Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Last Man Standing Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 28, 2023

Building a directorial career with features about hard men finding themselves in deep trouble, Walter Hill enjoyed industry growth throughout the 1970s and early ‘80s. He favored western-style storytelling with elements of psychological strain and physical violence, winning audiences with efforts such as “48 Hrs.” and “The Warriors.” This approach began to lose its potency in the late-1980s, but the next decade was especially rough on Hill, who struggled to blend his helming interests with studio projects, striking out at the box office with “Geronimo: An American Legend” and “Wild Bill.” 1996’s “Last Man Standing” represents something of a last gasp from Hill, handed money and star Bruce Willis to help transform a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s “Yojimbo” into a major action event, turning samurais into prohibition-era gangsters for noir-ish growling and posing. For the opening two acts, the production is on to something, with Hill offering confident direction and command of mood, creating something interestingly mean with the material. The picture eventually loses its way, limping to an abrupt finale, but there’s enough here to pass, identifying Hill’s gifts with leathery moviemaking before his big-league career was permanently derailed.

Smith (Bruce Willis) is a man of violence looking to make a change in his life, finding his way through Texas, making plans to visit Mexico. He makes a stop in Jericho, a largely abandoned town populated by two gangster families seeking to control bootlegging interests in prohibition-era America. Smith makes a mistake when he takes a long look at Felina (Karina Lombard), the enslaved mistress of Irish crime boss Doyle (David Patrick Kelly), with one of his enforcers making sure to trash the outsider’s car. Settling in for a stay in Jericho, Smith makes a strong impression when he kills one of Doyle’s men, impressing Fredo (Ned Eisenberg), head of the Strozzi family. Smith is ready to make some money in Jericho, aiming to play both gangster outfits against each other while Sheriff Galt (Bruce Dern) watches from afar, unsure what the stranger is up to. Smith is steely and capable, but he’s weak around women, looking to save Felina from Doyle’s obsessive ways, while the little man’s top enforcer, Hickey (Christopher Walken), isn’t ready to trust the shadowy individual, playing a long game of intimidation as Smith plans out his next moves, looking to eliminate both families.

Jericho is located in the middle of nowhere, and “Last Man Standing” certainly looks to sell such isolation. Hill drains the feature of most colors and brings in wind machines to generate an arid hellhole for the gangster families, who’ve relocated from Chicago to keep booze running in the U.S., establishing a truce to secure business interests. Smith’s arrival is unexpected, and his presence is immediately rejected, giving “Last Man Standing” an initial boost of hostile energy as Doyle’s gang makes the first move, wrecking Smith’s car and threatening him with weapons, which is something he doesn’t take kindly to. The stranger is a killing machine, armed with handguns he wields like samurai swords, easily mowing down challengers, which helps to establish his value to both families, while the locals, including Joe the bartender (William Sanderson), welcome this disruption to everyday mistreatment.

Hill looks to establish some emotional pull with Smith’s attachment to women, encountering Lucy (Alexandra Powers), who’s being used by Fredo, and he’s focused on Felina, a frightened local who’s being held by Doyle. Female entanglements are fine, but “Last Man Standing” works best in gangster mode, with Hill using chewy narration from Smith to set the tone of the feature, and performances are mostly in line with Hill’s vision, keeping the families burning with rage while Smith remains icy, observing danger before he has to take lives.

“Last Man Standing” builds a reasonably compelling network of relationships and accusations, though Hill gets a little lost in the blizzard of last names at times, with the movie more tell than show when it comes to establishing members of the gang. Scheming and double-crosses are enjoyable, along with challenges to Smith, who’s always ready for an ambush, even in mid-coitus with a prostitute (Leslie Mann). “Last Man Standing” isn’t exactly a joyride, with Hill aiming to supply an oppressive look to the film and remain with irritable, power-mad characters, but there’s momentum to the effort’s opening hour, following Smith as he plays with allegiances and looks to thin the herd with both families, facing a particularly nasty foe in Hickey, who has a defined facial scar and he’s quick with a Tommy gun, with Walken leaning into the threatening presence in full.

Last Man Standing Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Last Man Standing" originally appeared on Blu-ray in 2010, presented on a double feature disc with "The Last Boy Scout." It returns to disc with a solo release courtesy of Shout Factory, who list the viewing experience as a "New 2K scan of the interpositive." "Last Man Standing" carries a distinct look, with Hill aiming to offer a monochromatic understanding of border town life, increasing mood with a heavy, dusty orange look during Jericho tours, while time in other locations carry a yellower appearance. Other hues are generally downplayed during the run time, with cooler looks on gangster characters, while females are permitted sharper reds and blonde hair. Skin tones are natural. Detail is softer but appreciable, with rough textures on gangster faces, including makeup work on Walken's character. Suits and dresses are reasonably fibrous. Town tours are dimensional, and depth remains with rural confrontations. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is adequately resolved. Source is in good condition.

Last Man Standing Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix is handled with authority. Dialogue exchanges are defined, working with more animated performances from the gangsters, while Walken elects for a raspy whisper to convey intimidation. Intelligibility isn't an issue. Scoring offers compelling support, with clear instrumentation, including guitar stings and deep brassy rumbles. Musical moods push out into the surrounds, joined by some atmospherics, tracking rain storms and whipping winds. Sound effects are appreciable, with booming gun fights and acts of violence bringing some low-end weight.

Last Man Standing Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:06, HD) is included.

Last Man Standing Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Last Man Standing" takes a tumble in the final act, with Hill cheating a bit to put Smith in a world of danger, finding sudden carelessness after an hour of sharpness giving the writer a shot to generate a revenge scenario, which fuels the climax. The pace of the effort is slowed, almost to a full stop, and Smith's pleasing game of manipulation is abandoned for a more graphic conclusion that doesn't satisfy. Hill gets routine instead of insane, skipping on a chance to really dig into town tensions and probe the muddy depths of Smith's sense of honor. The picture doesn't find a way out of the mess it creates, but it's a pleasingly rough ride before it stumbles with storytelling. "Last Man Standing" plays to Hill's strengths as a director, working with showy actors and atmospheric locations, and this practiced approach results in some prime moments of screen tension and a few furious gun battles, summoning some diverting gangster aggression in a hellscape setting.