Elia Kazan's final film (based on an unfinished story by F. Scott Fitzgerald) boasts an impressive cast and gorgeous production design, but is mostly a dull and lifeless affair, featuring a surprisingly bland lead performance by De Niro and lacking a... (read more) Elia Kazan's final film (based on an unfinished story by F. Scott Fitzgerald) boasts an impressive cast and gorgeous production design, but is mostly a dull and lifeless affair, featuring a surprisingly bland lead performance by De Niro and lacking any real insight into the moviemaking process. Ingrid Boultin is badly miscast as De Niro's love interest, and the two of them have no chemistry whatsoever. A smattering of good performances (particularly Mitchum as a studio exec and Nicholson as the head of a writer's union) make this watchable, but there are much better movies about Hollywood to seek out.

Mostly an interesting snapshot of a talented group of individuals crafting an interestingly flawed film, The Last Tycoon has many of the typical messages on the emptiness, lonlieness and greed in Hollywood. Filled with excellent period detail, intere... (read more) Mostly an interesting snapshot of a talented group of individuals crafting an interestingly flawed film, The Last Tycoon has many of the typical messages on the emptiness, lonlieness and greed in Hollywood. Filled with excellent period detail, interesting performances, there are many levels The Last Tycoon can be viewed on; De Niro's performance (particularly interesting ater reading Tony McKibbin's essay "Robert De Niro: The Pursuit of Nothingness" http://www.filmint.nu/?q=node/140), Kazan's own views on the Hollywood of the 1930s and 40s, and the difficulty of adapting Fitzgerald's works, particularly when he hadn't even finished the novel on which this is based.

A surprisingly conventional film considering the great names behind the production. I especially expected something more exceptional from Pinter's script. Not bad in any sense- on the countrary, "The Last Tycoon" is quite interesting and accomplished... (read more) A surprisingly conventional film considering the great names behind the production. I especially expected something more exceptional from Pinter's script. Not bad in any sense- on the countrary, "The Last Tycoon" is quite interesting and accomplished in many ways- but it feels a bit like the film was struggling to find direction. I'm not sure if it ever really finds it.

But for three late scenes where De Niro and Nicholson share the frame this film is dreary and monotonous.

Mildly interesting, but doesn't really make a point in the end and lacks fizz, just kind of meanders along. Despite the all-star cast and Oscar-winning director just seems fairly conventional and uninspired. Even Robert De Niro seems fairly wooden ... (read more) Mildly interesting, but doesn't really make a point in the end and lacks fizz, just kind of meanders along. Despite the all-star cast and Oscar-winning director just seems fairly conventional and uninspired. Even Robert De Niro seems fairly wooden at times. Best acting performance probably comes from the then-unknown Theresa Russell.

Is of great historical significance though. Was the last movie Elia Kazan directed. Also the only movie to star Robert De Niro and Jack Nicholson.

Is also interesting as a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood, but doesn't really go far enough in its expose.