A Brilliant Conflict

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

This movie was excellent not for it's historical accuracy but for an entertaining experience with good acting by all. I found this movie moving, exciting, rousing, and imaginative. There is enough action throughout to keep anyone satisfied. This is a must see movie for all fans of western movies. This is a taught Western, rather than a rehash of old conventions. The film established itself as its own study in the demoralization of men of violence. There is no right or wrong in this story, in the last analysis, only the struggle for survival, and a final contest between two strong men. A brutal yet thoughtful presentation of such a struggle, leaving some questions to the audience for answer. The highest marks go to the cinematography, and the editing that enhances it. This is a gorgeous film, visually, despite its troubling content.This movie is Enjoyable and i would encourage others to watch it too.

I recall this film since way back to its debut on HBO where it was produced for the small screen. The Last Outlaw might have seemed like a throw-away effort back in those days as many of us were still mesmerized by the character-driven epic Unforgiven. With The Last Outlaw, the emphasis is clearly on action and suspense. Nobody is attempting to re-define the genre with this picture. The film was written by Eric Red, and directed by Geoff Murphy. The films these men are associated with often rely on action and violence to get their message through. This film is no different.The film begins with an obvious homage to the opening moments of The Wild Bunch. A posse of desperadoes, this one led by Mickey Rourke, rides brazenly into a small town with the intent of robbing a bank. And just like in The Wild Bunch, there is a group of men ready and waiting for them. A violent shootout complete with explosions ensues, and the gang is forced to ride out of town in a hurry. They are shot up and bleeding, but at least they got the money! Once the gang is safely out of town, they stop and regroup. Tensions between leader Rourke and his lieutenant Dermot Mulroney quickly boil over about leaving a wounded man behind. Rourke is shot and left for dead. But he sure as heck isn't dead. The rest of the film details the remaining gang members' attempt to flee to Mexico with a posse from the town hot on their trail. And Rourke, through some interesting complications, finds himself reincarnated as THE POSSE'S leader! Nothing will stop him from hunting his old gang down and killing them off one by one! Dozens of gunshot victims from both sides are soon strewn across the New Mexico countryside.The film has a lot going for it. The cast is uncommonly talented for such a film simply made for cable. Rourke is as good as ever. Mulroney has never impressed me as an actor, but he sure looks like real a cowboy.Great support from Ted Levine, John C. McGinley, and Steve Buscemi, among others. Even the guy who plays Fraker in Death Wish 3 has a part as a cocky town marshal. The scenery of the countryside surrounding Sante Fe is quite breathtaking, and the DVD transfer makes it look even better than it did on cable. Most of the cowboys in this film are said to be former Confederate soldiers. Many still wear items from their old CSA uniforms. And there is talk of how Union soldiers raped and murdered Rourke's wife and daughters while he was off fighting. This is perhaps what made him such a hardened killer. This angle is likely inspired from Eastwood's Josey Wales character, though it is common knowledge that many of the Confederacy's more violent types headed west after the war since there was nothing left for them back home.The film has some flaws, as it is not a true classic of the genre. Some of the action is truncated, and gunfights are often used simply to trim down the number of active characters so we the audience can hopefully keep up with them all. It looks like many of the horses on this set were perhaps treated pretty rough. Many stunts involve horses falling to the ground or having to climb treacherous hillsides. I just hope none were killed like they were on the set of Heaven's Gate. Also, Keith David's character was a bit out of place. Not because he's a black man with a bunch of former rebels, but because they have him trying to use voodoo bones to predict who will die next. Kind of dumb, unless they would have developed it more. The film's brief running time just probably didn't make deep characterization possible for everyone. And it must be said that there are some VERY graphic killings for a western. People don't just simply get shot and we see them fall off their horse from thirty feet away. Some guys get turned into goo!! Overall this is a fun, and diverting western. Probably a bit better than it deserves to be. 8 of 10 stars.The Hound.

In this movie I saw at least 10 actors whom I've seen in other movies, (6 of whom I also knew by name) and my memories of most of them were pretty good.. when I read the cast-list for this movie I thought: "WOW, MAN!...this ROCKS!" - so I decided to see this so-called "Exciting Western"... And boy, was I disappointed...words cannot express my feelings of misery after watching this load of meaningless carnage... All these excellent actors, with all that potential, and what are they given?... a handful of cliché-lines, and a bullet in the head (or some other place where blood can spurt out in a ghastly way).Well, Mickey Rourke did a nice enough job...he portrayed this heinous criminal very well, and did all he could do with this ridiculous script..Dermot Mulroney did a much better job in "Young Guns", but was somewhat believable in this role too...very sympathetic guy. Steve Buscemi...aw, man... my favorite actor in this almost-star cast... I can just say: "WHY??" - I thought his character had some interesting background-information (wearing a northern state-army hat), but we never get a chance to know his character before he "exits" in a quite disturbing fashion.. (even though I saw it coming when he started to talk about his "Hacienda" and his future plans, etc). Keith David, a cool guy, but not such a lovely character....I didn't understand what the hell happened to him... his departure was a mystery.... I also thought he was better in "the Quick and the Dead". John C. McGinley, I've always liked this guy...but he doesn't make sense in this movie either.. why does he have to be a 'knife-man'... when he NEVER even uses the knife for anything, other than accidentally cutting himself...and the 'traitor'-part...money out of the window? such a stupid script.. All the others are great actors, but they're all totally wasted in this feeble adventure... the sheriff, the banker, the possé, EVERYONE gets it...except...well, you figure it out for yourself.But in some sense, I still liked it, because of the great locations, and some good scenes (where people die, of course)... They probably won't make a sequel to this, but a PREQUEL would certainly kick more ass than this did!..a movie where the gang of these intriguing characters go berserk and raid banks and stuff, and how we get to see their development, etc.I give this 5/10, because....well, because I liked the cast, and gore is always somewhat entertaining.. and cowboys are so rugged and cool!

It's a bad film I've ever seen !!!!!!!What happened with Mickey ? It's just a bloody story with some guys shooting !!!! And I think Mickey is a real Devil & Dermot Mulroney is not a leader,I want to say he did the wrong thing. If he's good leader,people should 100% trust him,but some of them want to kill him for living. 5/10 is a sensible marks !!!!!!