Film Review – Last Flag Flying

“Last Flag Flying” is described as a “spiritual sequel” to the 1973 picture, “The Last Detail,” with both movies sourced from novels by author Darryl Ponicsan. For obvious reasons, the stars of the previous effort haven’t returned (Otis Young is dead, Jack Nicholson is retired, and Randy Quaid is currently suffering through a prolonged nervous breakdown), inspiring co-writer/director Richard Linklater to shift characterization slightly, keeping Ponicsan’s plot and character camaraderie without being slavish to what “The Last Detail” started. Losing the sequelization aspect is perhaps the smartest play for Linklater, freeing him up to make something frightfully intimate with “Last Flag Flying,” taking a look at the sacrifices of military service and the delicate nature of memories, reviving the road trip for three now ex-Marines as they come to terms with past mistakes and mounting frustrations.  Read the rest at Blu-ray.com