The Last Full Measure (2019 film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Last Full Measure
The Last Full Measure 2019 poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTodd Robinson
Written byTodd Robinson
Produced by
Julian Adams
Starring
CinematographyByron Werner
Edited by
  • Claudia Castello
  • Terel Gibson
  • Richard Nord
Music byPhilip Klein
Production
companies
  • Foresight Unlimited
  • SSS Entertainment
  • BCL Finance Group
  • Boss Collaboration
  • Lightbox Pictures
  • Provocator
  • SC Films Thailand Co
Distributed byRoadside Attractions
Release date
  • October 19, 2019 (2019-10-19) (Westhampton Beach)
  • January 24, 2020 (2020-01-24) (United States)
Running time
110 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$20 million[1]
Box office$3.4 million[2]

The Last Full Measure is a 2019 American war drama film written and directed by Todd Robinson. The story follows the efforts of Pentagon staffer Scott Huffman and many veterans to see the Medal of Honor awarded to William H. Pitsenbarger, a United States Air Force Pararescueman who flew in helicopter rescue missions during the Vietnam War to aid downed soldiers and pilots.[3][4] The film stars Sebastian Stan, Christopher Plummer, William Hurt, Ed Harris, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Irvine, and Peter Fonda. It marked the final film appearance for Fonda following his death later the same year before the film’s release and the final on-screen appearance of Plummer before his death in 2021, respectively.

Production began in the United States in March 2017, and the film premiered in October 2019 in Westhampton Beach, New York.[5] It was released in the United States by Roadside Attractions on January 24, 2020, and grossed $3 million against a $20 million budget. The film's title is taken from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, where Lincoln honored the fallen, saying that they "gave the last full measure of devotion."[6]

Plot[]

The true story of Vietnam War hero William H. Pitsenbarger, a U.S. Air Force Pararescueman (also known as a PJ) who personally saved over sixty men. During a rescue mission on April 11, 1966, Pits (as he was called) willingly chose to leave the relative safety of his rescue helicopter to aid people on the ground when he saw how bad the situation below was. When others in his team declined to go, he put himself at risk to do more to help his fellow Americans. After saving many already, he was ordered to take the chance to escape on the last helicopter out of a combat zone heavily under fire, but he stayed behind to save and defend the lives of soldiers of the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division, before making the ultimate sacrifice in one of the bloodiest battles of the war.

Thirty-two years later, Pentagon staffer Scott Huffman, on a career fast-track, is reluctantly tasked with investigating a Medal of Honor request for Pitsenbarger made by Pits' parents and by Tom Tulley, Pits' best friend and partner on the mission. Huffman seeks out the testimony of Army veterans who witnessed or were saved by Pitsenbarger's extraordinary valor, including Takoda, Burr and Mott. Many of them carry their own demons from their experiences and trauma of that day and the war in Vietnam. But as Huffman learns more about Pitsenbarger's courageous acts, he uncovers a high-level conspiracy behind the decades-long denial of the medal, prompting him to put his own career on the line to seek justice for the fallen airman.

Throughout the film in multiple flashback scenes, the Vietcong ambush of Army soldiers as they fight and die in the Vietnam jungle is shown in graphic realism. The attack is known as Operation Abilene. The 1966 versions of Tulley, Takoda, Burr, Mott, Kepper, Holt, and Pitsenbarger are shown in the fight. One sees the heroic service of airman Pitsenbarger as he drops into the firefight from a helicopter and goes to work as a medic. He waves off the helicopter, picks up a gun and starts to fight with his comrades. Saving many, he dies a hero. The film also details the PTSD effect on each of the now old surviving veterans of the Vietnam War.

When a Senate effort on the floor of Congress fails, Huffman goes public with the story and ultimately a Medal of Honor is awarded to Pitsenbarger. At the awards ceremony Mott delivers Pitsenbarger's last letter to the woman he loved. The airman's cancer-ridden father and mother are in attendance as their son's duty, courage and sacrifice is recounted. The Air Force Secretary presents the Medal of Honor to the parents and then recognizes all in attendance. The epilogue points out that of the 3,489 Medals of Honor awarded as of 2019, only three had been to enlisted Air Force personnel.

Cast[]

Production[]

It took nearly 20 years to make the movie. Todd Robinson first learned about the William H. Pitsenbarger story while doing research for another movie in 1999. The story intrigued Robinson for several reasons, including Pitsenbarger's award of the Air Force Cross rather than the Medal of Honor. Robinson and Executive Producer Sidney Sherman pitched the film idea to more than 50 production companies but none of them were interested in making the movie. Robinson decided to write the script without funding or a studio commitment.[7]

After finishing the script Robinson and Sherman continued to search for a studio. New Line Cinema won the deal in 2007, but not long after, New Line was sold to Warner Bros. and the project was canceled. Robinson and Sherman were again without a backer. Over the course of the next decade, they lined up funding and kicked off production in 2017.[7]

It was announced in May 2016 that Scott Eastwood and Ed Harris had been cast in the film, with Laurence Fishburne and Morgan Freeman in negotiations.[8] By March 2017, Eastwood was no longer involved, and the film added Samuel L. Jackson, Sebastian Stan, Christopher Plummer, William Hurt, Bradley Whitford, Michael Imperioli, Linus Roache, John Savage and Diane Ladd to its cast. Filming was set to begin between Atlanta and Costa Rica later that month.[9] Grant Gustin and LisaGay Hamilton were cast as production commenced, with Amy Madigan and Peter Fonda joining in April.[10][11][12] The film was dedicated in memory of Peter Fonda.[13]

In August 2017, filming concluded in Atlanta and would move to Thailand, with Jeremy Irvine (replacing Gustin in his role), Ethan Russell, Ser'Darius Blain, Cody Walker, Julian Adams, Tommy Hatto and Zach Roerig cast in the film.[14][15][16][17]

Release[]

Roadside Attractions acquired the distribution rights to the film in September 2018, with a wide release in 2019 planned.[18]

The film premiered at a special free screening for veterans in Westhampton Beach, New York on October 19, 2019,[5] and was released in the United States on January 24, 2020.[19]

Home media[]

Lionsgate released the film digitally on April 7, 2020, and on DVD, Blu-ray and video on demand on April 21, 2020.[20]

Reception[]

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, The Last Full Measure holds an approval rating of 60% based on 63 critics, with an average rating of 6.21/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "The Last Full Measure struggles to capture the incidents that inspired it, but ultimately prevails thanks to strong performances in service of a remarkable true story."[21] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 52 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."[22]

References[]

  1. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (January 22, 2020). "'The Last Full Measure's Mark Damon On War Drama's Journey & Why This May Be His Last Picture As Producer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  2. ^ "The Last Full Measure (2020)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  3. ^ Young, Robin (January 23, 2020). "'The Last Full Measure' Tells Story Of Hero In Vietnam War". WBUR. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  4. ^ Magidson, Joey (January 22, 2020). "The Last Full Measure Is A Restrained Crusade For Justice". Hollywood News. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Finn, Lisa (October 7, 2019). "Free Screening Of 'Last Full Measure' For Veterans". Westhampton-Hampton Bays, NY Patch. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  6. ^ Walsh, Katie (January 23, 2020). "Sebastian Stan and all-star cast elevate the heroism of 'The Last Full Measure'". LA Times. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Oprihory, Jennifer-Leigh (September 2019). Tobias Naegele (ed.). "Pitsenbarger on the Big Screen" (PDF). Air Force Magazine. Vol. 102 no. 8. Arlington, Va: Air Force Association. pp. 61–62. ISSN 0730-6784.
  8. ^ Jaafar, Ali (May 9, 2016). "Scott Eastwood & Ed Harris To Star In 'The Last Full Measure'; Laurence Fishburne And Morgan Freeman In Talks – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  9. ^ Busch, Anita (March 8, 2017). "Samuel L. Jackson Joins Todd Robinson's Political Drama 'The Last Full Measure'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  10. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr (March 29, 2017). "'The Flash's Grant Gustin Draws 'The Last Full Measure'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  11. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (March 30, 2017). "LisaGay Hamilton Books 'Beautiful Boy' & 'The Last Full Measure'; 'Most Likely To Murder' Adds More Suspects". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  12. ^ Busch, Anita (April 4, 2017). "Amy Madigan & Peter Fonda Join Cast Of 'The Last Full Measure'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  13. ^ Alexander, Bryan (January 23, 2020). "Peter Fonda's final role in 'The Last Full Measure' brought icon to tears". USA Today. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  14. ^ "Jeremy Irvine among new cast on 'The Last Full Measure'". Screen Daily. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  15. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (August 1, 2017). "Jeremy Irvine, 'Vampire Diaries' Actor Zach Roerig & More Set For 'The Last Full Measure'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  16. ^ "Jeremy Irvine, Tommy Hatto & Zach Roerig" – via Instagram.
  17. ^ Parrish, Kate. "Song for an Unsung Hero". Sewanee: The University of the South. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  18. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (September 6, 2018). "Roadside Attractions Takes 'The Last Full Measure' Starring Sebastian Stan – Toronto". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  19. ^ "The Last Full Measure". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  20. ^ Prange, Stephanie (March 3, 2020). "Drama 'The Last Full Measure' Due on Digital April 7, Disc April 21 From Lionsgate". Media Play News. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  21. ^ "The Last Fill Measure (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  22. ^ "The Last Full Measure Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 5, 2020.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""