The Last Stand
The Last Stand is a fun throwback to the days of formulaic but immensely entertaining Schwarzenegger-led films
After nearly a X since he headlinedTerminator 3 : wage increase of the Machines , Arnold Schwarzenegger is back with a starring role inThe Last Stand . During his time as California governor , the actor only committed to a few brief cameo appearances : most notably inThe Expendables- a theatrical role that was later expanded in its sequel , The Expendables 2 .
Korean managing director Kim Ji - woon was tasked with reintroducing the iconic activeness star ( now ten years quondam ) to the leading man spotlight . An particularly fitting challenge , given that the principal character in his young motion picture left Los Angeles to hold out his passive golden years in small town New Mexico . DoesThe Last Standprove that Schwarzenegger still has what it takes to be a worthwhile Hollywood lead world that can kick butt and spout memorable one - liner ?
While some movie fans might have write - offThe Last Standafter seeing a generic middle - of - the - route house trailer , the terminal film provide mickle of crowd - pleasing tantrum , exciting solidification - pieces , and an highly enjoyable performance from Schwarzenegger . In fact , not only does the age actor hold is own when going toe - to - toe with spoilt guys , he also totally squeeze his Hollywood persona , which will further endear looker to the quirks of his character . Out of context of use , the gags could be mistaken for a cinema that sample too heavily , but tantrum - to - scene , even the campiest here and now are worthy of a solid laugh . nitpicker will have an easy time challenging plot holes and logistics , butThe Last Standis unrepentant in its action - westerly aspiration - and give up where it really count .
The essence plot line is pretty straightforward - starting with the bally liberation of sadistic drug cartel head Gabriel Cortez ( Eduardo Noriega ) from Union custody . alternatively of assay a still disappearing via individual jet or a broken - cardinal border crossbreeding , Cortez hops into the number one wood ’s seat of a limited Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 for a mad ( and violent ) elan to Mexico . regrettably for Cortez , his flight from the law of nature is specify to take him through the local farming residential district of Sommerton Junction , and into the path of LAPD Tactical Forces Officer - turn - small town Sheriff , Ray Owens ( Arnold Schwarzenegger ) . As FBI agent John Bannister ( Forest Whitaker ) bucket along to catchup with Cortez , Owens and his deputies - along with the supporter of local weirdo / gunman enthusiast , Lewis Dinkum ( Johnny Knoxville ) - scramble to halt the drug lord and his team of mercenary from escaping across the Mexican molding .
The Last Stand ’s setup is unapologetically formulaic , and as mentioned before , filled with plot holes that require a hefty dose of disbelief suspending . Any endeavor to fill - out the relatively straight plot of land - supporting character electric discharge , nefarious exposition , or an underdeveloped twist - speed past without consequence and occasionally distract from the pacing in the kernel plot line . The film does n’t put out with deep or insightful dramatic play ; however , The Last Standpresents enough charming characters , cagy filmmaking choices , and downright entertaining ( sometimes gory ) action define pieces for an enjoyable experience . The third deed , specially , is full of crowd - pleasing shootouts and brawls that offer just as many surprises and humorous one - liner as there are bullet train yap .
Part of the winner is owe to a overbold mix of side character - both supporting purpose and townsfolk bite character . Onscreen , Noriega ’s Cortez - pair with that topnotch - powered elevator car - serves as a competent ' violence of nature ' opponent , even if his overall character is relatively standard . what is more , the assembled Sommerton Junction strength of Mike Figuerola ( Luis Guzmán ) and Sarah Torrance ( Jaimie Alexander ) - along with drunkard war veteran Frank Martinez ( Rodrigo Santoro ) - provides a good counterpunch - Libra the Balance to Schwarzenegger ’s crabby - but - honorable sheriff . Enjoying 2nd - billing in the moving picture ’s marketing , Knoxville ’s role as Dinkum is n’t that big , but his performance provides some of the more humorous moment . On its own , the gossamer elation on Dinkum ’s face while feeding bullets into a miniskirt - gunman is bound to help win - over at least a few cynics .
Still , there would be noLast Standwithout Schwarzenegger ’s bombastic - than - life-time persona . Despite a few scenes of to a fault - sentimental dialogue , where the legal action star come across as a mo stiff , Schwarzenegger carries the film . It ’s not a life history - alter performance , since Owens is mostly an of age Riffian on characters we ’ve seen the actor portray in the past . Nevertheless , he ’s the perfect booster for the spot depicted in the film . It ’s clear that to help separate Owens from the list of memorable Schwarzenegger role , the actor plays the lineament to his strengths - even incorporate some interesting self - referential banter about his history with Los Angeles . alternatively of distance this movie from his public role , Schwarzenegger smartly embraces it - especially when the action ramps up .
A few set pieces of vehicular manslaughter keep the plot of ground moving for the first half of the movie and some viewers will likely notice the overarching plot of ground to be stretched too thin upfront . However , the 2nd half of the picture provides one volatile setup after another - make wise use of main street Sommertown Junction and surrounding area . Most notably , a episode about two - third of the way through ups the ante - put up a prompt succession of crowd - pleasing moment that lead into a glossy ( albeit campy ) finis .
Director Kim Ji - woon finds a substantial balance between tall mallow and stylized activity with hisAmerican debut - while making impertinent use of a sympathetic and quirky roll of characters . Ultimately , The Last Standis a sport throwback to the sidereal day of formulaic but vastly entertaining Schwarzenegger - led films . After the actor ’s ten year respite , the gamble pays off this round , but with a healthy dose of in - maturation action roles ahead of him , consultation may be less excited about similar carrying out down the wrinkle . Yet , for now at least , watching Schwarzenegger fire shotguns and body shaft unsound hombre is as enjoyable as ever .
Johnny Knoxville and Arnold Schwarzenegger in ‘The Last Stand’
If you ’re still on the fencing aboutThe Last Stand , check out the trailer below :
-
[ poll id=“502 " ]
Jaimie Alexander as Sarah Torrance in ‘The Last Stand’
For an in - depth discussion of the film by the Screen Rant editors check outThe Last Standepisodeof theSR Underground podcast .
The Last Standruns 107 minutes and is order radius for strong bally furiousness throughout , and language . Now playing in theaters .
The unconvincing duet of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Johnny Knoxville team up in the activeness thriller The Last Stand by managing director Kim Jee - woon . When a disgraced LAPD call on Sheriff of a small townsfolk in Arizona is short caught in the heart of a manhunt for a notorious international cartel leader , he ’ll need to team up up with a offbeat vintage gun principal to assist the FBI in taking down the cherished outlaw .
