Top 50 Movies List #49

49. The Last Castle

This gem stars the excellent Robert Redford as disgraced Army General Eugene Irwin as he is imprisoned for disobeying a presidential order. With his record and status he could easily get a reduced sentence and serve out time in a lesser prison but Gen. Irwin feels that is not the honorable way to do this. For the men he lost he chooses to give up his life and serve his sentence.  There is under the command of the prison's warden Colonel Winter played by the late great James Gandofini. When the two men meet Col. Winter is an great admirer of Gen. Irwin. But as time progresses and Gen. Irwin's popularity grows admiration turns to resentment making Winter hell bent on showing that he is the law of the prison.

This movie is a well acted masterpiece led by Redford and Gandofini. As the two career military men play a very important strategic game of chess you feel the tension and consequence of each move. The 2 legendary actors are not alone as the are joined by Delroy Lindry and Mark Ruffalo. Lindry plays the best friend of Irwin, Brigadier Gen. Wheeler. Wheeler is also Winter's superior. Wheeler just wants his friend to give up this noble cause of serving time for the lives of the men he's lost and come home. Ruffalo shines as former helicopter pilot Yates. Yates was convicted of organizing a drug smuggling ring and is very anti social. As an outsider to the rest of the prisoner population who adores Irwin, Winter uses Yates as a spy to gain intel.  The final act of the moving is thrilling and moving battle for the prison with a great finish. This movie moves me everytime I see it and reminds me that there is still great acting talent in the good ole US.


This is My word, my code...Peace!


Brownbear