
Gandolfini plays back his accent in an attempt to keep his character away from his 'Sopranoisms' but the script doesn't help him. He does this well as one would expect from an actor if his caliber.
#The last bastion netflix imdb full
Redford has an easy task playing an elder statesman, full of charisma and high principles. The cast are talented and do their best with a script that is not as good as their talent deserved. His direction is good and he handles the action sequences well (their weaknesses being in their writing, not in his delivery). Ex-Empire critic Lurie will always interest me because he had the guts to do what few critics could stop analysing others and make something themselves. It is not a great story by any means but it is workable and the director and cast are just about good enough to make the weak into the watchable, the empty into the entertaining. Happily it is also quite exciting for what it is and the temptation to scoff at it is delayed (slightly) by the distraction value of it. I won't say enough to spoil it for anybody, but the final sequence of events grows more and more unlikely by each passing event. The second half sees the film become increasingly illogical as the contest between Irwin and Winter intensifies up to the point where a slightly silly final action sequence. This half is OK mainly because the fatherly Redford makes his character work pretty well at this stuff it isn't brilliant but it is OK to watch. The first half of the film is a sort of drama, with Irwin teaching the men the respect and humanity that (supposedly) they once had as soldiers. The film is a mix of two types of film and it manages to do neither of them that well, but well enough to produce an enjoyable if forgettable film. Despite being a total box office flop, I was still sufficiently attracted by Lurie and the cast he had put together to give this film a chance (albeit on DVD rather than in the cinema). However as he becomes familiar with the practises within the prison, he cannot help but assume a leadership role bringing him into direct confrontation with Winter over the brutal, domineering methods he uses. Looking to just serve out his time and go home, Irwin tries to accept his new surroundings, but he finds that the men look to him with a respect that he wishes would go away.

Regardless of this though, Irwin must not abide by Winter's rules and become just another of the men.

General Irwin's reputation is still very much alive, to the point that the jail's commander has a certain degree of respect for him.

Stripped of his rank and sentenced to 10 years in a military prison, Lt.
