Last Man Standing
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Last Man Standing
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Last Man Standing is an incredibly violent film with a huge body count. John Smith (Bruce Willis) is a gun for hire during Prohibition who finds himself in the middle of a war between rival Irish and Italian gangs. The violence is never ending and the sound of gunshots will be ringing in your ears long after the credits roll. Characters are beaten and a dead horse is shown. There is a notable lack of female roles in the film, and those that are given any real screen time are treated as pawns by the gangsters. In one scene, a woman shows off the graphic scars she received at the hands of her abusive partner, including a severed ear. Smith is a true antihero, you can't help but root for. He plays people against each other, with multiple lives lost as a result, just so his pockets get deeper. He shows honor however, if no loyalty. Smith has sex with a sex worker, but no real nudity is shown. Language includes "s--t" and "whore." Drinking features prominently, with characters regularly seen drinking and the gangs selling illegal liquor. Also some smoking, reflecting the time period.
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What's the Story?
Set during Prohibition, LAST MAN STANDING tells the story of John Smith (Bruce Willis), a drifting gunslinger who roams from town to town, working for whoever pays him most handsomely. When Smith winds up in Jericho, Texas, he finds himself in the middle of a brutal gang war between the Irish and Italian mafias. Seeing an opportunity to play them both off against each other, Smith enters a prosperous, albeit dangerous, game.
Is It Any Good?
With its hazy, sepia-tinged lens, and helped along by the film-noir style narration, this Prohibition-era action-packed crime drama has the look and feel of a classic. Last Man Standing is unashamedly cinematic in that regard, playing up to it in a slick and confident manner. Released in 1996, Willis is truly at the height of his powers, in full flow as the gun for hire. Few actors have ever played antiheroes quite like he does, as he somehow keeps you on his side throughout, despite everything inside you telling you that he's a bad man.
However, the film does fall a little too lazily into gun shootouts. Where you may hope for a little more narrative exploration, or character development, large portions of the film are just spent watching men firing guns at one another. But the stylistic endeavors of director Walter Hill, as well as the supporting cast -- which includes Christopher Walken and Bruce Dern (not to mention a surprise cameo from Leslie Mann) -- ensure this remains on the right side of good, even if the characters do not.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Last Man Standing. What impact did it have? What consequences were there? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
There is a distinct lack of female characters in the movie. Did you find this problematic? How were the ones that were in the film treated? Why representation matters in kids' media.
Talk about the character John Smith. Did you find yourself rooting for him in spite of some of his actions? Why do you think this was? What do you think the term "antihero" means?
How was sex portrayed? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
How was drinking and smoking depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? Do you think our attitudes have changed when it comes to drinking and smoking?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 20, 1996
- On DVD or streaming: November 19, 1997
- Cast: Bruce Willis, Christopher Walken, Bruce Dern
- Director: Walter Hill
- Studio: New Line Cinema
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: History
- Run time: 101 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: pervasive strong violence and some sexuality
- Last updated: August 2, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Public Enemies
Depp scores as Depression-era robber, but lots of violence.
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Road to Perdition
Oscar-winning father-son drama has cursing, violence.
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The Untouchables
Cops vs. the mob in bloody Prohibition-era drama.
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