In the 80-90s. of the last century, one of the most popular movie genres was the action movie. However, the scriptwriters gradually got tired of coming up with new plot moves and began to use the proven ones in other tapes. A similar trend was called the "law of the genre." Thanks to her, militant fans often could predict the possible development of events in a particular picture, which gradually became the same.
In 1993, the movie "The Last Movie Hero" was released with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the title role. It seemed to be another typical action movie with the “Iron Arnie”. However, this tape was unique throughout the artist’s career. Why? The answer to this question is easier to find if you learn more about the film.
The film "The Last Movie Hero" (1993)
The original title of this project is Last Action Hero, therefore, its Russian name “The Last Action Hero” is found. In fact, it is more true, since the action movie in English is an action movie ("action movie").
Although the picture was released in the USA and Europe in 1993, it was shown in the post-Soviet expanses after almost 1.5 years. Despite this, she was well received by the audience and earned $ 137.3 million at the box office with a budget of 85 million.
Fans of American action movies and one of the most famous artists of this genre, Arnold Schwarzenegger, became the main category of spectators.
One of the screenwriters for The Last Movie Hero was Shane Black, who had decent experience writing scripts for action movies. So, among his other early works - “Lethal Weapon 1-3” and “The Last Boy Scout”. So, ironic over the action movie, this guy knew what he was writing about.
The main paradox of this tape is that filmed for the Americans, it was not accepted by them and therefore earned only 50 million in the United States. Because of this, the producers considered her a failure. And members of the Academy of Sciences even criticized the film "The Last Movie Hero" (1993), nominating him for Golden Raspberry in 6 categories at once.
Fortunately, the film project has not received one of the statuettes. And having gone abroad, he was able to more than pay back the money spent and fell in love with the audience of many countries. What can I say, there are no prophets in their Fatherland ...
Plot
In the center of the picture, a typical action movie fan is a teenager, Danny Madigan. His mother is a widow, barely earning a living for herself and her son. They live in a tiny apartment in a dysfunctional area of New York. The boy is lonely and unhappy and finds the only rejoicing in watching militants about Jack Slater.
Not having a VCR at home, Danny made friends with an elderly local movie theater projectionist, Nick. The old man pities the guy and lets him watch his favorite films for free.
Shortly before the premiere of a new film about Jack Slater, Nick invites the boy to a pre-premiere viewing and gives him a magic ticket handed to him by Houdini.
While watching the picture, with his help Madigan unexpectedly gets into the film. Here he meets Slater and tries to convince him of the unreality of everything that happens. When he does not succeed, Danny decides to help his idol find the criminals. For this, the boy applies his knowledge of the laws of the action movie genre.
The partners almost succeed in achieving their goal, but their main opponent - the one-eyed Benedict - finds out about the ticket. Unlike Jack, he believes in his miraculous power and with his help escapes to our world.
Here the criminal, to his delight, discovers that the laws of the genre do not work. It turns out that if you break the glass with your hand, it will hurt; cartridges must be counted or they will end; the police may arrive too late or not arrive at all; and the victory of good is very rare, as is the triumph of justice.
To deal with Slater, Benedict releases into the world of his enemy from the previous part - a maniac named the Ripper.
The evil genius instructs the killer to crack down on the performer of the role of Jack - Arnold Schwarzenegger.
However, Danny and Jack get here. They guess about the idea of Benedict and manage to stop him and the Ripper. In the final fight, Slater was mortally wounded.
Madigan realizes that in the human world he is doomed to death, but in the movie he can survive. The boy sends his hero “home” and thus saves his life.
In the final, each of the partners revises his life, and both learn to find good in it.
What was spoofed in the project?
One of the reasons Hollywood has not accepted The Last Movie Hero is because the picture too accurately mocked the fundamental flaws of the "law of the genre." And not only in action films, but also in other American film production.
The most famous stereotypes shown in the tape are:
- Infinite ammo and incredible accuracy of the protagonist. While the villains are always incredibly "oblique" and can not get where you need to.
- Invulnerability of the central character. Moreover, those around are dying like flies.
- A happy accident, which is always on the side of the protagonist and often "plays along" with him.
- Almost all people in the tape are always beautiful or simply photogenic and well-groomed.
- Mandatory victory of good in the finals.
In addition to the above, the tape ridiculed the active tendency of cinema of the 80-90s "not to infringe on the rights of black people." Because of her, in many films, the partner or boss of the white cop should be black.
Also in "The Last Movie Hero" many other famous projects were spoofed. So, in one of the episodes, Death from the Seventh Seal by Ingmar Bergman, as well as the T-1000 Terminator from Doomsday, Catherine Tramell from Basic Instinct, and the cartoon cat appear.
In addition, when watching "Hamlet" with Laurence Olivier, Danny's fantasy remakes this picture as an action movie with Schwarzenegger.
The culmination of all "bullying" is the appearance in the frame of the "iron Arnie" and other celebrities (James Belushi, Damon Wayans, Chevy Chase, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Timothy Dalton).
Actors of the "Last movie hero" who played the main characters
Having dealt with the special features and plot of the picture, it is worthwhile to find out who starred in it.
As is clear from its contents, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who also played a cowardly and stupid version of himself, starred in the role of Jack Slater.
The young movie fan Danny was embodied on the screen by Austin O'Brien (Apollo 13, Bones).
The role of the main villain went to the well-known for the role of Tywin Lannister, Charles Dance. Incidentally, he got into The Last Movie Hero by accident.
At first, Alan Rickman was invited to the role of Benedict, who (thanks to his participation in Die Hard) was associated with everyone as an intelligent villain. However, the artist considered the fee too small and refused. So the role went to the less proud and cheaper Dance.
Minor Characters
Less significant characters were played by such actors of the "Last movie hero" as Anthony Quinn (Tony Vivaldi), Farid Murray Abraham (John Projects), Robert Prosky (Nick) and Tom Nunen (Ripper).
Having dealt with the artists, it is worth learning about the actresses of the tape. This is Mercedes Ruelle (Danny's mom) and singer Tina Turner (Los Angeles mayor).
A special place among the female half of the actors of the "Last movie hero" is Bridget Wilson. She played the daughter of Slater - Whitney, performed by the fictional artist Meredith Caprice. It is noteworthy that for both Meredith and Bridgette, the picture was debut.
In the episodes of the project appeared even more popular stars. These are the actors of The Last Movie Hero, such as Sharon Stone, Robert Patrick, Ian McKellen and the famous fashion model Angie Everhart.