A Yet Another Triumph For Richard Linklater!

Rating: 10/10 (3 May 2018)

Richard Linklater does some of his best work in 'Last Flag Flying'. In this deeply affecting & emotionally powerful film, Linklater brings us a story that offers heart, mind & soul. A Near Masterpiece, 'Last Flag Flying' is also bolstered by a robust performances by its strong leading men - Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, and Laurence Fishburne.
'Last Flag Flying' Synopsis: Thirty years after they served together in Vietnam, a former Navy Corpsman Larry "Doc" Shepherd re-unites with his old buddies, former Marines Sal Nealon and Reverend Richard Mueller, to bury his son, a young Marine killed in the Iraq War.
'Last Flag Flying' is about love, loss, friendship, grief, redemption, duty & life itself. Watching these men, who once served for their country, reunite for the loss of another one in the battlefield, this one being the son of one our the leading-men, is a depiction of how with time & age, life's harshest moments can be a little less painful, if with the company of people around you, can understand & make your pain better. Linklater is at his most sensitive here, delivering a story on loss with a quiet, but impressionable impact. I simply loved how this story unfolded, scene by scene, dialogue via dialogue. Its done so beautifully & the slight humorous touches add the much needed relief to the proceedings. Linklater & Darryl Ponicsan's Screenplay, which is based upon the latter's 2005 novel of the same name, is fantastic. The Writing is pure emotion, pure heart & soul. Linklater's Direction, as always, is subtle, but detailed. Cinematography is excellent. Editing, too, is very good. Art & Costume Design are of high-order.
Performance-Wise: 'Last Flag Flying' salutes its three leading-men & gives them characters worth remembering. Steve Carell is an acting masterclass here. His portrayal of a broken man, is so heartbreaking, that its impossible not to feel for him for even a second. Its a career-best performance, that definitely deserved some SERIOUS awards consideration this year. Bryan Cranston & Larry Fishburne support Carell, astoundingly. Cranston, as the more lively & talkative of the lot, is a joy to watch. The thespian brings depth & humor to his part & completely wins you own. Fishburne is simply outstanding. His turn as a former war-hero to now a Reverend, is done with the ease only Fishburne could bring in. In short, Carell, Cranston & Fishburne, all three, are a Dream-Team together! Take a bow, you guys!
On the whole, 'Last Flag Flying' is a winner all the way. This one's an Instant Classic!