6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
John Smith, an amoral gunslinger in the days of Prohibition, happens upon Jericho, Texas, which has become a ghost town since two warring gangs have 'driven off all the decent folk.' Smith sees this as an opportunity to play both sides off against each other, earning himself a nice piece of change as a hired gun.
Starring: Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern, William Sanderson, Christopher Walken, David Patrick KellyThriller | 100% |
Crime | 85% |
Action | 79% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
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.
"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.
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" 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.
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