THE LAST STAND
US, 2013, 106 minutes, Colour.
Arnold Schwarnezegger, Forest Whitaker, Eduardo Noriega, Rodrigo Santoro, Luis Guzman, Peter Stormare Johnny Knoxville.
Directed by Jee-woon Kim.
Well, critics and bloggers alike are declaring, ‘He’s back’, so why not confirm to the trend!
Yes, Arnold Schwarzenegger, after eight years as governor of California, has gone back to his day job. He has brought his screen talents back (acting not reallybeing one of them), his iconic screen presence, his accent and intonations, his persona as a terminator of bad events and people. It’s all here, with a vengeance, so to speak.
The leader of this enterprise is director Kim who has had a strong career in Korea as a director of sometimes bizarre films, with a propensity for violence. He is the director of the pastiche of spaghetti westerns and Korean horror, The Good, the Bad and the Weird. And, of course, he brings something of each of these to this, his first American film.
The basic plot is standard. We are in a small border with Mexico town of Somerton. It is the sheriff’s day off. Some truckies are at the diner. The town is quiet, but the sheriff is suspicious. He has every reason to be. Meanwhile in Las Vegas, the FBI are about to transport the deadliest drug boss since Paolo Escobar to federal prison when he is whisked away and is heading for Mexico through Sommerton in the fastest of cars.
Will the small group of law enforcement in Sommerton stop him? Is the Pope catholic!
Guns galore, so lots (and lots) of shooting as Arnie and co confront the drug lord and his henchmen, to the amazement of the FBI boss who arrives when it is all over.
The thing is with the former governor is that when he was a film star, he delivered a lot of his lines in dead-pan throwaway and that is what we expect from him. In the midst of mayhem, a corny moment and a laugh. (This time here are quite a few at the expense of his age!).
We know what to expect and it is given to us Korean weird style. If that is not enticing, then don’t go. If it is, then you can expect some adrenalin rushes.
Forest Whittaker is the FBI chief. Eduardo Noriega is the charmingly sinister drug boss. Rodrigo Santoro is the Iraq War veteran who is in on the act as is Johnny Knoxville, taking time off from Jackass films and TV (though keeping the spirit in his character and mock heroics).
Yes, he’s back and there are more of these movies in the offing.
1. State tensions expectations for an Arnold Schwarzenegger film? The blend of crime, the Mexican border, traditions of the west and, the FBI? Familiar material?
2. The police, locals, the FBI, driving issues at the border?
3. New Mexico, the locales, the town of Somerton junction? The look of the border, the ravine, the desert? A quiet town? The police, the jail, the diner, farms, truckies, the contrast with less of a kiss? The world of the FBI, cars, buildings? The musical score?
4. The work of a Korean director? The touch of the weird?
5. Action taking place over one day, the sheriff's day off, a day of life and death?
6. Arnold Schwarzenegger, back to movie-making? His popularity, an icon? His accent, dialogue delivery? His character, the sheriff, day off, his deputies, seeing them out shooting with Lewis, friends? The Mer, parking his colour in the wrong zone, and the later use of the car zach's mark in the diner, seeing that Rockies, following them, confronting them, the attempt at a payoff? The inter cutting with the work, the bridge and the back of the truck, preparing for the escaped? The farmer on his tractor, the attempt at a deal, his son and Blackie death?
7. Sarah, her role as a deputy, with Jerry? His jealousy of the iraq veteran? Correct in mark the veteran, in jail, his drinking, the effect of his service in Iraq? Mike, is reliability, friendship with ray?
8. The situation in Las Vegas, the FBI agent, his staff, the car with the prisoner, the perfect operation, the car magnets, lifting the car, the shooters, the escape?
9. Cortez, his reputation, taking the agent with him, the high-power and colour, his character, talking, confident, ousting the agent?
10. The FBI, handling the situation, disbelief, the phone call to a Ray, not believing him, the decision to drive, arriving too late?
11. Getting ready in the town, ray, the guns, Lewis and his museum, the veteran guns? Mike, Gerry, Sarah? The people in the diner and their wanting to him brehel what was happening? The veteran and his being sworn in as a deputy? Getting the bus?
12. The last stand, like a western, the truckies rumor, coming into town, the snipers, Burrell,, he is steering correct its attitudes, shooting, Jerry being killed? Sarah upset? The maneuvers with the bus? Killing the snipers? Barrel and his comeuppance? Ray being wounded?
13. Cortez, driving, coming to the town? Being stopped by ray? The cars, the race, to the border? Ray and the physical fight with Cortez? Dramatic? On the bridge? Cortez and his offer an offbeat and some dollars? Ray and his integrity? Chain in Cortez to the car, dragging him into town? Handing him over to the FBI? Ray and his being wounded?
14. The return of the car owner and his dismay? Sarah and the veteran? Ray and his day off?
