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Movie Review - The Last Shot
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
Jeff Nathanson |
| Starring: |
Alec Baldwin, Matthew Broderick, Tony Shaloub, Ray Liota, Joan Cusack, Toni Collette,
and Calista Flockhart |
| Rated: |
R (for language and some sexual content) |
| Length: |
93 minutes |
| Genre: |
Comedy/Crime |
| Tagline: |
The true story of the greatest movie never made. |
| Studio: |
Touchstone |
| Website: |
The Last Shot |
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PLOT
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An FBI agent, in an attempt to capture a higher-up in the mob, becomes a movie producer. According to the
previews, it's based on a true story too. I believe it's true, because, to paraphrase Teaspoon (Young Riders
shout out, yo!), anything that absurd has to be true.
Alec Baldwin (Joe Divine) is an FBI agent who is trying to nab Tony Shaloub (Tommy the Black), a mob type guy
who is John Gotti's cousin or something like that. When he finds out that the mob is requiring bribes in order
for the teamsters to work on movie sets, thus controlling whether or not a movie is made, he decides to set up
an elaborate scheme. He goes to Hollywood, posing as a producer, and finds Matthew Broderick (Stephen Shats) who
has written a movie called Arizona. He buys the screenplay and hires Broderick as the director as well.
Hilarity, of course, ensues.
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MS. CALI'S TAKE
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Disclaimer: I originally saw this move about a year ago in a special test audience screening.
When I saw it, it was called The Big Picture, which I think is a MUCH better title. What's up with movies
that have perfectly good working titles changing them to terrible titles before release, ala
Twisted? Anyway, seeing that it was so long ago that I saw it, there's probably
a lot that has changed in the movie. Also, there are probably a lot of details that I've forgotten, but since, as
I said, a lot probably has changed, if I make something up or leave something out, you'll never know,
will you?
The acting in this movie is great. I'm a huge fan of Tony Shaloub from his TV show, Monk (and yes, as
Antonio on Wings), and Joan Cusack never goes wrong (if you ignore the TV show). In this movie, she's a
hot shot Hollywood exec-type who gives Alec Baldwin tips on how to act like a producer.
The writing is also great. The idea behind the movie is an original one, and it is well carried out. The movie
is a comedy, but not really of the slapstick kind. Most of the jokes are at least somewhat intelligent, and
genuinely funny, although there are a couple of really stupid jokes that I hope they left out of the final cut (one
pretty disgusting). I told them too in the little review I had to fill out after I saw the screening. If they're
smart, they would listen to me, but hey, these are the same people that changed the title to The Last Shot,
so I'm not holding my breath.
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ODDS & ENDS
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- Speaking of Baldwins, the youngest brother, Stephen, has decided to break with the tradition of his family
and support Bush for re-election. If you watch any entertainment TV shows (or live in LA where it's just "news")
you already know this.
- Ms. Cali is watching The Daily Show's coverage of the RNC while she types this, and thus feels a connection
to Stephen Baldwin.
- If Ms. Cali has to hear Arnuhld say "Girlie Man" one more time, she might have to drive up to Sacramento and
let him know exactly what she thinks about his "governatorship."
- Johnny Betts provided the screenshots with captions for this review. Aren't they hilarious?
- Ms. Cali has a headache right now and is just rambling...
- Ms. Cali will shut up with the Odds and Ends now.
- Johnny Betts knew a girl in high school named Calista. She went by "Clis." Johnny will make no further
comment.
- Random Josh Brolin connection (not involving Alec Baldwin being Stephen Baldwin's brother): Willam Belli
(Bus Stop Drag Queen) was in American Wedding with Alyson Hannigan, who was in Almost Home with
Brittany Murphy who was in an episode of Boy Meets World, which starred William Russ, who was in both an
episode of The Young Riders and all the episodes (all the too few episodes I should say) of Mr.
Sterling with Josh Brolin ... who am I kidding, Johnny, I'm not even going to Kevin Bacon anymore! William
Russ was also in the short-lived TV series Nasty Boys with Don Franklin and Melissa Leo of The Young
Riders. He also played Wild Bill Hickock in an episode of Legend - Stephen Baldwin of The Young
Riders also guest-starred on an episode of Legend, and the show starred John de Lancie, who played
Wicks in an episode of The Young Riders (and also Q on Star Trek). William Russ is also married to
Clare Wren, who played Rachel on the 2nd and 3rd seasons of The Young Riders.
- The game should really be Six Degrees of William Russ apparently.
- And Johnny Betts thought *he* knew how to ramble!
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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Would Johnny's mama like it? Maybe in a more edited-for-TV version. There is some bad language, and a few bad scenes,
although nothing graphic that I can remember. Definitely not one to bring the kids to.
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TRAILER COMPARISON
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The trailer I saw in the theater didn't really give a good sense of the intelligence and originality I liked so
much about this movie. I hope that doesn't mean they edited it out. However, as far as the plot goes, what you
see in the trailer is pretty much what you get.
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THE GIST
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The Last Shot is a great movie with a completely absurd plot, true story or not. But the absurdity does
not really matter, because the movie is well-written, well-acted, and a lot of fun.
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