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In such case, The Last Shot is a worthy pick from
the menu.
An entertaining satire about both Hollywood and the government,
Jeff Nathanson’s film – loosely based on a true
story – centres on a hotshot FBI agent so determined
to catch a big-time mobster that he goes undercover as a movie
producer, knowing the crook will be attracted to doing business
with a feature that’s being filmed in his backyard.
Naturally, said agent doesn’t care about the movie he’s
making – so he doesn’t care that the movie’s
set in the Arizona desert but filmed in Providence.
Alec Baldwin plays the agent who gets in over his head as
a movie producer, in turn discovering his true calling, and
Matthew Broderick plays the small-time director who thinks
all his Christmas’s have come at once when he’s
hired to bring his movie Charlotte to life on screen.
But little does he know his movie will never come to fruition...
Both Baldwin and Broderick are having a heck of a time in
their roles, spitting out spirited, enthused performances.
Baldwin, the one you’d think would be playing the straight
man, is a hoot in the role of the slightly kooky agent. Good
to see him letting his hair down for once.
In lesser but no less memorable turns, Toni Collette, Tony
Shalhoub and Joan Cusack work magic with their slightly under-written
but intriguing characters too.
The Last Shot isn’t a fantastic film though –
it could have been a ripsnorter, but unfortunately turns out
it’s simply sweet, well performed and placidly droll.
There was a real opportunity to take the piss out of both
Tinseltown and the FBI here – but unfortunately Nathanson’s
script doesn’t go the Whole Nine Yards.
A great idea not as executed as well as it could’ve
been, but still it’s nothing short of entertaining and
the headline acts appear to be having the time of their lives.
Entertaining, if nothing else.
DVD Extras
The excellent assortment of extras includes a piece on 'the
real life guys' behind the movie - reuniting after so many
years - and an enlightening audio commentary.
Conclusion: Movie 70% Extras: 35%
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