THE LAST OUTLAW

US, 1993, 90 minutes, Colour.
Mickey Rourke, Dermot Mulroney, John C. Mc Ginley, Danny Quinn, Steve Buscemi, Ted Levene, Keith David, Gavin O’ Herlihy.
Directed by Geoff Murphy.


The Last Outlaw is a 1990s Western, a perspective on the post Civil War era, with the themes and language of the 20th century. The film has bit been directed by Geoff Murphy, New Zealand director, who went to Hollywood.

The film focuses on a group of Southern soldiers who do not accept the end of the war and go on rampages throughout the West, robbing banks. The leader is played by Mickey Rourke, a bitter man, ruthless in his robberies, and in his treatment of his men, shooting the wounded. This leads to revolt against him by Eustis (Dermot Mulroney) who is beginning to understand the bitterness and ruthlessness.

The leader is shot and is found by the town posse in pursuit, led by vengeful Sheriff, Gavin O’ Herlihy, and the owner of the bank. The leader wants his revenge and leads the posse, speculating on their route to the Rio Grande. The posse squabble amongst themselves, especially about the reward which leads to an internal shootout. The leader also causes the death of each of the members of his former gang, with the final confrontation with Eustis.

The film has very strong cast of character actors.

1. 1990s take on the American West? Post Civil War? The developing towns, bank robberies, continued hostilities between South and North?

2. The settings, the town, the desert, the mountains, the Rio Grande? The musical score?

3. The explanations, the Civil War, the aftermath, the settling of the towns, establishing the banks? The citizens of the town, sheriff, trigger-happy people? The Southerners, refusing to admit defeat, in posses, robberies?

4. Graff, the leader, Mickey Rourke, his bitterness, leadership, his hold over the men, their coming to understand him, following him for the robbery, yet
discontent, his recklessness with people’s lives, ruthless killings, the men turning against him? Shooting? Eustis and his becoming disillusioned, the shooting?, The posse capturing him, his shrewdness, doing the deal, leading them, the angry sheriff wanting to kill him, the banker wanting his money? Graff anticipating the directions the others would go, the gradual shooting of his gang, the squabbles amongst the posse, shooting each other, Graff with money, the banker, his tossing it over the cliff, pushing the banker? Graff and his intentions, revenge, the deal with Lovecraft and his killing himself? Shooting Potts? Wills, his staying and the shootout, his death? Eustis and Potts crossing the Rio Grande, Potts being shot?

5. Eustis, his voiceover and comment, his answering and confronting Graff, his comment on what was happening,, Graff and his leadership, his being
disillusioned when Graff left the young man to die, shooting him? Becoming the leader, the rest of the group, the characters, interactions, dying one by one? The final confrontation with Graff, Graff aiming at him, taking his gun, but Eustis having the pistol and shooting Graff? Eustis and his character, with the gang, change of heart, future?

6. The posse, the sheriff, vindictive, the men growling amongst themselves, the issues of the money, with the banker, continuing after the shootout?

7. Graff and his group, the different characters, their personalities, participating in the robbery, the escape, the pursuit? Reaction to Graff, staying with Eustis? The gradual deaths, the shooting of the horses, Wills and his staying, the shootout and his courage and death? Lovecraft and the deal, shooting himself? Potts, the squabbles, yet flexible, his death?

8. A grim picture of the American West, the viewpoint of the 1990s?