SoTrumpBelieve Must See Movie...

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RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Calum Hutton It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

lasttimeisaw Shoving injustice right in its audience's face, Hal Ashby's THE LAST DETAIL is an ethos-reflecting, profanity-riddled road trip of the titular detail - Navy signalman Buddusky (Nicholson) and seaman Mulhall (Young) are assigned to escort a young offender Meadows (Quaid) from Norfolk, Virginia to Portsmouth Naval Prison near Maine - that conveys hearty commiserations to the downtrodden and expresses remonstrance to the powers that be. An 18-year-old Meadows is unfairly subjected to a draconian 8-year sentence and dishonorable discharge for pilfering (in vain) 40 dollars, but Badass" Buddusky and "Mull" Mulhall can do nothing to rescind the penalty, since they are self-professed Navy "lifers", what they can actually do, is to show Meadows a good time before he is cooped up, and Robert Towne's scintillating script doesn't mince words of Meadows' bleak prospect in the brig, for a callow and innocuous boy like him, he will never pull through his pending trials and tribulations as the same person. A lofty but ponderous Randy Quaid superbly telegraphs Meadows' congenial naiveté in his Oscar-nominated coup de foudre for Actor in a Supporting Role (though fairly speaking, the triad should have shared an even-steven co-leading designation), and transubstantiates it to a force of unaffected pull that absolutely evokes compassion from even the most callous heart.The trio's hijinks entail the usual suspects of benders and attempts of making whoopee (the latter is underwent through an incredible Nichiren chant hookup and concluded with an altruistic gesture to put the kibosh on Meadow's virginity in a house of ill repute), and more thoughtful arrangements including a visit to Meadow's mother, whose non-appearance and the empty house quietly but pungently speak volumes of Meadow's ill-bred backstory, plus a wintry barbecue as Meadows' last request, where he executes his first and final crack of running away, then the ending expunges all the prior camaraderie to a terse farewell, no words, no looking back, Meadows is manhandled to a future shrouded by masculine turpitude, just like that and Ashby steely disobliges audience's anticipation of a sentimental halfway house, presents the red-tape asperity in its stead, Navy or Marine, they are all cut from the same rotten cloth. Nicholson chalks up Cannes' BEST ACTOR laurel and parlays it into an Oscar nomination with his cynical ebullience and biting disillusion that encapsulates the signs of its times, concealing his profound distress that an innocent spirit is going to be snuffed and the damning incapacitating feeling that he can do nothing about it. Otis Young, also gives a thoroughly credible job as the contrarian-turned-sympathizer with a more reserved and practical make-up, provides a sober perspective from the sidelines (often tallies with the camera arrangements centering a barnstorming Nicholson). When the snare drum rolls in the end, one wonders what does "last" stands for in its title, apparently it doesn't mean "final" because both men have no alternative but return to the military service, yet as a cinematic travelogue cogently and frankly registers America's ennui and angst in the post-Vietnam War era, "least suitable" might find more grounds in its context.

christopher-underwood Having recently watched two immaculately directed movies from each end of the 70s, the wild gore fest that is Fulci's, Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979) and the wondrous Tristana (1970) from Bunuel, I am thrust into the laid back, let it all hang out world of Hal Ashby. Both the other films it is clear that the director has a clear visual and complete control, even if they are starkly different films. Here Ashby delights it letting, things happen. Nicholson was clearly given his head and allowed to let things run, not only away from his director, but himself. Nevertheless there is something endearing about Last Detail and I'm sure its director would agree that a fixed notion of what was going to happen all the time would have ben too stifling for him. For me one result of this casual approach is that not everything works and the actors seem to be having more fun than me but maybe that's too harsh. Certainly worth seeing and influential in its own way. For good or bad.

powermandan The Last Detail is one of Jack Nicholson's finest films and performances. With Jack Nicholson, that's saying a lot. It was also Randy Quaid's breakout film that he has never topped. I am simply a fan of road films, so it was only natural for me to dig this. But this is a movie where there is more than meets the eye.Nicholson plays "Badass" Buddusky and Otis Young plays "Mule" Mulhall. They are two Navy guys who are sent to escort 18-year-old seaman Larry Meadows (Quaid) to a Navy prison. Meadows tried to steal $40 from the Commanding Officer's wife's charity box, but he never actually succeeded in getting. But he is still getting eight years behind bars. Badass and Mule have a few days to get him there and see it as a vacation for them. But they soon learn that Meadows is an unassertive wimp. So both men decide to show the youth a good time before he is sent to the slammer. Along the way, Meadows becomes more assertive and able to survive in prison, and Badass and Mule learn more about what they've been doing.The characters in this are so real and likable. Badass is sarcastic daring. Mule is more straight- laced who often disagrees with Badass' proposals. Meadows is the one caught between two opposite sides of the Navy, personified by his escorts. But of course, it is Badass that is the most influential. The scene that really makes the movie take off is when they go to a bar to get some booze. Meadows is too young and he doesn't care if he has any alcohol. But Badass gets into a scuffle with the bartender. Next, he asks for melted cheese on his burger at another restaurant but doesn't get it. He doesn't care, but Badass gets the waiter to bring another burger the way he wants it. Other misadventures occur, topped off with the men going to a whorehouse. But the two older men begin to worry about how their endeavours will effect back home. The ending is pretty open, but it seems like Badass and Mule will get out of the Navy once and for all.If there is a complaint I have, it is that this movie lacks the energy and steam that are possessed in other road films like "Road Trip" and "Dumb & Dumber." If the movie had more flair and wasn't very flat, then this would perhaps be my favourite road film. But that barely hurts the film. The situations that the three get in are all great and the character development is strong and perfect. This really is a special and inspiring film about self-esteem.

Vidhead I just love the scene late in this film where the characters are trying to have a barbecue in that cold snowy park...everything about it wreaks of desperation; of bleakness. It is also nostalgia fuel for me...taking me back to teenage days in cold rainy parks drinking cold beers with friends...trying to get the party going when the elements are primed to crush you. No, this isn't a review, no need for that...that's been well covered here. I just need to add my words of love for this film. I probably watch it once a year but only recently got a handle on why it's like (cold) comfort food to me. It's that frozen sausage sizzle and the nostalgic chill it sends through me...go figure.