The Last Bullet (1995)

Wonderful character development!

Boring

Amateur movie with Big budget

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Ah yes, the intrepid T.V. movie genre, the straight to video and the mostly forgotten classics of the small screen, but, once in a while there is always a hidden gem, a small nugget of gold, and unlike other thorns in the crown of this movie category there is often the odd surprise. And this pleasant surprise comes from Australian born (1957) T.V. and movie director Michael Pattinson, having done eleven episodes of the cult television show "Prisoner" and his movie career also includes Secrets (1992) and Ground Zero (1987) with Donald Pleasence, he's no stranger to both worlds of television and cinema.The Last Bullet is loosely based around actual events between July 8th and the 15th of August 1945, on the oil rich, and Japanese occupied, island of Borneo, and in mid 1945, it was now the turn of the Australian Allied Forces to take the lead. The Battle of Balikpapan was soon to be, at least, the last fight of the Wars history, and after the final push, the 7th Division et el had to then seek out and capture the last remaining Japanese fighters scattered in the dense jungle.Centralising not just on the plight of the soldiers, from both sides, in the heat and the dirt of the jungle The Last Bullet uses imaginative edits for the delicate flashbacks, from Peter Carrodus, to capture the moments when these poor souls were remembered as family members, lovers and friends, a time of beautiful, sensitive and fond reflection when all around them the fear of death and the capture of that last bullet is all that awaits them. The story kicks off proper when novice Stanley Brennan, played here by Jason Donovan, who excel's himself as the naïve rookie, finds more than just grit and determination when alone and out of his depth during a battle of cunning and stealth between himself and a Japanese sniper. Learning more than just survival in this terrain, this too is a moral code of honour toward ones comrades and toward the enemy, that to know your enemy is to also respect him.With an average age of 25 years, these young men were on the threshold of their lives, but into the deep, unforgiving jungle they were thrown, and in this new dimension of bravery beyond the call of duty we see a wonderful movie that gives no biased toward either side. The Last Bullet is seen from both perspectives, there is no enemy, just two factions trying to stay alive and reunite with their families. The production design here, by Japanese born (1918) Takeo Kimura is a wonderful adaptation of Borneo's killing fields, even if the movie had been filmed at Tamborine Mountain, South East Queensland, Australia and at Tochigi in Japan. The hard work put into this arena is as fitting as any standard blockbuster, while not up-to-par with the big boys, Takeo Kimura has a keen eye for realism and Michael Pattinson's work is as outstanding as it is both physically harsh and at times graphic, sentimental and heart-warming, a grand combination for a story of cultural pride and personal anguish, lovingly seen from both sides.Within an instant of the opening scene we are introduced to the beautiful accompaniment of Ms. Nerida Tyson-Chew's score, trained in both classical and contemporary genres and her Bachelor of Music (Composition) Honours Degree has put her in good stead with her collaborations with fellow Composers' Bruce Broughton, Henry Mancini and Jerry Goldsmith. Nominated for the 1996 Australian Screen Music Award for Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie, for The Last Bullet, she's done herself proud in this movies production; haunting, graceful and atmospheric. As too are the edits, by one Peter Carrodus, whose twenty-three year career, so far, brings a sharp perceptive to this hell-on-earth; exciting, interesting and hard and fast.The Last Bullet isn't about the taking part nor is it about the winning, there can never be any winners here, this movie is a fine example of how we should never forget the past, but how we can learn to forgive, and not cry havoc, and to let sleep the dogs of war. The small screen has, for once, conquered the Silver Screen, The Last Bullet, right toward its final moment, will hit you where it hurts, a battle worthy of remembrance.

i have just seen this film on movies for men channel on sky t.v. , i would have missed it but by luck i stumbled across it . i never even knew that jason donovan had made this movie ,but think he done a excellent job . i won,t spoil it buy telling the plot and ruining it for anyone , but if you like me enjoy war movies , especially the classics , then this movie will be a pleasant surprise for you . it is as you will see low budget , but the acting is great and the story very well thought out and engrossing , and it was not one that i could predict the end easily , which this day and age happens often , the action is quite bloody in places so not for watching with any children around really , but in a realistic way not just a gore fest for the sake of it , it is a realistic and powerful story and a little gem from our Australian cousins , i think they should be given a lot more credit for there movies especially when they really are this good , as i said before it is well worth a watch and far better than i thought it would be , i am now off to order it on DVD to add to my collection , i think you could do a lot worse for a good war story especially as good world war two movies are few and far between especially in the jungle warfare of borneo i would give it 8/10 .

This movie is just excellent. It's a little war movie that no one has ever heard about and that's a real shame. At a quick glance it's not very interesting: an Australian made for TV movie starring Jason Donovan. And it's 90 minutes long (for me that's the definition of TV crap, those 90 minutes). But all is not what it seems. It's the story of an Australian and a Japanese soldier (both the last survivors of their units) that square of against each other in the jungles of Burma in the ending days of WWII. But it's not the action that's the allure of this movie. We get to know these guys with flashbacks to their lives before the war. What's their motivation, their background? They are not one dimensional and we get to know them and learn that neither of them is a bad guy (not even the Japanese who is always portrayed as bad guys in war movies). They are where they are for good reasons and during this movie it's impossible to take sides against either one. They are both good guys and you cry for them and what happens to them.A great movie about what happens to men during war.

This film is a low budget TV production and that's how it should be taken. The main reason why it got my attention is the fact that the leading role is played by the Australian singer Jason Donovan. His performance is far from outstanding but it is still pretty acceptable. The action takes place during the last days of WWII in a jungle where Australian soldiers are looking for the last surviving Japanese warriors. It so happens that after an encounter between the enemies only one man both sides survives. The rest of the movie concentrates on the lonely battle of the two soldiers, looking to get rid of the other just to finally have a chance to return home to his family. One different aspect with the film is that there is really no good and bad guy. Both sides are equal, it is just the insanity of war that has put them against themselves. It is just unfortunate that the ending of the film goes a bit on the cheesy side (well frankly even much more than just a bit). So overall a quite ok film, why not watch it if you have a chance. 6/10