The Last Word

This movie, starring Michelle Burke of "Little Men" TV series, is about a journalist with connections to the mob who falls for a stripper with a dark past. His best friend then drags him to L.A. with the intent of becoming actors.

The movie sounds like an interesting story, but the plot drags with no suspense and action. There is a lack of emotion and intrigue, with no surprises. What is strange about this movie is that we have big stars like Cybill Shepherd, Richard Dreyfuss and Jimmy Smits appear as extras, next to lesser known actors who are the leads. Plus, the movie poster depicts Dreyfuss's picture as the largest, yet, he only has about 4 min of screen time.

I was bored one night and decided to watch this film, as I enjoy watching some TV works by Michelle Burke and Roma Downey of "Touched by an Angel" TV series. But, this movie was, unfortunately, pretty mediocre and dull. I would overlook this one.

Grade F

Don't miss this one. It has a behind the scenes of Hollywood storyline, celebrity cameos, mob action, beautiful music, threatened friendships, but what makes it a must see is the love story between Timothy Hutton and Michelle Burke (Dazed and Confused). They fall helplessly in love despite the fact that he is recently separated from his wife, and she is a stripper with a dark past. It's no masterpiece by any means, but interesting entertainment and a good love story with a realistic ending.

This is not quite the thriller it appears to be in plot summary. While there is some violence and more sex and romance, this is more about Timothy Hutton's ethical choices as a writer. As such, it has some very good moments and fine acting by Hutton, Burke and Pantoliano. The pace is rather slow at first and you may find the ending disappointing, especially if you're looking for shocking revelations. But it's worth seeing.

THE LAST WORD is by accounts a terrible movie. It has a score of 4,8 and only 7 reviews with the most recent for it (July 2007) that gives it a 1 and two that give it 10s so it's certainly suspicious. Last June I finally saw it and you certainly don't have to think like the crowd... I found it good.

Martin Ryan (Timothy Hutton) is a writer and journalist that in the beginning is seen signing his new book in a nightclub when his friend Doc (Joe Pantoliano) is seeking his help because two mob hitmen want to break Doc's legs for no specific reason. Ryan falls for stripper Kiki Taylor (Cybill Shepherd) unknown of the fact that Kiki has mob connections just when he has to write a new book about the subject. As Ryan writes he uncovers various truths and Doc makes him meet Stan (Tony Goldwyn), an influent movie producer that can make his book in a movie. After the book is written the movie is made and Martin will become richer and finally with the woman of his dreams.

The acting was good, not surprising with Hutton, Pantoliano, Goldwyn and Richard Dreyfuss in a five minute cameo. The concept fresh for 1995 and the atmosphere just like the one you find in at least 100 other movies of the genre. Not to be missed if you stumble upon it, and I think that OllieSuave-007 is talking of a completely different movie, so he shouldn't be trusted.

First of all, I love kinda movies like this one and I consider myself lucky of having watched it last weekend in my former girlfriend's flat because she has always been a b-movies freak and so."The last word" is for me a deep story about cranks, a worn femme-fatale and the dummies of Hollywood.The resentful and witty character of Doc, a close friend of the main character that Timothy Hutton hides more than shows, stands out in a so powerful way that at the end, you realize that you was taken in about him.The girl is beautiful and confused -Michelle Burke acts sensitive and finally splendid compounding her Sara/Caprice character.Althought Hutton triumphs in his mission revealing the ambiguous talented guy, corrupted gleefully by Hollywood, Joe Pantoliano -incredible actor- offers a new dimension sticking behind Hutton every time he appears in scene, stealing the whole film. He is the ultimate anti-hero and villain, slave of his own contradictions, master in dupe business, putting up with his proper suffering, rejected by the woman of his partner(probably Sara is also the woman of his dreams)in this game of personality mirrors which deserves a warm and cautious approaching as well as passionate comprehension.