The Last Castle

2001
R
2h 11m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

87K

YOUR RATING

Robert Redford, James Gandolfini, Delroy Lindo, and Mark Ruffalo in The Last Castle (2001)

Play trailer2:24

2 Videos

99+ Photos

Prison Drama Action Drama Thriller

A court-martialed General rallies together twelve hundred inmates to rise against a corrupt and sadistic warden.A court-martialed General rallies together twelve hundred inmates to rise against a corrupt and sadistic warden.A court-martialed General rallies together twelve hundred inmates to rise against a corrupt and sadistic warden.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

87K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 4 nominations total

Videos2

Trailer 2:24

The Last Castle

Featurette 3:36

The Last Castle: B Roll

Featurette 3:36

The Last Castle: B Roll

Photos116

+ 110

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
James Gandolfini was reportedly reluctant to accept the role of Colonel Winter because he didn't understand the story and had never served in the military. He committed largely on the strength of a lengthy speech Winter delivered in the original script. Ironically, the scene was cut from the final film.

Goofs
It was an error to have Irwin be a 3-star general. 3-star and 4-star generals hold their ranks temporarily, as long as they occupy a 3-star or 4-star position. When they are transferred from one 3- or 4-star position to another, the President must re-nominate them for Senate confirmation. If an officer is relieved (fired) from one of those positions, he reverts to 2-star by operation of law unless awaiting retirement (and then only for 60 days). Irwin was court-martialed, so the Army certainly wouldn't keep him in a 3-star slot. They'd relieve him and he'd go to court-martial as a 2-star. See 10 USC 601.

Quotes
Irwin: [narrating first lines] Take a look at a castle. Any castle. Now break down the key elements that make it a castle. They haven't changed in a thousand years. 1: Location. A site on high ground that commands the territory as far as the eye can see. 2: Protection. Big walls, walls strong enough to withstand a frontal attack. 3: A garrison. Men who are trained and willing to kill. 4: A flag. You tell your men you are soldiers and that's your flag. You tell them nobody takes our flag. And you raise that flag so it flies high where everyone can see it. Now you've got yourself a castle. The only difference between this castle and all the rest is that they were built to keep people out. This castle is built to keep people in.

Connections
Featured in HBO First Look: Inside the Walls of 'The Last Castle' (2001)

Soundtracks
Chiseled in Stone
Written & Performed by Dean Hall

User reviews361

Review

Featured review

8/10

Redford has the ability to fade

Redford's ability to fade into a character is profound. Sometimes an actor who has been in the business a very long time will become larger than any role he plays... John Wayne for example (with a couple of exceptions). He becomes Eugene Irwin in this movie. This movie isn't about Redford's character, just like "The Legend of Bagger Vance" isn't really about Bagger Vance. The Last Castle is about honor to one's self and honor among soldiers, even if they are prisoners. James Gandolfini's portrayal of a colonel who knows nothing of this honor or brotherhood is excellent. He makes you despise his character. Colonel Winters is a deeply disturbing study of corrupt power and jealousy of others' glory. A fine ensemble cast of characters make this movie well worth watching.