The Last Rampage

I read the book it's based on, based on an actual situation...I don't like the popular "Based on a Tre Story", as that has, often as not, come to mean based on a true fiction. And if one can believe anything in print, it is. With the exception of the precise circumstances of the anti-hero's death, which were, if possible, more brutal and pathetic then that which was depicted. "In fact", he was so defiant that when the heat bloated corpse was found, he was so defiant that he had dug a pit with his feet in the desert sand, so furiously defiant, that there was nothing left to do but kick his rage into the sand that devoured him. Still, it's captured well enough with a metaphoric vulture and his screams at the godless sky silently watching. The film opens with a Biblical quote and an actual photo of Gary Tison with his brothers as a child, and there is a recurrent substrate of Biblical comments and references, establishing Gary as a Satanic presence. Robert Patrick is beautifully cast. He's another natural at bad guys, an actor that plays it close to the bone, so much more to him then the movie that made him famous. Heather Graham is the big surprise as his wife. I had to really look close to recognize her, and she plays a hard boiled "broad" here, a complicit gun-moll, trying to skirt the law. Bruce Davison was 71 years old but there is nothing vaguely sluggish in his work. It might be his best role, what a journey from "Short Eyes" where he was on the other side. This most benign featured of actors turns in a grim committed craggy performance. John Heard is another surprise. He's surprisingly beefy, almost unrecognizable, playing a boobish warden that gets pinned down by Davison's lawman that does not settle for easy self serving answers. The current IMDB rating of 5.9 is too low, and maybe it's because we are so jaded, and this isn't loaded with CGI and over the top surreal silliness. Patrick is at the center of it with his tough schizoid behavior, playing an extremely ruthless and "damaged goods" character. His loyal sons, innocents all, that broke him out of prison payed awful prices, getting sucked into the crazed sadistic murder spree that follows. Not necessarily a flaw, but a dramatization of reality is in Tison's partner, Greenawalt, who in reality was a hugely obese slob and weak cowardly tag-along that enjoyed hurting and killing people. In the movie he's given a lean and mean and dangerous persona, in keeping with his actual acts, but not in keeping with the actual person, a fat mouse with a gun and suppressed wrath, not the ideal combo for a human. In all, It's a tight, well scripted, straight-up, unembellished account that is 95% true to what I've read about it, for what that is worth, with good direction. It feels plausible, it has momentum. Patrick is a fine actor at the center, and I think it's an above average true crime story, you know, the real Amerikan Gospel, about people who do whatever the F they want, what we all suppress in the name of polite society. Crime movies are violence *. They tantalize us with no risk of involvement with it's complications. This isn't erotic , but it has punch. It's far better then the earlier version with Spader. Check it out.

I had not heard of this movie or about the real events that inspired it before accidently stumbling across the movie on Netflix. But I gave it a chance anyway, and I am glad that I did. While the low budget of the entire enterprise does show at times, and that some of the characters (particularly the three young men who free their convict father and accompany him on his escape) could have been fleshed out some more, the movie does manage to command your attention all the same. The acting is solid and professional, particularly Robert Patrick as the criminal patriarch of the family; he not only comes across as very dangerous, he comes across as dangerous in a believable manner. Also, the story is presented in a manner that doesn't have any dull moments, even when it cuts away from the fugitives and focuses on the supporting characters. You'll be interested in knowing how everything will be wrapped up in the end.... though a flash-forward in the opening sequence does kind of spoil the surprise. It's well done enough to earn mild sleeper status, making it worth a look.

The movie was boring and unimpressive. I'd have more thrills watching a documentary about this true crime.

It will not only waste your time, it also wastes your soul.

Last Rampage at times reminds me of In Cold Blood. It's got a huge cloud of impending doom and how bad it gets only depends on how many people cross paths with Gary Tison. His sons, though guilty of abetting Gary are not unlike victims themselves. Gary is purely evil and he gets particularly desperate attempting to flee to Mexico. Gary, however, has little in the way of a plan.. Everyday innocents who happen to be in the wrong place will be slaughtered. Gary Tison was a heartless murderer, a human being and father devoid of any morals. Gary has trouble getting to Mexico with the law closing in. he becomes as purely evil in every way. Rampage recounts Gary's final desperate attempt to get out of the country. Arizona State Police officer Cooper takes it personal and is a few very sad steps behind. The officer's only hope now is to find Gary to avert more senseless killing. Cooper puts everything into his manhunt as he understands what is at stake even to the point of personal redemption for a prison system that failed miserably. Last Rampage is a pretty solid B-Movie. It's a no frills tightly produced look into a particularly deadly criminal. It is not for entertainment so much as a true harrowing retelling of how a very bad man decided he has nothing left to loose as he scrambles for freedom. The way he claims to love his sons yet treats them with no love is heartbreaking. Gary uses this sons with no regard to throwing away their lives and injecting them into the deadliest of situations for his own selfishness. Things go about as bad as possible before the final resolution. Remember this is a true story and it's told pretty straight. This is cold blooded crime at it's worst and Last Rampage tells it straight making the viewer feel truly uneasy as you know all are doomed… again, reminding me somewhat of In Cold Blood falling just short of that classic. I guess that makes it a movie you have disgust for yet keep watching cause you can't turn away. Robert Patrick does an excellent job of bringing a animal in human flesh to life in his portrayal of Gary Tison.

This movie keeps you tensed since it's beginning. The fact that this story happened in real world some forty years ago makes you feel chill throughout especially during those murder scenes. Good acting by everyone. I was taken aback by surprise when I saw Heather Graham playing a role of an old woman. She acted really well.

I had 2 minds to watch this movie but since it had Robert Patrick, I figured I'd give it a shot and man I'm happy I did! This is a thriller fugitive movie about 2 cold blooded killers. Gary made his sons believe so much in him that his murderous antics too were overlooked by the innocent boys. The movie slowly gets into your skin with the different scenes of murders, followed by the gut wrenching dialogues. The cinematography is absolutely beautiful. In the deserts, up the hills, in the storm, night rides, hiding spots etc..Great background music score and brilliant performances by all. Of course, it goes without saying; Robert Patrick yet again will blow your mind with his performance. If you're a fan of fugitive serial killer movies with a touch of great thrills and cinematography, this movie is for you. I gave it a 10 as there was no part where I felt bored or asleep. MUST WATCH!

source: The Last Rampage

Well it may feel staged, but apparently it happened. Ok puns intended. But this has quite the good actors in it. Especially Robert Patrick and Heather Graham do stand out in this. Not sure how much really happened exactly the way we see it in the movie, but it makes good movie material the way it is portrayed. Of course any prison break brings the law enforcement people and the media out to work their magic. Well or just try to get the most for themselves out of it. There is no idolization of any kind, be it the criminals or the media. Cliches are being served at times, but I guess certain corner points had to be checked in order for the movie to work entirely. The conclusion is inevitable and the end credits give us more insight of the what happened after the end of the movie ...

I like how it sticks to the source material, but because as is... it may not be as action packed as blockbuster. I think it is more like a documentary if anything. So... it is what it is, a bit boring, but interesting to learn history.