Photo: DreamWorks Pictures
Explosive star-power meets spectacular action when Robert Redford (3 Days of the Condor) goes up against James Gandolfini (TV’s The Sopranos) in this powerhouse action-thriller. His service to his country made him a hero. But one mistake made him a prisoner. For General Eugene Irwin (Redford), it’s just a matter of serving out his sentence—until he makes the shocking discovery that his fellow inmates are being murdered. Now, Irwin is taking command one last time—and unifying the inmates in a desperate battle to overcome a brutally corrupt system and show the world the truth. Directed by Rod Lurie (The Contender), The Last Castle crackles with action, drama, and a top-notch cast that includes Mark Ruffalo (Avengers: Infinity War), Paul Calderon (King of New York), Clifton Collins Jr. (187), Robin Wright (Unbreakable) and Delroy Lindo (Get Shorty).
For thoughts on The Last Castle, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
The Last Castle debuts on 4K UHD Blu-Ray courtesy of Kino Classics with a fetching 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that has been remastered by Paramount Pictures from a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative. This release does come with a Blu-Ray disc which is derived from the same 4K master, which looks pretty similar to the Blu-Ray put out by Paramount in 2021. While those who are not 4K UHD capable may not want to leave behind their older Blu-Ray for this one, judging from comparisons to the new Blu-Ray, it is easy to see that there are some welcome improvements with the 4K UHD Blu-Ray. This is not a visually jaw-dropping film, but this release allows it to look like the best version of itself.
The Dolby Vision provides very natural, deep colors throughout that lean towards a desaturated aesthetic to mirror the hopelessness of prison. Black levels are given more depth and detail in the shadows and other darker spaces. Highlights are brighter with more stability while avoiding instances of blooming. The firm hand on the contrast and overall clarity is never in question, especially in unique details within the confined production design and the costumes. With the 4K UHD release, the transfer is practically immaculate with nothing in the way of softness or fluctuation. The natural film grain thankfully remains intact while always resolving naturally free of clumping and swarming. With this, you are treated to a world of texture and detail within the transfer which brings out new dimensions to the frame. Kino Classics has delivered this thriller with a very strong presentation.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray presents the movie with a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio lossless track that executes this soundscape effortlessly. While this might be a title that would benefit from a Dolby Atmos track, things sound terrific with the original audio. It proves to be a powerhouse while remaining within its original creative confines. The surround channels provide some distinct texture to the space as each scene reveals little nuances that make the world feel three-dimensional.
The directionality of the sound is precise throughout with no careless placement. The low end packs a wallop when the scene calls for it with some rich texture. The Jerry Goldsmith score establishes the perfect tone which radiates out with pleasing fidelity. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear as it plays well with competing elements. The track capably executes the layers of sound so nothing turns into a mess. This audio presentation is a pleasant experience for fans. There are optional English subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Rod Lurie delivers a very informative archival commentary track in which he recalls various aspects of the production including the development of different scenes, why he was drawn to the material, the shooting locations, the visual aesthetic of the film, the casting and collaborative process, and much more that gives rich technical details that film nerds should appreciate.
- Rod Lurie on The Last Castle: An 11-minute piece in which the director reflects on where he was at during this point of his career, his excitement over working with Robert Redford, convincing James Gandolfini to commit to the film, finding a location for the prison shooting locations, and more.
- HBO First Look – Inside The Walls of The Last Castle: A 15-minute vintage featurette in which the cast and creative team offer a broad overview of their characters, explore the narrative, and more to promote the film.
- A Hero’s Farewell – A Discussion on the Alternate Ending: A three-minute look at an unused ending for the film.
- Deleted Scenes: There are nine unused scenes totaling nearly 15 minutes provided with optional audio commentary from director Rod Lurie.
- Trailers: There is a two-and-a-half-minute trailer provided for The Last Castle. There are also trailers provided for 3 Days of the Condor, Havana, and Indecent Proposal.
Final Thoughts
The Last Castle is a pretty engaging crowdpleaser, but it is not one that holds up under serious scrutiny. This thing survives on its star power, and luckily it has that in spades. Robert Redford is a very capable protagonist opposite a towering James Gandolfini in a role designed to be jeered. Watching the ensemble bouncing off of one another is magic, but the underlying narrative stretches credulity (even by prison movie standards) and leans a bit too much into patriotism. Several threads seem to lead to nowhere, but you do not realize it in the moment due to the propulsive energy of the movie. With a bit more finesse, this could have been a classic, but, as it stands, it is a fleeting weekend distraction. Kino Classics has given this one a 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrade with a great A/V presentation and some legacy special features. If you long for the days of mid-budget studio films, this will hit the lazy weekend viewing sweet spot. Recommended
The Last Castle is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.