt. Peretz
Delroy Lindo	...	Gen. Wheeler
Paul Calderon	...	Dellwo
Samuel Ball	...	Duffy
Jeremy Childs	...	Cutbush
Clifton Collins Jr.	...	Cpl. Ramon Aguilar
George W. Scott	...	Thumper
Brian Goodman	...	Beaupre
Michael Irby	...	Enriquez
Frank Military	...	Doc Lee Bernard
Maurice Bullard	...	Sgt. McLaren
Nick Kokich	...	Pvt. Niebolt

Also Known As:

The Castle (USA) (working title)
Untitled Rod Lurie Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and violence.

Runtime:

131 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | South Korea:15 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Iceland:12 | USA:R (certificate #38538) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Brazil:16 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

When Irwin tapes pictures of his grandchild on the wall of his cell, they are actually pictures of director Rod Lurie's son Hunter.

Goofs:

Factual errors: It was an error to have Irwin be a 3-star general. 3-star and 4-star generals hold their ranks temporarily, as long as they occupy a 3-star or 4-star position. When they are transferred from one 3- or 4-star position to another, the President must re-nominate them for Senate confirmation. If an officer is relieved (fired) from one of those positions, he reverts to 2-star by operation of law unless awaiting retirement (and then only for 60 days). Irwin was court-martialed, so the Army certainly wouldn't keep him in a 3-star slot. They'd relieve him and he'd go to court-martial as a 2-star. See 10 USC 601.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Irwin: Take a look at a castle. Any castle. Now break down the key elements that make it a castle. They haven't changed in a thousand years. 1: Location. A site on high ground that commands the territory as far as the eye can see. 2: Protection. Big walls, walls strong enough to withstand a frontal attack...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in World Trade Center (2006)

Soundtrack:

Concerto for Oboe, Violin, Cello and Orchestra in D Major

A typical hollywood movie that tries to push the usual buttons

This movie obviously is trying to push that righteous, patriotic button in you. But it is over the top and all for no apparent reason.

I guess it comes down to whether these prisoners are more soldiers or prisoners. I would not think they would be so motivated and risk their life for what the Robert Redford character wants out of this whole situation. But as usual, the movie tries to stir up your emotion by throwing these righteous themes.

The battle scene seems discontinuous, with discrete stages instead the mayhem that should have been going on. So it made for a not so big buildup to the finale, which is the face to face confrontation of the good vs the bad guy.

Gandolfini is good as the insecure warden that has met his match. Redford is his usual self, being the quiet, strong type, always with the bigger and higher vision.