THE LAST ACTION HERO

US, 1993, 130 minutes, Colour.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, F. Murray Abraham, Austin O’ Brien, Art Carney, Charles Dance, Frank Mc Rae, Tom Noonan, Robert Prosky, Anthony Quinn, Mercedes Ruehl, Ian Mc Kellen, Joan Plowright, Tina Turner, Angie Everhart, Bridgette Wilson, Colleen Camp.
Cameos: James Belushi, Chevy Chase, Leeza Gibbons, M.C. Hammer, Little Richard, Robert Patrick, Maria Shriver, Sharon Stone, Jean- Claude Van Damme, Melvin Van Peebles, Damon Wayans.
Voice: Danny de Vito.
Directed by John Mc Tiernan.

The Last Action Hero, unfortunately, was not the success at the time that it was hoped it would be. Arnold Schwarzenegger had established himself as an action hero with such films as the Conan series as well as the two Terminator films. In later years, Schwarzenegger also showed a sense of humour in his pairing with Danny de Vito in such films as Twins and Kindergarten Cops. In this film, he is able to send himself up and enjoy himself while doing it.
Brien (The Lawnmower Man) is a young film addict who watches the film with the help of the projectionist, played by Robert Prosky. He is able to see a new Jack Slater (Schwarzenegger) action film in advance but is given a magic ticket by the projectionist. This means that he is propelled into the film and the action takes place with the characters not knowing they are merely in a film but thinking they are in real life.

The arch villain is Anthony Quinn but the suave, very British, Charles Dance gets all the good sinister lines. As the action increases, with chases, explosions, the villain is able to go back into the real New York world. Jack Slater and the boy have to follow – and save Schwarzenegger from attack. The film is amusing with the real Arnold Schwarzenegger, and his wife Maria Shriver, appearing at the premiere of the film, the real Schwarzenegger not being such a pleasant character.

The supporting cast is very good, many of them just having brief appearances – like Joan Plowright giving a class on Hamlet and showing a scene from Olivier’s Hamlet (her husband) and the young boy imagining Hamlet with Schwarzenegger as an action hero with guns. Ian Mc Kellen does a satiric turn on Death from Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal. Mercedes Ruehl is the boy’s mother. Tom Noonan acts the part of the villain as well as of himself.

The film was directed by John Mc Tiernan, best known for action films such as Die Hard.

1.Arnold Schwarzenegger on screen, over the years, his image, action hero, style, laconic, idiosyncratic phrases?

2.The film as a spoof, Schwarzenegger sending himself up? The contrast with the real Arnold Schwarzenegger appearing at the premiere, with his wife, the interviews? The contrast with Schwarzenegger as Jack Slater?

3.The title, expectations, the nature of Hollywood action heroes?

4.The jokey tone, the poster with Sylvester Stallone as The Terminator, Ian McKellen? as Death via Ingmar Bergman, the parody of the killer slasher, the villain with his smiling eye…? The variety of cameos and the humorous tone?

5.New York City, ordinary, Danny and his world, at home, with his mother? His going to the movies, the theatre, the auditorium, the projection room? The big theatre for the premiere? Danny and his friendship with Nick? The film out of focus, going to the projection room? Nick and his story of Houdini and the magic ticket?

6.Danny going to see the Jack Slater film at midnight, creeping out after his mother went to work? Jack Slater in action, the range of sequels? The hyper style of the action? The Mafia types, Vivaldi and Anthony Quinn, Charles Dance as the suave British villain, Benedict? John Practice, F. Murray Abraham and his portrayal? The bombings, elimination of rivals, murders? The literal crane shots, the exaggerated action? The police, their work behind the scenes? Slater and his solving the mystery – but with Danny helping because he knew all the lines from the previous films? Benedict bewildered by this?

7.Slater and his belief in himself as real, in Los Angeles as a policeman, his ex-wife and phone calls, the meeting with his daughter, the lieutenant at the desk roaring at him, the precinct?

8.The dangers, Benedict, trying to find out who Danny was, the pursuit, getting hold of the ticket? His killing of Vivaldi?

9.New York City, Benedict and his killing someone and calling out, in vain, for people to arrest him? His deal with the Ripper?

10.Danny back in the real world, his advice to Jack, going home, introducing Schwarzenegger to his mother? The real world and guns a blanks, fake money, the car and the real crash? The encounter with Death?

11.Schwarzenegger at the premiere, with Maria Shriver? The interviews, the questions, the stars and the cameos? Schwarzenegger meeting Slater – thinking him a good double? The Ripper and his being unmasked, going into action, down the curtain, the attempts to kill Schwarzenegger? Slater coming into his own as the action hero?

12.Nick, finding the other half of the ticket, being advised by Death, his sending Slater back into the film world? The importance of Slater’s speech about being a figment of the imagination and how important that was?

13.Slater’s return, with the lieutenant, telling him to quieten down, going to work?

14.The film as a tribute to movies, their effect, people who have a love for the movies?