À contre-courant

Scott Glenn is about the only reason to sit through this routine cops and action thriller that plays like McCloud in Florida--if McCloud were a violent racist redneck. At least that's how the movie starts out. Scott Glenn spews a stream of anti-Mexican racial invective in the opening sequence that is amusingly nasty and also brings to mind some of the more edgy elements of the first Dirty Harry movie. Actually The Last Marshal works pretty well until Glenn's character is sent to Florida on the trail of two suspects--then the movie not only turns into a standard issue fish out of water thriller but becomes spineless--once Glenn is paired up with a hot Hispanic female partner he becomes such an emotional softie that Alan Alda in his salad days would probably have been embarrassed. Scott Glenn is a fine actor and always worth watching, but it's a shame that he only gets leads these days in straight to video junk like this. Movie does at least have a sense of humor about itself, which helps.

I rented this movie because I had a coupon for a free rental. I am glad that I did not have to pay because it is not worth paying for. The acting was very stiff and the editing was bad. The story could have been handled much better and when I read the back of the box I expected a sort of Miami Vice like movie but as it turned out Miami Vice had much better acting and much better dialog. If the four letter words were removed from the script this would have been a silent movie!

Although cliches abound, this is an interesting film.

The acting of Randall Batinkoff, was quite subtle and appealing. Scott Glenn was focused and consistent with his characterisation. The direction by Mike Kirton, his first effort, was quite acceptable and his extensive stunt background was apparent. The score, editing and enthusiastic performances by the rest of the cast, many of whom obviously studied their roles, were noteworthy. Glenn's softening was blessedly unconvincing. There was enough torture and violence to warrant a "gratuitous" rating.

As noted above this film borrows from every action film of the last 25 years. It's part Dirty Harry, part Death Wish, part Lonewolf McQuaid and part Terminator 2 (sans robots). The plot is just ridiculous and has so many flaws, but that is what makes the film.

Cole McClary is brilliantly racist homophobic US Marshall. The dialogue throughout the film is just farcical. The scene where he arrives in Miami and meets his new partner (who introduces himself as Don Johnson) is pure comedy gold.

This film taught me lots I didn't know about the US Marshalls and the DEA. For example, DEA agents must have training in the art of ninjitsu. It's acceptable when rading a house to snap the neck of a guard. Speedboats can catch motorbikes. US Marshalls can commit extra-judicial executions. When your drug deal/party is busted, gun down all of your guests. If you're a Marshall, you needn't worry about not reporting the people you kill. That's OK.

A quality film. A definite must for fans of classics such as Death Wish 3.

Scott Glenn carries this exciting, yet flawed action film. The set up in Texas has Glenn not exactly following the book in a hostage situation. He then is assigned to Miami, hot on the trail of the two killers who escaped from the Texas mayhem. The first and final part of "The Last Marshal" is superior to the middle, which bogs down in a not believable romance. There are other problems relating to how certain people just happened to show up at certain locations, but these flaws can be overlooked, in favor of lots of action, and some impressive stunts. For an action film, you could do a lot worse than "The Last Marshal" - MERK