I loved this movie. Easily the most heartfelt and touching thing I have seen all year and I'm really surprised this hasn't gotten more awards attention, especially for Carell and Cranston. Those two are just fantastic here and while I really enjoyed Fishburne I don't think his character had as much depth, but he was still so fun to watch and I loved the interactions all three of them had with eachother. Their chemistry felt very natural and I ended up enjoying the inclusion of the Washington character much more than I thought I would, although I expected them to do more with the character Yul Vazquez played. It seemed as if they were obviously setting him up as some kind of villain, but it never amounted to anything.

A

Last Flag Flying

This is actually a really enjoyable film. From the plot and the marketing, you could be forgiven for thinking it would be a hard slog drama, but it's anything but. It's light and interesting, and very funny. And that's down to three great leads. I mean, it's 90% Cranston if I'm honest. The guy fucking owns this film. He's brilliant. But the other two give him a canvas to paint on. All of the sentimental marine stuff didn't fly with me, but as an old-guys-reunion film, it works. Good banter and wisdom-filled reflection. Better than any comedy I've seen in the last 12 months.

B+

Quite an under the radar film from last year actually, that certainly surprised me to how much I liked it, as it didn't look very interesting from the trailer. But Linklater is in top form, he really knows how to make stories and characters come to life with a certain realness to it. The script surely helps, and road trip films often have the ability to soak me in I feel. The film doesn't waste a minute of its run time, which is really just about 3 veterans re-connecting and bonding after a long time apart. Each of the leads are perfect in their roles, and I haven't enjoyed Fishburne this much since the Matrix, well in fact these might be my favorite roles of all of them. Besides the class acting, it's a very well shot and paced too. It draws on engaging drama with a undertone of lightness that makes me just glad to be on for the ride.

A-

I know they have different characters, and as opposed to the book the the film is only considered an "unofficial" sequel, but did you spot any connections to The Last Detail?

I'd have to agree about Sal being my favourite Cranston character. Not sure about the other two.

Yeah, I definitely thought Fishburne was better in the Matrix, but he's been a bit of a B-movie actor recently I felt, so it surprised me seeing him a role as good as this one I found. Cranston and Carell I've hardly otherwise seen better, but maybe I'm not picturing their whole filmography as clear now.

As for the connection to The Last Detail, I guess you could say it's only similar in terms of navy theme/ and the general concept of 3 guys going from A to B...the 3 characters are very relateable in terms of demeanor though too, Cranston is Nicholson, Fishburne is Otis Young and Carell is Randy Quaid. The connection is thus apparent in a way, but there's never any reference made to it really.

Cool.