Last Man Standing: A very Western gangster film …

Oh …

Blimey, I keep forgetting that.

Usually, Halloween is roughly the same time of years as the Hindu festival of Divali.

The reason I got reminded … ?

Is simply that BBC 1’s showing a brief documentary about it!

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Which isn’t why I started this post …

Because while Movie Night Adrian, Squeaky and I haven’t managed to get together for a movie night for a couple of weeks.

But did, tonight.

The film in question … ?

Was the 1996, Walter Hill directed film, Last Man Standing …

Which, even though it’s a couple of years old, now, still look’s rather good.

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3/11/2010

Oh, that’s better …

Managed to grab a night’s sleep, there. Now, where was I … ?

Oh, yes, Last Man Standing …

Which is definitely an entertaining movie, I know that much!

Last Man Standing sees Bruce Willis as gun-for-hire, John Smith, on the run from (unnamed) troubles, and ending up in the small Texan town of Jericho.

A town in trouble, as many of it’s population are fleeing from the two prohibition-era gangs in the area: an Italian Mafia group led by Fredo Strozzi — Ned Eisenberg — and an equally murderous Irish-American gang, led by a gangster called Doyle, played by David Patrick Kelly.

In the midst of all those, Sheriff Galt — Bruce Dern — and saloon owner, Joe Monday — William Sanderson — are trying to do the best they can.

At least, until Smith shows up …

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Now, did I mention that this was entertaining … ?

Yes, I did.

It’s also got a very interesting fell to it, as well.

Ever hear of Film Noir … ?

Now I’ll admit to not knowing that much about the genre.

But, from the little I do know … ?

Last Man Standing seems to fit quite nicely into the canon.

And what’s more … ?

It does seem to be very reminiscent of a western: to the point I could swear blind I could just see Clint Eastwood delivery some of the lines …

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Phew … !

Here’s what I think I’m going to suggest you do.

I’m going to happily suggest you check out Last Man Standing.

That heady mix of hard-boiled crime-thriller and western — along with a script based on Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo — is something both rare …

And well worth catching.