“The Last Run” is a 1971 film about a retired getaway driver who agrees to do one last job.
Harry The Driver has been out of the game for a while, but he’s still got plenty of skills behind the wheel.
He’s tasked with escorting a criminal and his girlfriend from Spain to France, but nothing goes according to plan.
It’s a tense and thrilling ride filled with double-crosses and unexpected obstacles, all leading up to a dramatic finale on the streets of Marseille.
In short: “The Last Run” is a classic action-packed thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
↓↓↓
Review
In Gabriel Garcia Marquez style, one can’t resist the allure of The Last Run. The storyline of this movie is, no doubt, one of the most captivating and compelling to come out in recent times.
The Last Run tells the story of a retired thief named Harry Garmes (George C. Scott) who is coaxed out of retirement for one final heist – a seemingly impossible job to steal a million-dollar shipment of drugs from a convoy in Portugal. The plot thickens when Garmes realizes that he is being followed by an old cop who has a personal vendetta against him.
The movie’s director, Richard Fleischer, does an impressive job with the direction and screenplay. He imbues the plot with many twists and turns, keeping the audience on their toes at all times. The characters are well-crafted, each with their unique quirks that make them all stand out.
One notable aspect of this film is its cast. George C. Scott leads an impressive cast that includes Trish Van Devere as Kipper, Harry’s love interest; Tony Musante as Paul Rickard, Harry’s former accomplice turned enemy; and Colleen Dewhurst as Monique, Harry’s ex-wife. Each actor brings their A-game to the table in terms of acting performance.
The cinematography in The Last Run deserves special mention – it captures the beauty and richness of Portugal with breathtaking panoramas and sweeping shots that will leave viewers spellbound. It enhances the plot by giving it depth and meaning while creating a mood fit for any crime-thriller movie.
The music score was composed by none other than Jerry Goldsmith – a master at his craft who manages to weave magic into every scene with his remarkable composition skills. This blend of different styles creates an ambiance that elevates the film to great heights.
Apart from its strengths lies its weaknesses too: some scenes feel slow or unnecessary; some moments feel repetitive and could have been edited out. Some of the action sequences also look outdated. Nonetheless, the movie’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses.
The Last Run is a movie coming from a time when movies were still made to entertain and tell stories. It is not pretentious but rather honest with its intentions. The movie takes you on a ride that will leave you breathless from start to finish, and you’ll be rooting for Harry Garmes all the way.
In conclusion, The Last Run is an impressive crime-thriller movie that showcases an amazing ensemble cast, well-crafted direction, beautiful cinematography, and an exceptional music score. It has aged well over time and deserves more recognition. To quote Harry Garmes: “I’m going to get it done because I’m too old that people expect me to fail.” And indeed, Richard Fleischer succeeded in making a film that would stand the test of time.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 95
- Release : 1971-07-07
- Genre : Drama, Crime
- Cast : George C. Scott as Harry Garmes, Tony Musante as Paul Rickard, Trish Van Devere as Claudie Scherrer, Colleen Dewhurst as Monique, Aldo Sambrell as Miguel (as Aldo Sanbrell)
- Crew : Jerry Goldsmith as Original Music Composer, Richard Fleischer as Director, Roy Walker as Art Direction, John Huston as Director, Sven Nykvist as Director of Photography
- Popularity 4.346
- Budget : 0
- Revenue : 0
- Company : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Summary : A former mob getaway driver from Chicago has retired to a peaceful life in a Portuguese fishing village. He is asked to pull off one last job – to drive a dangerous crook and his girlfriend to France.
- Tagline : In the tradition of Hemingway and Bogart.
