RyothChatty
ridiculous rating
Softwing
Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??
Comwayon
A Disappointing Continuation
alexanderdavies-99382
Jack Nicholson truly excelled as one of the hardened and rowdy sailors whose job it is, to deliver a fellow sailor to a military prison after the latter has been convicted of a petty crime (and I mean petty - 8 year sentence just for taking money). At the last moment, the two sailors escorting the convict decide to allow the guilty man one last time of enjoyment before he begins his sentence. Randy Quaid as the convicted sailor brings a sense of vulnerability and naivety to his role. The character has led a bit of a sheltered life and isn't exactly the criminal type. He is looked upon with some sympathy as the three main characters get to know one another during their adventures across the country. All thoughts of delivering Quaid to the military prison are put on hold as fights with the army ensure, the sailors getting drunk together, mixing with women of ill repute etc. It is shown how two of the sailor characters are confronting various facets about themselves during the film. As a result, their own status quo has been restored as the convicted sailor is finally escorted and Jack Nicholson and Otis Young go off on their merry way back to their Headquarters, forgetting about what they have all just been through. "The Last Detail" is more of a character study than anything else and the film succeeds very well. The main reason for the "X" certificate, was due to the foul language - of which there is plenty!
John Brooks
In one word: this is MASCULINE. Manly, virile. This is a man's film, in everything that's wrong with that, and everything that's fine with that. A couple of more seasoned marines have to escort this young delinquent, who's really a nice young 'fellar' but with issues, to some prison. Along the way, they develop a liking for each other and form a group of pals. Jack Nicholson is a slightly unbalanced person himself as depicted multiple times, and the adventures pile up with these three tearing it up in the open spaces, from fun with alcohol and other pleasures of life, to fights or coming across some of the more particular places in town. It's a fun ride, the acting is very good and captivating, the story lets itself be told and all in all this is quite entertaining. Although this is the sort of film that will never add a second layer to itself, and is really event-based and nothing beyond that, it's exactly what it wants to be and does it well. All the way up til the end does this film stay true to itself.
smatysia
Jack Nicholson in his early heyday. Four years after Easy Rider, and two years before One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He carries the film, as intended. Otis Young was good here, as well as a young Randy Quaid. Interesting casting as Quaid towers over Nicholson and film composition usually frowned on that. Nice turn put in by Carol Kane in a small part. Pretty good photography of the wintry Northeast, and unobtrusive direction. Apparently this movie was packaged as a comedy at one time, but I found nothing funny about it. Seems like every aspect of the tale was basically tragic. Pretty decent film, overall. A lot of profanity, which was sort of the style in the early Seventies.
Scott44
I enjoyed ElMaruecan82's summary ("Where have all the 'Hal Ashby's gone, goddammit...", ElMaruecan82 from France, 6 June 2012). Also, kwalsh2-1 points out the connection between Nicholson's Buddusky and the father that Meadows doesn't know (kwalsh2-1, "Father Figure", 3 March 2006)."The Last Detail," sneaks up on the viewer. It is a fairly realistic, 1973 Hal Ashby, seemingly low-budget film depicting two Navy petty officers (Jack Nicholson and Otis Young as Buddusky and Mulhall respectively) giving a crash course in manhood to the young sailor (Randy Quaid as Meadows) they are escorting to a military brig.Jack Nicholson makes the picture enjoyable by inhabiting the bullying, childish, cocky, profane and ultimately endearing Navy "lifer" with glee. (Nicholson turned down "The Sting" for this.) Nicholson obviously has a flair for portraying corrupt, manic characters; he is in fine form here.Randy Quaid and Otis Young are both good as the prisoner and Chief Petty Officer respectively. However, real surprises come later when we meet Carol Kane as the prostitute who rocks Meadows's world. I really like their brief screen time together; it seems authentic (or so I'm told). Michael Moriarty is also quite good as the ball-busting Marine O.D. who appears at the end.Look out for Gilda Radner as a Nichiren Shoshu member. Also, observe how in 1973 a man can fire up a cigar anywhere--there is no place too public for Nicholson's ever-present Cuban.Visually, Hal Ashby is good despite being very detached. Other than the final shot, not many images seem to have even been planned in advance. (Note the plane taking off in the final image--is the plane "the last detail"?) The only aspect of "The Last Detail" that I did not like is the ironically patriotic sound track. The sound track is too heavy handed. Otherwise, The Last Detail is a movie about life in the lower rungs of military service that should not be missed.
