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The Last Castle
Review by Mike Furches (Mike's bio)
Distributor: DreamWorks Pictures
Cast: Robert Redford (General Irwin), James Gandolfini (Colonel Winter), Mark Ruffalo, Clifton Collins, Jr., Delroy Lindo, Robin Wright Penn, Samuel Ball, Steve Burton (Lt. Peretz), Frank Fox (Augie).
Director: Rod Lurie (The Contender, Deterrence; next up is Knowing; he's also got another prison project, Clink, Inc in development)
Screenwriters: David Scarpa (debut) (first draft); rewrite by Graham Yost (Broken Arrow, Speed, Hard Rain)
Filming: Production started on March 19th, 2001 in Nashville, Tennessee at the old Tennessee State Prison, on a budget of $50-60 million. (7/9/01) Filming wrapped in late June, 2001.
Genres: Action, Crime, Drama
Official Site: http://www.thelastcastle.com
MPAA Rating: R (for language and violence)
Despite our best efforts the reality of it is that we have all made mistakes. Even the best of men are not perfect. The Last Castle is a movie that constantly reminds the viewer of the consequences of their actions and their need for deliverance. It is also a film that questions when is enough, enough? Robert Redford plays the part of General Irwin who is wrongfully imprisoned for insubordination after pleading no contest in his court marshall case. At first, Warden Colonel Winter, played exceptionally well by James Gandolfini is excited that a legitimate war hero is going to be in his prison. He believes that he and Irwin have much in common but it isn't long before he realizes that the attributes that made Irwin a great and respected general are not what Winter had envisioned. The maximum security military prison has many problems and following an old military tradition it doesn't take long for Irwin to learn that the stench starts at the top.
Colonel Winter is a military man who refuses to see the good in any of the inmates. He also focuses on the wrong they have done as opposed to the potential they might have. While it is true that each inmate is born into sin and has committed sin, it is also true that each has been appointed a gift that is of value and needed for the cause of the many. After all, the Marines and Armed Services only take in good men. It is just that sometimes those men and their talents need more development than what they are given opportunity for.
General Irwin does not have the desire initially to rekindle his old military background. He is content to serve his time and get out to spend time with his grandson and daughter. While he is ready to abandon his training it isn't long before his own value comes to the forefront. The inmates know that Irwin has an ability that they don't and they desperately want and seek his leadership. While he has to earn it for many of the men it is after he is willing to show that he is there to serve them and help them that others jump on board. They quickly realize the value of servanthood and determination. Irwin even refuses the offer of freedom for his crime by a friend and superior officer of Colonel Winter. He instead chooses to stay at the prison and take on the enemy, Winter, for the sake of his fellow inmates. The inmates see and know that Irwin is willing to lay his life down for them and they quickly realize that there is no greater love that anyone could have. Irwin has a way to show outsiders, inmates and other guards the deceptive nature of the enemy. While he has an obvious understanding of Colonel Winter, Winter never truly understands where General Irwin's real power comes from.
Irwin sees the value of each individual and begins to provide the leadership that has as its main point of focus, the abilities and talents of the inmates. They are each uniquely gifted and Irwin even sees gifts in those with disabilities and character flaws. It isn't long that those individuals realize they have strengths and talents they can offer to the good of the community. They begin to see their own abilities and talents after Irwin helps them and those around them see. General Irwin becomes in many ways like a pastor developing the strengths of his congregation to overcome an enemy. An enemy that gives the appearance of an angel but is really covered with darkness. While Irwin thinks that he would rather give up on his own purpose and intent he knows that he has a mission of deliverance for the inmates he is there to serve. He knows that someone has to set them free from the darkness of Winter. It isn't long before the true colors of Colonel Winter comes through. He represents death, destruction, pride, revenge and power. He has no grasp of servanthood and refuses to see or accept his own imperfections.
General Irwin plays a wonderful Messiah figure in The Last Castle. He seeks to set the captives free from serving and leading them. Those that choose to follow him are eventually set free but not in a physical way but instead in more of a spiritual way. Jesus said, "I come to seek and save the Lost." He was also willing to offer Himself up as a sacrifice not just for the sins of each person in the world but also so each person could find spiritual freedom from the captivity of their sins. While Irwin can't give eternal life to the inmates the analogies are still many. Their is a final firey battle where deliverance is possible but sacrifice will be required. The Last Castle provides a wonderful opportunity to begin discussion with seekers as to the similarities between Irwin and Jesus. While Irwin falls far short, there is enough comparisons that the point of Jesus sacrifice could easily come home.
The Last Castle is as good of an analogy of Christ as I have seen in a movie in some time. It is far from a perfect movie but it is still a very good one that should do well in the box office. The old Tennessee State Prison gives a good example of the Hell that many live in. It also shows a wonderful picture of spiritual deliverance and the sacrifice that is required for freedom.
While not perfect I'll still give it a good spiritual rating of 7.77
Copyright 2001, Mike Furches. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
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About Mike Furches: Mike is the senior pastor of United at the Cross Community Church in Wichita, Kansas. The church, located in the inner city of Wichita has a unique ministry to former gang members, drug addicts, prostitutes and others often neglected by the church. Mike also is involved in freelance writing and speaks nationally. Check out his web page for more information: http://www.furches.org/ E-mail Mike |
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