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People Are Watching James Gandolfini's 'Best Film' That's Now On Netflix
Featured Image Credit: Universal

People Are Watching James Gandolfini's 'Best Film' That's Now On Netflix

The late actor stars alongside Robert Redford in the gritty prison drama

Netflix is obviously a fantastic place to catch some of the latest blockbusters, but it also boasts an impressive catalogue of classics.

One of the most watched films on the platform at the moment has been praised as James Gandolfini's 'best-ever' movie. And you may never have heard of it.

The Last Castle was added earlier this month and sees the late actor go head-to-head with Hollywood legend Robert Redford.

You can see the trailer here:

The 2001 drama stars Gandolfini as a hardened prison warden who battles for authority against an uprising from prisoners.

A synopsis for the film says: "The career of a respected and decorated general (Redford) career ends in disgrace when he disobeys orders and is sent to a maximum-security prison dubbed the Castle.

"Perceiving the injustice at work within the prison system, he rallies his fellow convicts into a rag-tag army and mounts a revolt against the autocratic warden (Gandolfini), who runs the institution with an iron fist."

Since it landed on the streaming giant, it has shot into the top 10 films in the UK, with fans raving about Gandolfini's performance.

James Gandolfini goes head to head with Robert Redford in the 2001 film.
DreamWorks Pictures

Praising the Sopranos star, one user said: "If you've never seen The Last Castle with he and James Gandolfini, it's his best movie ever. Maybe because I'm a Vet, but it's his best movie ever."

Another commented: "Go watch The Last Castle on Netflix."

"The Last Castle with Robert Redford is a great film as well with Ruffalo. Gandolfini is a proper b*****d in that. Plays it so well," put a third.

While another added: "Just watched The Last Castle , never seen it before. A f***ing awesome film with a brilliant cast. Why don't we see more like this?"

Despite the adoration it's receiving now, it's safe to say the film didn't go down quite as well when it hit cinemas over 20 years ago.

It's currently got a pretty dreary score of 52 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics split.

Gandolfini plays a hardened prison warden in The Last Castle.
DreamWorks Pictures

Back in 2001, one journalist said of the film: "As the suspense builds, you'll be on the edge of your seat. And the ending, which involves the American flag, will have you wanting to stand up and cheer."

While others were less forgiving, with one viewer slamming it as: "A mundane and predictable amalgam of prison movie cliches and archetypes."

Ouch.

No matter what they thought of the actual story, however, most agreed that Gandolfini and Redford' performances were impressive.

"Thanks to Redford and Gandolfini, you might be able to forgive The Last Castle's prison-movie cliches, as well as the rash of improbabilities that undermine the film's extended final prison-yard battle," wrote one.

With another added: "Gandolfini's performance yields emotion as palpable as any he's expressed in his award-winning role on the small screen."

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Topics: US News, Netflix