[FilmReview]TheLastDetail(1973)8.1/10

acinematictraveloguecogentlyandfranklychartsAmericasennuiandangstinthepost-VietnamWarera.Shovinginjusticerightinitsaudiencex27;sface,HalAshby’sTHELASTDETAILisanethos-reflecting,profanity-riddledroadtripofthetitulardetail-NavysignalmanBuddusky(Nicholson)andseamanMulhall(Young)areassignedtoescortayoungoffenderMeadows(Quaid)fromNorfolk,VirginiatoPortsmouthNavalPrisonnearMaine-thatconveysheartycommiserationstothedowntroddenandexpressesremonstrancetothepowersthatbe.An18-year-oldMeadowsisunfairlysubjectedtoadraconian8-yearsentenceanddishonorabledischargeforpilfering(invain)40dollars,butBadass”Budduskyand“Mull”Mulhallcandonothingtorescindthepenalty,sincetheyareself-professedNavy“lifers”,whattheycanactuallydo,istoshowMeadowsagoodtimebeforeheiscoopedup,andRobertTowne’sscintillatingscriptdoesn’tmincewordsofMeadows’bleakprospectinthebrig,foracallowandinnocuousboylikehim,hewillneverpullthroughhispendingtrialsandtribulationsasthesameperson.AloftybutponderousRandyQuaidsuperblytelegraphsMeadows’congenialnaivetéinhisOscar-nominatedcoupdefoudreforActorinaSupportingRole(thoughfairlyspeaking,thetriadshouldhavesharedaneven-stevenco-leadingdesignation),andtransubstantiatesittoaforceofunaffectedpullthatabsolutelyevokescompassionfromeventhemostcallousheart.Thetrio’shijinksentailtheusualsuspectsofbendersandattemptsofmakingwhoopee(thelatterisunderwentthroughanincredibleNichirenchanthookupandconcludedwithanaltruisticgesturetoputthekiboshonMeadowx27;svirginityinahouseofillrepute),andmorethoughtfularrangementsincludingavisittoMeadow’smother,whosenon-appearanceandtheemptyhousequietlybutpungentlyspeakvolumesofMeadow’sill-bredbackstory,plusawintrybarbecueasMeadows’lastrequest,whereheexecuteshisfirstandfinalcrackofrunningaway,thentheendingexpungesallthepriorcamaraderietoatersefarewell,nowords,nolookingback,Meadowsismanhandledtoafutureshroudedbymasculineturpitude,justlikethatandAshbysteelydisobligesaudience’santicipationofasentimentalhalf-wayhouse,presentsthered-tapeasperityinitsstead,NavyorMarine,theyareallcutfromthesamerottencloth.NicholsonchalksupCannes’BESTACTORlaurelandparlaysitintoanOscarnominationwithhiscynicalebullienceandbitingdisillusionthatencapsulatesthesignsofitstimes,concealinghisprofounddistressthataninnocentspiritisgoingtobesnuffedandthedamningincapacitatingfeelingthathecandonothingaboutit.OtisYoung,alsogivesathoroughlycrediblejobasthecontrarian-turned-sympathizerwithamorereservedandpracticalmake-up,providesasoberperspectivefromthesidelines(oftentallieswiththecameraarrangementscenteringabarnstormingNicholson).Whenthesnaredrumrollsintheend,onewonderswhatdoes“last”standsforinitstitle,apparentlyitdoesn’tmeanquot;finalquot;becausebothmenhavenoalternativebutreturntothemilitaryservice,yetasacinematictraveloguecogentlyandfranklyregistersAmericax27;sennuiandangstinthepost-VietnamWarera,quot;leastsuitable”mightfindmoregroundsinitscontext.referentialfilms:Ashby’sHAROLDMAUDE(1971,7.4/10),SHAMPOO(1975,5.0/10),BEINGTHERE(1979,8.3/10).本文版权归作者他他所有，任何形式转载请联系作者。