Review of The Last Detail (1973) by Stuart K — 30 Dec 2012
Directed by Hal Ashby, who with Harold and Maude (1971), Coming Home (1978) and Being There (1979), showed a dark, cynical and sometimes funny side to America. Here, fresh off the success of Harold and Maude, he took on this adaptation of Daryl Ponicsan's 1970 novel, here adapted by Robert Towne, and Ashby got the biggest box-office draw of the time to be in it.
It's a winning combination, with smart dialogue and great performances. In Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. Navy officers Billy "Badass" Buddusky (Jack Nicholson) and Richard "Mule" Mulhall (Otis Young) are assigned the task of escorting young sailor Larry Meadows (Randy Quaid) to Portsmouth Naval Prison in New Hampshire.
Meadows has been sentenced to 8 years hard labour for stealing $40 from a charity collection tin. However, Meadows doesn't need to be at Portsmouth for 7 days, and Badass and Mule feel sorry for Meadows, so they take him across the east coast from Philadelphia to Washington and then New York for one last good time before he's locked away.
It's an amusing little film, dark but with good performances from Nicholson, Young and Quaid, who make a good trio. It has clever dialogue, with Nicholson showing a caring and sympathetic side. It helped put Quaid on the map and helped Ashby build his reputation as one of the most exciting directors of the 1970's.
This review of The Last Detail (1973) was written by Stuart K on 30 Dec 2012.
The Last Detail has generally received very positive reviews.
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