The Last Marshal

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.

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!

B-movies should be treated as B-movie. If you watch the previous condemning comments, well, I can agree to them at some extent but it should be noted that this movie offer a good characterization of the Marshal. A rough, tough, macho, reckless lawman whose approach to handle crime is out of date but proves to be effective, just like Dirty Harry's approach. However, he's also thoughtful, he feels uneasy for getting caught by a lady for uttering swear words. But Scott Glenn truly portrays this character convincingly, a man who's bold enough to assert himself as he is (of course by wiping out his enemies with style). Action scenes are mediocre, but what else do you expect? I think it's still not that bad.

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 love Scott Glenn's acting, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that I dared watching THE LAST MARSHAL despite its score of 5,0 and mostly negative reviews with the highest rating a 7 just like me. But I found it better than most of the naysayers would have said to deter me.

Cole McLeary (Glenn) is a tough Texas Marshall great in fighting, drinking and swearing that as you might expect isn't well seen by his superiors and colleagues tho Cole manages always to get results before them. Trouble isn't that far because as the movie begins there is a shootout in the church caused by Torres (Vincent Castellanos) and T-Boy (Raymond Cruz) and when they escape to Miami, Cole follows them. Once in Miami it wouldn't be easy for Cole as it ended up in a multi-racial environment and various upbeat guys, and as partner he's assigned Jamie, a young and hip guy that Cole doesn't exactly estimate.

After some investigations (not without some brawls, swearing, shootings and some reprimands by the superiors that came there without letting the viewer know but ok) Cole will find out that the mastermind behind the murders, drug traffic, kidnappings and many other things is DeClerc (William Forsythe), and Cole sets himself for take down the empire his own way (succedding) while also winning the affection of Rosa, so at least he has a soft spot in his heart after all.

Yes, I admit it that most of the characters are scum and most of the time you have to suspend disbelief (the reason why I don't rate it higher than 7) but Glenn was great in playing an irritable no-nonsense guy that hates everyone in equal measure and it's also the last of a breed as the title suggests. At times it was also fun, sort of like a cross between an episode of RENEGADE and one of WALKER TEXAS RANGER. And the ending when Cole manages to stop DeClerc's criminal empire after lots of mayhem it's certainly reason enough to watch it.

Overall, one of those thrillers that is best to be seen when you are tired and don't want to think too much, and also without reading the reviews first. Lot of fun and with a great performance by the lead.