The Last of Robin Hood

This film tells the story of an underage girl who has an affair with the established and much older Hollywood actor, Errol Flynn.

I am not familiar with the background stories behind these people portrayed, but I feel that "The Last of Robin Hood" portrays them to be more restrained and muted than what the events really were. Errol Flynn in this film is portrayed to be quite a gentleman, while Beverley is portrayed to be having quiet displays of emotions. For example, after Beverley's first audition in Errol Flynn's home, she was on the brink of tears. I would imagine a teenage girl to have a much stronger emotional reaction than that. The only realistic display of emotions is in Beverley's 17th birthday party, when Beverley's mum argues with Beverley, drawing unwanted attention in the party.

Maybe the idea of this film is to draw moral questions to trading your soul for your career, hence the rather muted emotions in the film. I found it quite plain, but still an interesting film to watch.

"In like Flynn," a colloquial expression based on the dissolute life of Errol Flynn.

Because Kevin Kline looks like an aging Errol Flynn (he died at 50), it's easy to believe Kline's depiction of the swashbuckling roué from early 20th Century American film in The Last of Robin Hood. Yet, if you want really to experience the bad boy who gave Robin life, read his autobiography, My Wicked, Wicked Ways. Sadly this film is a dull, soporific take on the last years of Flynn.

Not that Kevin Kline doesn't have the ability to be roguish like Flynn, it's just that he appears to have been directed to underplay the famous rake, a letdown for those of us hoping to experience the wild wicked one. Instead, this Flynn is pursuing a much younger woman, Beverly Aadland (Dakota Fanning), with a feeling of entitlement and an ennui-subtle sense of "been there."

More interesting than the moribund Flynn is Beverly's mom, Florence (Susan Sarandon) -- a stage mom if there ever was one. Her machinations to get her daughter into films are almost unbelievable. When she realizes her underage daughter is sleeping with Flynn, the other side of her ambition, the love of a mother, rings true as a contrast. However, she allows the affair. To their credit, Fanning and Kline seem to care about each other to the extent that any moral outrage about statutory rape is slightly mitigated.

Although the script doesn't allow for the dramatic energy that should accompany his shenanigans, brightening the dim movie is Sarandon's ambitious mom with dorky glasses and fat—she steals whatever show there is to take.

So if you want to witness the quiet decline of a glamorous pedophile, the coda to Flynn's checkered life is gently carried out by Kevin Kline as if in hospice. It's the last of an outrageous actor. R.I.P.

Not worst than any other biographical motion picture produced by commercial American cinema, and certainly not up to the highest achievements in biographical movies made by this industry. But it is done not only with affection but with respect, even to that "moral majority" that causes so much despair and sadness all over the world, with its stern point of view that changes whenever the wind blows. And above it all the film is graced with very good performances by Kevin Kline as Errol Flynn, Dakota Fanning as Beverly Aadland and especially Susan Sarandon, splendidly restrained as Florence Aadland, a role that Shelley Winters would have turned into a thunderous bitch. I liked it and enjoyed it very much maybe because I like every now and then a bit of television, or maybe because I have always liked Errol Flynn, an actor that was so incredulous of his own talent, when as a matter of fact he was a wonderful performer of action and gallantry expressions.

Kevin Kline is perfect as Errol Flynn, so much so that I cannot imagine anyone else doing this better.

Not only does he look like Flynn, but he captures his charm and almost childlike attitude to life. OK he was an alcoholic who probably wasted his life and died too early, but those who knew him always say he was a charmer who could light up the room. Mr Kline carries this perfectly.

Much has been made of his attraction to younger women but what so many fail to realise is how common this was back then, and not just in Hollywood. Chaplin to Elvis it was just how things were. Not excusing it in anyway but we cannot re-write history because we find it distasteful.

Many of those chorus girls we see in those old musicals were very young girls and sadly it is the case that most married or had relationships with much older men. Flynn was one of those men but he was not alone by any means.

Back to the movie. Susan Sarandon did a great job as the manipulating mother who wanted fame and fortune for her child regardless of the cost to her emotionally.

Dakota Fanning plays her part brilliantly and seems to have captured this young girl who knew what she wanted even though she also knew how wrong it all was. It does seem she genuinely loved Flynn and him her, but it is hard to know the real truth of their relationship.

I think it is a shame that we didn't see more of Flynn the movie star, but I guess the time line for this film means he was past his best by then? If you like old Hollywood stars or just like good biopics then you should enjoy this movie.

We rented this DVD yesterday and enjoyed it thoroughly, thanks to the amazing cast, director, writers, editors, and everyone involved in recreating the awesome 1950s retro "look" of the film (super-cool furniture, cars, wardrobe, make-up, etc.) We love truthful biopics on Hollywood's greatest actors and this film stayed true to the real story, which was absolutely fascinating. The movie moves so quickly that there is not one boring second in the entire film! Kevin Kline, Susan Sarandon, Dakota Fanning should all get Oscars for their amazing performances. (Would love to see Susan Sarandon play Bette Davis in a biopic.) I think the real Beverly Aadland would be proud to see how her story was presented on film (she stayed dedicated and completely in love with Errol Flynn through her whole life). Highly recommend this film to anyone who loves the actors from The Golden Age of Hollywood. "The Last of Robin Hood" deserves way more than 10 stars! We need more amazing films like this!