Barnes & Noble

This taut, spellbinding drama about unrest in a military prison employs Robert Redford’s commanding screen presence more effectively than any movie he’s made in the past 15 years. He’s perfectly cast as a disgraced Army general given a lengthy jail sentence following a sensational court-martial. Sent to a maximum-security prison commanded by a pretentious martinet (an oddly cast but nonetheless compelling James Gandolfini), the general clings to his code of honor as a means of impressing the disgruntled inmates, whose respect he eventually earns -- the hard way. Director Rod Lurie (The Contender) eschews gaudy narrative tricks in favor of leisurely paced storytelling, taking his time to establish the principal characters with tersely written expository scenes and carefully constructed situations. Little by little, he allows the audience to be drawn into the conflict that ensues when Redford and his fellow conspirators plot to seize control from the dictatorial commandant. There’s no histrionic showboating here; just direct, heartfelt performances from Redford and Gandolfini (with valuable assists from Mark Ruffalo and Delroy Lindo). Stark, uncompromising, but ultimately uplifting, The Last Castle pays tribute to the indomitable human spirit and demonstrates that redemption is a satisfying cinematic staple, especially when comes wrapped in resistance to tyranny. For the DVD, Lurie provides a feature-length commentary and also introduces deleted scenes. Also included are an HBO documentary on the film’s making (Inside Castle Walls), trailers, and production notes. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

Robert Redford stars in this action drama as General Irwin, a respected three-star tactician whose career ends in disgrace when he's court-martialed and sent to The Castle, a maximum security military prison. Irwin quickly butts heads with the facility's autocratic warden, Colonel Winter (James Gandolfini), who runs his command with an iron fist, even killing prisoners when he deems it necessary. Irwin rallies his fellow convicts into a rag-tag army and leads them in a revolt against Winter, an action that the warden is ready to repel by violent means. Mark Ruffalo, Robin Wright Penn, and Delroy Lindo co-star in this Dreamworks production, the third feature film from one-time film critic Rod Lurie. Karl Williams

Chicago Sun-Times

The immediate experience of watching The Last Castle is strongly involving, and the action at the end, exciting. Roger Ebert

New York Post

1/2
The story is a stirring vehicle for serious themes embodied by sharply drawn characters. Jonathan Foreman

Product Details

• UPC: 667068987027
• Source: DREAMWORKS VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital, DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound
• Language: English, Français
• Subtitles: English, Español
• Time: 2:13:00
• Sales Rank: 2,620

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