AndersonVision Best Films of 2017: #10 – LAST FLAG FLYING (Amazon Studios)
LAST FLAG FLYING REVIEWED
“Last Flag Flying” is the sequel to “The Last Detail”. But, Richard Linklater didn’t want to feel beholden to the original Hal Ashby classic. So, what to make of this film? Did Randy Quaid grow old into Steve Carell and kinda get his life together. The same goes for Nicholson to Cranston and Otis Young to Laurence Fishburne. Still, this film feels obligated to that original. Obligated as in the skeleton remains the same.
Whether if it’s about two military cops busting a scared punk or two older bastards making peace with cheating a friend…the story remains the same. People are garbage when selfish and can only find purpose when working together. Watching them try to lie and then tell the truth to an elderly Cicely Tyson only reinforces what’s going on. This is a movie about optics and meaningless crusades. A father abducts his veteran son’s corpse, so he can give him the funeral he wants for his son.
Two friends agree to help a father in his quest, because they can’t bare to tell him the truth about ruining his life. Everyone pities each other, but nobody can be bothered to tell the truth until they have no other choice. I love that Linklater digs heavy movies, but I always feel the resolutions are a bit lacking. Ultimately, that’s what keeps the movie from being an all-time favorite. It’s one thing to make people come to terms with their grossness. But, it’s another to say HEY, WE’RE ALL ASSHOLES!
FILM STATS
- 2 hrs and 5 minutes
- R
- Amazon Studios
This Article was mentioned on brid-gy.appspot.com
This Article was mentioned on brid-gy.appspot.com