THE LAST CASTLE

This is a powerful, action-packed prison drama with a patriotic finish. Its central conflict between a court-martialed general and a military-prison commandant gives the film fertile ground for themes of honor, duty, integrity, country, leadership, and traditional military values.

The cost is substantial language. The review notes about 70 mostly strong obscenities, along with additional profanity. The violence is active but not excessively gruesome or offensive, and the rest of the movie is relatively clean and moral.

If you are an adult—or are deciding for an older teenager—who can handle the language and violence, this is worth seeing for its stirring moral and patriotic message. For children and young teens, choose something else.

General Eugene R. Irwin, a Vietnam War hero, is court-martialed for disobeying a presidential order that cost eight lives. Sent to a castle-like military prison, he hopes only to serve his time and go home.

But Colonel Winter, the prison’s no-nonsense commandant, feels insulted by Irwin. As Irwin earns the respect of prisoners and defends a mistreated young private, the two men move toward an unavoidable confrontation.

Four stars means this is a highly entertaining, morally forceful film. The ending is rousing and action-packed, and director Rod Lurie shows a flair for shooting battle scenes. The script creates fertile ground for the final patriotic message.

James Gandolfini gives a superb performance as the controlled, tightly wound Colonel Winter. Robert Redford may be somewhat miscast as the heroic General Irwin, but his charisma and acting abilities are undeniable.

The plot follows familiar prison-drama patterns, with some predictable developments. Even so, the strong performances, action, and patriotic finish make the film effective.

The film presents a light humanist worldview, but it holds that perspective in check enough to deliver a powerful prison drama. It exalts honor, duty, integrity, country, good leadership, and traditional military values. It also implicitly condemns gambling and authoritarianism.

The movie’s patriotism is more inclusive and less self-righteous than the patriotism in the director’s previous film, according to the source review. Still, the film’s moral vision remains incomplete because it does not exalt God or the Bible. Its focus is on human courage, leadership, and national loyalty rather than on the Lord as the foundation of freedom and morality.

The film’s best leadership qualities align with Scripture when authority serves others rather than dominating them. “Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3).

This is a stirring, well-acted prison drama that honors duty, integrity, leadership, and country. Its strong language makes it unsuitable for children and young teens, but discerning adults may find its action and moral seriousness worthwhile. WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other family viewing, see.