The Last Castle

[Dixon Carter Lee]

*SPOILER ALERT* I'm about to give away a suprising plot point in the movie "The Last Castle", so, if you haven't seen it, you might want to go away.

I just rented it, and I have a conspiracy laden question for anyone who saw it in a theatre. At the end, was the flag upside-down or right-side up? I'm wondering if the shot was changed for the video release as a bow to post 911 sentiments.

The reason I even ask is because just before Sept 11 there were billboards all over Hollywood for the film featuring the flag upside-down (the international sign for "distress", not a diss of the standard). After 911 the ads were replaced, sans flag. Still, I'm thinking, well, hell, if it's on the billboard that way, it must be in the film that way. Because, after all, marketing people don't lie.

So, I'm watching this film, waiting for the big old controversial upside-down flag moment, and, when it comes, there it is, right-side up. And in this politically correct ultra-political flag waving CGI computer re-touching age I'm wondering if the sequence wasn't altered for the home video and DVD release. Probably not, but it's just a thought that's been bugging me. Hell, if they can turn rifles into walkie-talkies in the re-release of "E.T.", they can flip a flag.

Otherwise, I thought it was a pretty decent flick, with a terribly conventional by-the-numbers plot, some okay acting, a silly helicopter sequence that just makes you cry out "yeah, right", and a very good performance by James Gandolfini.

 

[Rambling Rose]

Damn it, I should know this one! I believe the flag was upside down on the big screen, Dixon. Whatever way was considered the major conflict, then that's what won out in the end. I'm sorry if that's too vague.

 

[April]

Hell, if they can turn rifles into walkie-talkies in the re-release of "E.T.", they can flip a flag.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I believe the flag was upside down on the big screen, Dixon.

Are you sure? The "surprise" was that after all the talk of flying it upside down Redford actually flies it right-side up (a sign, I suppose, that they were no longer "distressed", though it sure seemed to me that they were). I'm really curious, since the (original) billboard featured a photo of the flag upside-down, and the home video shows no such scene.

 

[Rambling Rose]

OK, that helped...the flag flew right side up then. Redford got his way.

 

[Ballboy]

At the end of the movie, the fight was over. The prisoners (ex: Redford) were all on the ground with the warden and the guards winning.

As the guards refused to shoot Redford, he knew that the prisoners, in fact, had won in ousting Gandolfini. Accordingly, no distress signal needed to be sent to alert Delroy Lindo as the battle was over.

 

[Rambling Rose]

Damn it, now I am doubting myself again...why are you doing this to me, Dixon??? Let me ask the person I went to the theater with. They'll know.

 

[Rambling Rose]

phew!

Never mind. Thanks ballboy!

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I understand the rationale, but, hey, Redford was bleeding from three bullet wounds -- that seems pretty "distresing" to me. LOL

Anyway, I'm assuming you're referring to the "in theatre" experience, and that I don't have to get all huffy and call Roger Ebert so he can piss and moan about "fixing" the film for home video release?

 

[Rambling Rose]

Assume away. You're safe this time.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Alrighty then. Now explain this...When I first saw "Thelma and Louise" opening day they drive off the cliff and fly away with Dick Van Dyke singing "Chitty Chitty Bang-Bang". How come that doesn't happen any more?