Last Castle, The MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +3 Content: -2

Lieutenant General Eugene Irwin (Robert Redford), a legendary military leader, ends his career not with retirement, but a court-martial and a 10-year sentence in a military correctional facility. Colonel Winter (James Gandolfini), the facility commander, determines to treat Irwin like any other prisoner. But Winter is torn between admiration and envy of the generals war record. One of the prisoners tasks is rebuilding a wall from the original prison. At one point a segregated job, Irwin teaches the prisoners that the wall belongs to them all. What was punishment under Winter becomes a source of pride as all the prisoners pitch in to work the wall. Irwin survived a POW camp in Vietnam but can he survive the punishments handed out by Winter? This classic battle of wills becomes a patriotic inspiration for audiences.

The clash between Winter and Irwin hinges on differing views of people. Winter looks at prisoners’ records and sees the worst they can be. Irwin looks at the prisoners and inspires them to be their best, recalling the pride they had a soldiers. Winter collects historical war trophies which Irwin says are for those who never saw war. A soldier sees them as instruments of pain and death. Although he sheds his rank as a prisoner, Irwin demonstrates that leadership is not based on rank but earned by action. Surviving a harsh punishment wins Irwin bartered cigarettes, but he distributes them to others. When he sees Winter’s abuse of power, Irwin determines to capture the “castle.” Using medieval weapons and tactics, he leads the prisoners in a revolt, not to escape, but to remove Winter from command. Unfortunately, this inspiring story features many obscenities and crude terms. Although much of the violence is not lethal, graphic injuries are shown as men are hit w/batons, kicked and shot with rubber bullets. Without the foul language, THE LAST CASTLE could be a positive experience for older teens and adults.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Dreamworks SKG, 1000 Flower St., Glendale, CA 91201