The Last Castle

Robert Redford could be a gentleman's John Wayne in this rousing film about a former Army general leading an uprising against a cruel warden (James Gandolfini) at a military prison. Director Rod Lurie (The Contender) has a strong grip on the tension as the warden's initial respect for the once-revered officer turns to resentment over pointed questions about the treatment of inmates, eventually spurring a stunningly well-planned assault from within. Uniquely strong performances from Redford (quiet, noble dignity), Gandolfini (imaginatively Napoleonic) and Mark Ruffalo (Redford's potential Judas) help counteract the popcorn factor of the action flick-styled last act. While Lurie is a little too obvious about who his martyrs will be and turns a blind eye to some logical and logistical problems, he does have a talent for stirring symbolism and a feel for credible details that really pull you into the world behind the prison's bars. Recommended, overall. (R. Blackwelder)