THE LAST SHOT
US, 2004, 93 minutes, Colour.
Matthew Broderick, Alec Baldwin, Toni Collette, Calista Flockhart, Tony Shalhoub, Ray Liotta, Tim Blake Nelson, James Rebhorn. Cameos: Joan Cusack, Eric Roberts, Pat Morita.
Directed by Jeff Nathanson.
The Last Shot is a little-seen spoof of Hollywood – and very entertaining. The film opens with gang murders in New York City, 1985, followed by FBI investigations and set-ups to trap the Rhode Island mobsters. They concoct a plan to pretend to make a film in order to invite the Mob in to invest, take their bribes and deals, arrest them..
What seems on the surface a good sting turns out to be a strange adventure. Alec Baldwin is the officer who becomes a producer, selecting a screenplay by ambitious and hopeful director played by Matthew Broderick in his usual style. Joan Cusack has a good cameo as an agent.
The film is not going to made – but the agent gets so involved that he becomes a producer, the action is moved to Rhode Island instead of Arizona, the title of the film, auditions are held including the director’s girlfriend, Calista Flockhart as well as an eccentric actress played by Toni Collette.
Tony Shalhoub is a gangster, Ray Liotta is the head of the FBI task force. Tim Blake Nelson has a curious role as the director’s brother – daily performing at Disneyworld and being shot in the western re-enactment by his father.
The film was written and directed by Jeff Nathanson who wrote Catch Me if You Can, The Terminal, Rush Hour 3 amongst other films.
It is a pity that this rather funny spoof of Hollywood and its eccentricities is not better known.
1.A successful comedy spoof? Hollywood? The FBI? The links?
2.The Rhode Island settings, Providence, the Mob? Filming in Providence? The contrast with Los Angeles, Hollywood and its style? Musical score?
3.The title: shooting with guns, shooting with cameras? The interconnection? 1985 – allegedly based on a true story?
4.The familiar situation, the opening, the Mob, the shootings in New York? The criminals, the bosses? Joe, the interrogation, cutting off his fingers, not giving the sign, the work of the squad watching?
5.The plan, using Hollywood, Joe pretending to be a producer, his patter, the discussions with the agent and her frank and comic comments? The reaction of the members of the squad? Their ignorance of film, Hollywood, stars, technology? The script, Steven and his ambitions, their choice of him, the discussions, the offer, the restaurant meetings, the budget, Steven and his friends, Valerie? Entering into the spirit of the film-making? Joe becoming more involved, the theory of the con about making the film – and a move to a real commitment?
6.Steven, Matthew Broderick’s style, his brother Marshal and his work at Disneyland, his being shot each day in the performance by his father? The discussions with his agent? The agent and his age, being woken up, going to the deal, at the meal, happy – and dying at the press conference? Steven’s group of friends, the singers? As nice, Steven as enthusiastic, hopes, in memory of his sister? And finally discovering
7.that the sister was an invention? His vivid description of her journey through the desert – and the audience believing it real?
8.The script, the decision to go to Providence, Steven’s immediate reaction to the unsuitability of the city, locations, no desert, no cactus, the shed suggested for the Hopie Indian site? The lavish hotel – his suite and his willingness to adapt?
9.The auditions, the members of the squad watching, the cameraman wanting to work on the film? Valerie, her moods, the commercials, the relationship with Steven? Wanting to be Charlotte? Having to accept that she wouldn’t – and being satisfied with being the doctor? At the press conference?
10.Emily French, Toni Collette’s comic style, her look, reputation, the nomination, her accent, performing the suicide scene, Joe and Steven being overwhelmed? The squad watching? Her brashness, crass, her language, peeing in the restaurant, wanting to change the plot, accepting it?
11.The press conference, the information in Variety, the three-picture deal, the FBI wanting to be part of it?
12.The Mob, Tony Shalhoub as the criminal, getting interested in the film, the discussions about the unions, the Mobsters, the trucks? His wanting to interfere with the plot? Preparing the way for the boss to come?
13.The shooting of the film, Marshal and his arrival, the discussions with Steven, his acceptance? Emily and her arriving on the lot? The director on set? Steven’s excitement, the moment of his life?
14.Jack Devine’s arrival, stopping the production, Joe hitting him, capturing the first shot, the helicopter coming down and disturbing and disrupting?
15.Two years later, the preview of the film about the making of Arizona? Emily, the interviews on the red carpet, her comments on what had happened?
16.Steven, working in Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, taking the tickets, the stars and his future.
