A retired getaway driver comes out of retirement to pull off one last run- one that could send him to an early grave instead. A former getaway driver from Chicago (George C. Scott) has retired to a peaceful life in a Portuguese fishing village. He is asked to pull off one last job, involving driving a dangerous crook and his girl-friend to France. However, the job turns out to be a double-cross and the trio are pursued back to Portugal where they make one last stand on the coast while the enemy assassins attempt to gun them down. The Last Run was originally a John Huston project, but in the end it was taken up and completed by maverick director Richard Fleischer. Often, a change of personnel affects the film, but in this case, Fleischer has fashioned a decent thriller with picturesque locations and a tight plot.<br/><br/>It's all about a getaway driver from Chicago who has settled down to a peaceful life in a Portugese fishing village. He is hired to drive a gangster and his girlfriend to the French border, under total assurance that the job is strictly routine. However, it turns out that the whole thing is a set-up, and that the gangster is the target of some killers. Getaway driver, gangster, and gangster's girlfriend all flee back to Portugal, pursued by their enemies.<br/><br/>The characters are quite cold and cynical and don't appeal to the audience a great deal. This hurts the film, because it's awfully hard to care a damn about what happens to them. The film also suffers from a typically downbeat ending (as, indeed, many films from this era do). However, it has exciting moments and is always pleasing to the eye. The chase plot is gripping throughout and really helps to compensate for some of the not-so-good aspects. This film was apparently panned by the critics on its release and it did not do well commercially. However, it is still worth a look and I think it has aged quite well, compared to many films of its time.<br/><br/>George C Scott is always worth watching, even when he is not at his best, and perhaps this is not his most memorable performance.<br/><br/>Despite the screenplay focussing on a bunch of gangsters, Scott's character (Harry Garmes) is still sympathetic, with his own moral standards and, if somewhat bleak, personality.<br/><br/>It is clear from the beginning that Harry Garmes is doomed — the very name of the film gives that away — but you are rooting for him, despite his destiny. He is an old man, and the end is near, but he is not going down without a fight. Maybe it is just my age, but I rather relate to that.<br/><br/>By far the best part of the whole project is the near-forgotten Jerry Goldsmith theme music. A beautiful and haunting piece that will remain with you long after the film has been forgotten.
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295 weeks ago