Easily the worst film I saw at the Peovincetwon Film Fest back in June, The Last of Robin Hood is a total misfire on any number of levels.
What could have been a trashy and sleazy, but enjoyable, inside Hollywood flick is in the hands of writers-directors team (and real-life partners) Ash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer a boring picture with nothing interesting to say or to show.
Likely to be dismissed by most critics when the Goldwyn company releases (or rather dumps) it on August 29, “The Last of Robin Hood” may be the weakest movie (alongside “Office Killer”) that the otherwise estimable Christine Vachon has produced in her distinguished 25-year-career.
On paper, the athletic and charismatic Kevin Kline is well cast as the aging Errol Flynn, the swashbuckling Hollywood star and notorious womanizer, whose life and career are now the stuff od legend and myth.
According this poorly written, overly episodic tale, the last years of the handsome mega-star were spent on boozing vodka and sleeping around, often with women one third of his age.
One of Flynn’s dangerous liaisons was with an aspiring actress, Beverly Aadland (Dakota Fanning). The two had a high-flying affair that spanned the globe and. Strangely, the affair was tolerated–even enabled–by the girl’s fame-obsessed mother, Florence (Susan Sarandon, totally wasted).
The affair came crashing to an end in October 1959, when events forced the relationship into the open, sparking publicity castigating Beverly and her mother, which only fed Florence’s need to stay in the spotlight. As is well documented, Flynn died shortly therafter.
What could have been a satirical tale about the obsessive desire for celebrity and fame at all cost is instead a dull, detached, and inept film, due to the directors’ lack of technical skills.
Dakota Fanning may be too old to play the Lolita-like part of an immoral, or rather amoral girl, who would do anything to become famous.
Curiously, the filmmakers have misguided all of their performers, who I am sure will go out of their way to delete this picture from their otherwise impressive resumes. Both Kline and Sarandon are extremely gifted, Oscar-winning thespians.
Be warned; There were many walk-outs at the Provincetown screening and even many more complaints about the very choice of this lousy picture for a festival known for its savvy and sophisticated patrons.
Credits
MPAA: R
Running time: 90 minutes