F.T.W. (1994)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Michael Karbelnikoff

Writers:

Mickey Rourke (story) and
Mari Kornhauser (story) ...

Release Date:

6 April 1995 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Frank T. Wells has just been released from prison after serving a term for manslaughter. Frank's a reasonably honest man and a good rodeo rider...

Plot Keywords:

Rodeo | Acronym In Title | Heist | Entire Title Is Capitalized Acronym | Independent Film

Cast

Mickey Rourke	...	Frank T. Wells
Aaron Neville	...	Snake
Peter Berg	...	Clem Stuart
Lori Singer	...	Scarlett Stuart
Ron Peterson	...	Checklist Guard
John Enos III	...	Joe Palmieri
Rodney A. Grant	...	Bucky Miller
John Machart	...	Young Cop
Stan Rasmussen	...	Bonner Announcer
Fido Henderson	...	Cowboy
Frank P. Costanza	...	Sheriff Whitlock
Will Brewster	...	Deputy Harry
Dixie Parsons	...	Waitress
Clayton Cook	...	Clayton
Rex Kendall	...	TV Anchorman

Also Known As:

Last Ride

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | South Korea:18 | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | USA:R | Germany:18 | Argentina:18

Filming Locations:

Bozeman, Montana, USA

Company:

Ivar Productions

Soundtrack:

Break My Back

The First Big Mistake

Mickey Rourke had been offered the part of Butch in the hugely successful 'Pulp Fiction'. He declined the role and opted to star in 'The Last Ride' (Aka 'F.T.W'). The fact he had an input in the writing may have had much to do with the decision, but in retrospect it was a bad move. Had Rourke taken the role offered to him in 'Pulp Fiction' his status as a Hollywood king of cool may have been restored.(It had already been badly damaged by previous efforts such as 'Prayer for the dying','Wild Orchid', and the dreadful 'Harley Davidson & the Malaboro Man')

That he did not take such a high profile role in the wake of these box office disasters showed a worrying lack of quality control from such a gifted actor. 'The last ride' was a faltering love story (also staring Lori Singer)about an out of luck former Rodeo rider and a socially damaged girl. The whole story has been done before, with bigger budgets and better casts. Singers character ends up returning to the only kind of life she knows after meeting Frank T. Wells, and ends up on the run.

Rourke plays the 'Wells' character with the usual subtle charisma he that made him famous in the 80s, but the supporting cast just isn't up to the job. Singer's character is pursued by the cops and this sets of the inevitable chain of events that become the movies climax. Whilst i wont reveal the actual ending I'm sure you can guess. Avoid it, especially if your a Rourke fan, this was his first big mistake.