Reviews
THE MERCURY NEWS 3/4
MOVIEWEB ***
Glen is so likable and so believable as a decent man pushed too far
Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
The cinematography by Xavier Van D’huynslager puts the widescreen format to excellent use in presenting information and blocking large numbers of people, something too many contemporary filmmakers no longer seem to know how to do. The action sequences are lean and clean; you know what’s happening, what’s at stake, and why things turned out as they did. Frederik Van de Moortel’s score is fundamentally honest in that it’s more “’80s action thriller” than “Oh, the humanity!” It’s superb at escalating tension in the lead-up to violence, and there’s a brilliant moment in the second half where he introduces what sounds like distorted and truncated feedback loops, as if to suggest that the character the scene is focused on is losing his grip on reality.
Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
Intense, visually striking.
Randy Myers, The Mercury News (3/4)
Iain Glen is serviceable wherever The Last Front takes him in its bleakness. He is soulful and vulnerable, also rising to the occasion when it’s time to fight back and even deliver a rousing one-liner before the climactic battle begins. In the final moments, there is also a fitting brutality to the violence, fitting for how personal the situation has become.
Robert Kojder, Flickering Myth
A sturdy, engrossing drama.
Dennis Harvey, Variety
An effective action climax, with nocturnal imagery that highlights Xavier Van D’huynslager’s handsome widescreen cinematography.
Dennis Harvey, Variety
A powerfully emotional experience.
Julian Roman, MovieWeb ***
Glen, a venerated actor brimming with screen gravitas, elevates Hayet-Kerknawi’s script with gripping body language. You see him physically transformed from petrified fear to deadly purpose.
Julian Roman, MovieWeb ***
The Last Front nails the devastation of war and correctly indicts those who revel in its savagery.
Julian Roman, MovieWeb ***
This character-driven war drama resonates with genuine emotion, thanks primarily to a deeply felt performance from Scottish character actor Iain Glen
Todd Jorgenson, Cinemalogue
Iain Glen is the film’s heavyweight, bringing a muscular presence to the role of the farmer, Leonard Lambert.
Cath Clarke, The Guardian
The Last Front is a timely lesson about the fragility of life and why we shouldn’t take things for granted. Everything can change in an instant. Hayet-Kerknawi’s direction brings the viewer on a riveting journey about the bonds of family and the lengths we go to protect them.
Ricky Archuleta, Film Threat
Iain Glen gives a commanding performance as Leonard, a grief-stricken father who must persevere against the evil that threatens everything he holds dear. Joe Anderson’s portrayal of Lt. Laurentz is menacing and disturbing, showing a terrifying disregard for humanity and a deep thirst for violence. The Last Front is a painful depiction of the destruction of war that will leave you haunted long after the credits stop rolling. Highly recommended and worth every minute.
Ricky Archuleta, Film Threat
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