The Last Detail (1973)

****

This is a classic example of why you should never judge a book, or in this case film by it's cover. I'll admit that I committed the cardinal sin of avoiding this movie based on the poster above. While most people would think it looks pretty bad-ass (fitting for the film really), I was of the opinion that it was going to be a slow paced sailor movie starring a very young Jack Nicholson. How wrong could I have been, eh?

The film is about two naval officers, Buddusky (Jack Nicholson) and Mulhall (Otis Young) who are ordered to escort petty thief Meadows to a prison base in Portsmouth. Meadows (Randy Quaid), is a friendly giant who was caught trying to steal fourty dollars from the general's wife's charity fund box. For this crime he was sentenced to eight years in prison. Buddusky and Mulhall decide to give the carefree Meadows the best last few days that he could imagine, something to treasure before he gets locked up.

Let me start by saying Jack Nicholson is on top, top form here. He's absolutely magnificent in a father figure kind of way to Meadows. He desperately wants to succeed in showing the kid the wonders of the world if he can just let go of himself and show a bit of toughness, but all the time knowing that he's sending this poor kid to a prison, where they'll most likely beat the shit out of him every day he's there. Quaid is also brilliant and it's just a shame that his career never took off in a more serious way, now resigned to more comedic roles. His character here reminded me of his performance as Lenny in Of Mice and Men alongside Robert Blake. When he took ice cream cone chested Carol Kane in the bedroom I genuinely feared for her safety, I kept thinking 'Rabbits'!

"I hate this detail. I hate this fucking chickenshit detail!"

The scene in the bar when Buddusky is trying to get a drink for Meadows is pretty great, as to is the scene in the hotel room where he's trying to get a reaction out of him but he just won't rise to it. Instead Buddusky releases his frustration on a lamp by the bedside and the wardrobe doors.

There are so many great scenes in this movie but my favourite would have to be where Buddusky follows the marines into the toilets at the station and starts a fight for no other reason than he hates Marines.

Marine: "I call Karate."

Mulhall: "And I call you a motherfucker!"

The film is another great example of a prisoner transportation scenario. It's a truly great film but it doesn't share the same feeling with me as something like Midnight Run. That's probably because that film is high up into my top 100 of all time list. Having said that, I absolutely loved this film and if like me you love Hal Ashby's other work like Harold and Maude and Being There, then you should definitely check this one out too. I haven't found an Ashby movie that i've disliked yet.

"I would never shit you. You're my favorite turd!"