The Last Castle 2001

Critics score:
52 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Bruce Newman, San Jose Mercury News: A movie that is so dumbdumb it almost overshadows the beguiling performances of its stars, Robert Redford and James Gandolfini. Read more

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: The Last Castle is not a movie you want to think about too hard, because if you do, you'll find yourself facing some tough questions. Read more

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: The Last Castle often feels choppy, as if chunks of connecting narrative had been lopped off in the editing room. Read more

Ebert & Roeper: Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: The Last Castle, while engrossing in parts, might have benefited from more pre-shooting talk about what makes an intriguing character -- and what makes a star performance. Read more

Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News: A gripping, improbable tale. Read more

Elvis Mitchell, New York Times: A problem drama suffering from a steroid overdose. Read more

Cody Clark, Mr. Showbiz: Polished prison-flick popcorn. Read more

Jan Stuart, Newsday: An intermittently witty script and Rod Lurie's assured direction triumph over the cornball factor. Read more

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: This stand-up-and-cheer picture is the right movie at the right time in the right place. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: It's not objectionable (which is saying something these days) but neither does it have any compelling reason to be seen. Read more

Houston Chronicle: Read more

Paul Tatara, CNN.com: Starts out Pretty Good, then it turns Silly, and finishes up Really Dumb. Read more

Steven Rosen, Denver Post: If Castle isn't offensive, it is deeply stupid. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Here, as in that overheated political circus The Contender, Lurie demonstrates his weakness for heavy-handed 'topical' dialectics. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: When the screen finally darkens and the doors open for our release, we come away mildly entertained by the experience, although definitely grateful to get off with time served. Read more

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine/Vulture: Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: A rousing adventure film that entertains despite a raft of plot implausibilities. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The immediate experience of watching The Last Castle is strongly involving, and the action at the end, exciting. Read more

Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com: The themes that ring out most loudly in the end -- some men are just born leaders; others do best if they just conform -- are numbingly retrograde. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: The Last Castle is not as simple as it looks, though its appeal is simple. Read more

Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: It seems a lot longer than that before this movie finally gets moving, but the character development is worth the wait. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: Hefty star power is wasted in this overheated drama. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: Read more

Michael Atkinson, Village Voice: Bizarre, confused, sanctimonious manure. Read more