LAST MAN STANDING

US, 1996, 101 minutes, Colour.
Bruce Willis, Christopher Walken, Bruce Dern.
Directed by Walter Hill.

Bruce Willis has well made his mark as an action hero who lives hard and dies hard. Here he lives hard but does not die hard (the others do) as in a Texas shootout in the 30s, between two minor bootlegging gangs, he is the last man standing. The ads say rather well, `In a war there are two sides - John Smith is on both'.

This is a Walter Hill film. Walter Hill has written and directed tough action films for decades. More recently they have been of mixed value. He has been absorbed by western icons, Geronimo, Wild Bill. Now he is back to what he does best: a tough, male, confrontation that combines realism and a stylised visualising of American violence that is designed to involve us and make us think. And here he has done it very well. Many may find it too grim and brutal, but there is much more than the surface violence. Tough re-working of American myths.

1.The films of Walter Hill, tough male action? His interpretation of a macho world, violence, crime, right and wrong?

2.The film based on Kurosawa's Yojimbo and the Samurai between warring factions in the village? As interpreted as a western? In the west of Prohibition and the 1930s? The Japanese themes and characters paralleling those of the US?

3.The widescreen photography, the Texas town and countryside, the remoteness of the town, the roads, the dust? The hotels, the headquarters of the gangs? The church? The musical score and its forcefulness?

4.The action sequences, editing? A film of violence and blood? Using the conventions of the western and the gangster film?

5.The title, its focus on John Smith, its tone, expectations of western shootouts?

6.The technique of the voice-over, Bruce Willis and his tone, the touch of cynicism, irony and frankness? The perspective of John Smith on himself and the events? The explanation of his past, enigmatic, working with gangsters, for the money? His elaboration of his character, of his actions, of the issues? His moral stances and their ambiguity? His decisions about right and wrong, good and evil?

7.The opening with the church, the cross, the woman in prayer? The issues of good and evil? The contrast between hope and cynicism? The use of the church and Christian symbolism?

8.Smith in himself, Bruce Willis's screen personality? Driving, the car, his being on hire for money? His moral stances? The '30s, Prohibition, the gangs in the east, the gangs in Texas? His looking at the woman and the consequences for himself? The tyre and his having to stay in the town and get the car fixed?

9.The focus on the warring factions? Doyle's group, the Strozzis? The bootlegging of the '30s, the bosses in the east and their underlings in the west? The road convoys, the use of Mexico? The tough stances, the bosses, their henchmen, bodyguards, the use of violence? The macho attitude towards women and using women? Violence and cruelty? The build-up to wars? The style of the gangsters and their self-importance?

10.Smith and his ability with the gun? The confrontation of the various groups, his ability to shoot, quick reactions? The overtures of each group? His thoughts about each of them? His going with the prostitute and being set up, the shootouts? Smith and his dealing with each of the gangs, his motives, the deals, the uncertainties? His ability to set up each side against the other? His encounter with the prostitute, not blaming her? His going to the sheriff, his corruption, his assistant as a spy? The information about the convoy, the build-up of threats about Hickey? Smith turning into an avenger for those who suffered?

11.The motif of the undertaker, the coffins in his window, his raising his hat continually to Smith?

12.The sheriff and his attitude towards the law, in the pay of Doyle, feeding him information? A sleazy attitude towards life? His assistant, watching, giving information? His survival in the town? His interest in Smith, the final decision to help Smith? Covering for him, supporting him, his survival? The overseeing of the ranger and his keeping his position?

13.The bar and the barman, hard times, his staying in the town? Helping Smith, friendship? Being humiliated by the gangs? His ultimately helping Smith, the shootouts, his avenging himself?

14.The prostitute and the women in the west, her story about coming from New Orleans, setting up Smith, her reaction and his getting her out of the town?

15.The encounter with Strozzi's girlfriend, her setting people up, her humiliation, being used, giving Smith information? Smith and his support, helping her to leave?

16.The Mexican woman, her being taken, being used by Doyle? Her prayer and the church? Her being helped to escape by Smith, going back to her family?

17.Doyle as a thug, a little man, sleazy, bad-tempered? His gang - and their being shot by Smith? His convoy and its being ambushed? His desire for revenge? His reliance on Hickey? The meals, his good humour, using the Mexican woman? The build-up to the war against the Strozzis? Destroying them, going to the hotel, burning it down - and thinking Smith was destroyed?

18.The Strozzis and the parallel with Doyle and his gang? His loud cousin, petty criminals, their style, presumptions, their deaths?

19.The contact with the Mexicans, Ramirez and his being bought off, assisting the convoy, turning on the drivers, the massacre? The visit to Mexico and the death of Ramirez and the American contacts?

20.The ranger, his responsibility for Texas, his talking with the sheriff, with Smith, the time limits for the gangs to destroy each other? His lack of a moral perspective, his just wanting law and order?

21.Hickey, Christopher Walken's style, the build-up to his arrival? Henchman for Doyle? The killings, to Mexico and Ramirez? The friendship with Smith, the double cross? The gang realising that they had been double-crossed by Smith, his helping the girl escape, destroying the hotel? The final shootout with Smith and the talk about Hell?

22.The hotel, the destruction and the hellish symbolism? The final set-up, the shootout, the church - and Smith's survival?

23.Smith going on to similar kinds of action? The survivor? The film as a strong and violent, macho morality play of the '90s, an American interpretation and dramatisation of good and evil?