(October 26, 2001) — With the recent stream of patriotism throughout every corner of the country, The Last Castle , directed by Rod Lurie (The Contender), has the right timing for its release. This typical Hollywood “prison film” is bursting with bravery and justice and of course, Old Glory herself. A predictable and clichéd story about the evil warden versus the hero, The Last Castle barely keeps the audience’s attention through the rough and tough background of prison. Robert Redford, usually associated with excellent performances, plays the court-martialed three-star general Eugene Irwin. He is sent to a maximum-security military prison, The Castle, for a 10-year guilty plea after disobeying orders that took the lives of eight men. There, he is greeted by Col. Winters (James Gandolfini), the stolid-faced warden who keeps a tight fist in his facility even if it meant breaking “a few rules.” At first, Winters shows deep respect of the war hero, carefully polishing his military collections for Irwin’s arrival only to have his pride deflated when he overhears Irwin’s comment that he has probably never been in a battlefield. Redford’s portrayal of the multiple-layered general is flawless. But his dynamic and charming persona was hidden behind a story with gaps. In a scene with Irwin’s daughter Rosalind played by Robin Wright Penn, the seemingly perfect persona was diminished when we discover that he is a bad father. There was no other scene in the entire film that dissected this side of Irwin. Several other scenes such as when Redford moves 25 lb. rocks all day by himself with the inmates cheering leaves the audience rolling their eyes at the cheesy scene. Lurie also clumsily directs Gandolfini’s character as merely annoying instead of being hated. Winters flip back and forth claiming to honor this fallen general one minute and the next undermining his credibility to the other inmates. Gandolfini’s performance is not entirely convincing similar to Mark Ruffalo playing the dirty snitch. No other actor except for Redford steps up to the plate during the entire film. However, the climactic battle is sure to keep audiences watching. This movie keeps you cheering for the inmates but with a stinking suspicion that it might not be worth it at all. Even with the talented Redford, The Last Castle is sure to remain in the dust. Rated R for language and violence.