The Last Flight Review: A Sad, Drunk, and Perfect Post-War Hangout

You should watch The Last Flight if you’ve ever stayed at a party way too late because you were afraid of what happens when the music stops. It’s perfect for people who like that sad, blurry energy of the Lost Generation. If you are looking for a high-flying action movie with dogfights, you will absolutely hate this.

The movie starts right after the war ends. But for these guys, the war didn't really end; it just moved into their hands and their eyes. They call themselves "spent." It's a scary word when you think about it.

They are in Paris, but they aren't looking at the Eiffel Tower. They are looking at the bottom of a glass. Most of the movie is just these four guys—Cary, Shep, Bill, and Joe—wandering around. They meet a girl named Nikki in a bar, and she's carrying a turtle.

The Vibe of the Spent

The dialogue is fast. Almost too fast. It feels like if they stop talking for even a second, they might start crying or screaming. It’s that kind of 1930s talkie where everyone sounds smart but nobody is actually saying what they mean.

Richard Barthelmess plays Cary, and he has this look in his eyes like he’s seeing ghosts behind the camera. He’s the leader, but he’s just as broken as the rest. They all have these little nervous tics. One guy can't keep his hands still.

It’s a lot more honest about PTSD than movies usually were back then. They don't call it that, of course. They just say their nerves are shot. It makes the movie feel surprisingly modern, even if the clothes are old.

• The way they order drinks is like a ritual.
• The turtle actually becomes a weirdly important character.
• Paris looks like a playground built on top of a graveyard.

Nikki and the Turtle

Helen Chandler plays Nikki, and she is strange. Not movie-star strange, but real-life "I don't know what she's going to do next" strange. She fits right in with these guys because she’s just as unanchored as they are.

There is a scene where she’s just sitting there with the turtle, and it’s oddly peaceful. It’s the only time the movie feels like it’s breathing. Most of the time, it’s just chugging along on gin and anxiety.

I kept thinking about how different this is from something like White Pants Willie. That’s just fluff. This has weight to it, even when they are joking around.

"You can’t go home. Nobody can go home."

That line isn't actually in the movie, but it should be. That is how it feels. Every time they try to move forward, they just end up at another bar. It’s a vicious circle with better hats.

The last third of the movie goes to a bullfight in Portugal. It feels a bit random at first. Like the movie forgot where it was going. But then things get dark very quickly.

The ending isn't neat. It doesn't give you a hug. It just kind of stops, leaving you feeling a little bit empty. Which is exactly how those guys felt, I guess.

I noticed that the sound is a bit rough in some spots. You can hear the hiss of the old film. Normally that bothers me, but here it adds to the haunted feeling. It’s like listening to a ghost story on an old radio.

One reaction shot of Bill lingers way too long. It’s supposed to be serious, but he looks like he’s trying to remember if he turned the stove off. It’s one of those unintentional moments that makes you remember real people made this.

If you want a movie that feels like a mood rather than a plot, this is it. It’s messy and the middle drags a bit. But I haven't stopped thinking about that turtle or those shaky hands. 🍸🐢

It’s much better than something like Looking for Sally because it actually cares about its people. Even if those people are a total mess. Maybe especially because they are a mess.

The way they treat Nikki is interesting too. They don't really hit on her in a gross way. They just want her to be there so they aren't alone. It’s a very lonely movie about people who are never by themselves.

I think I liked it more than I expected to. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s real. And that’s better than a masterpiece sometimes.