Richard Linklater doesn't usually do sequels in the traditional sense. When he took on the task of adapting James Ponicsan’s novel, he wasn't just making a movie; he was chasing the ghosts of 1973’s The Last Detail. But because of rights issues and a desire to forge something new, the last flag flying cast had to stand on its own, separate from the shadows of Jack Nicholson and Randy Quaid. It worked. Honestly, the chemistry between Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, and Laurence Fishburne is the only reason this movie avoids becoming a standard, somber road trip cliché.
They play Vietnam veterans reuniting under the worst possible circumstances. Larry "Doc" Shepherd (Carell) has lost his son in the Iraq War. He reaches out to his old buddies, Sal (Cranston) and Mueller (Fishburne), to help him bury his boy.
It’s heavy stuff. But the movie breathes because of how these three interact.
The Quiet Grief of Steve Carell as Doc
Steve Carell is a master of the "sad man" trope. We saw hints of it in Little Miss Sunshine, but here, he’s basically a raw nerve. Doc is the catalyst for the entire story. After decades of silence, he walks into a bar owned by Sal Nealon, played by a boisterous Bryan Cranston, and sets the wheels in motion.
Carell’s performance is built on what he doesn't say. He spends a good portion of the first act just staring into the middle distance, looking like a man who has had the floor dropped out from under him. His son is dead. His wife passed away from cancer earlier. He is alone.
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You’ve seen Carell do comedy, obviously. The "Michael Scott" energy is nowhere to be found here. Instead, he uses his stillness to anchor the film. When the last flag flying cast finally hits the road, Carell acts as the moral compass, even when he’s questioning the very military institutions he once served. It's a nuanced take on patriotism that isn't about flags or anthems, but about the specific, agonizing cost of service.
Bryan Cranston and the Art of the Loudmouth
If Carell is the silence, Bryan Cranston is the noise. Sal Nealon is a functioning alcoholic who owns a dive bar and hasn't filtered a thought since 1970. Cranston is clearly having a blast. He’s the guy who says the "wrong" thing at the funeral, the guy who picks a fight with a younger Marine, and the guy who refuses to let the mood stay somber for more than five minutes.
It’s a risky role. In the hands of a lesser actor, Sal would be annoying. He’d be the character you want to mute. But Cranston finds the vulnerability. Underneath the beer breath and the constant swearing, Sal is the most loyal person in the room. He’s the one who recognizes that Doc shouldn't have to do this alone.
Critics often compare Sal to Jack Nicholson’s "Badass" Buddusky from The Last Detail. While the DNA is there, Cranston makes it his own by leaning into the exhaustion of age. He’s not a young rebel anymore; he’s an old man who is angry that the world didn't turn out the way he expected.
Breaking the Silence: Mueller’s Transformation
Then there’s Laurence Fishburne. He plays Richard Mueller, who has gone from a wild "hell-raiser" in Vietnam to a limping, God-fearing preacher.
The dynamic between Fishburne and Cranston is the engine of the movie’s humor. Sal constantly reminds Mueller of the "terrible" things they did in the past—specifically an incident involving a prostitute and some stolen medical supplies—while Mueller tries to maintain his dignity. Fishburne plays it with a wonderful, low-key frustration. He’s "Reverend" Mueller now, but you can see the old soldier simmering just beneath the surface.
Why the Last Flag Flying Cast Needed This Specific Chemistry
You can’t just throw three famous actors together and expect a masterpiece. We’ve seen "star-studded" casts fail plenty of times. What makes the last flag flying cast special is the rhythm. Linklater is famous for his "walk and talk" style, and this movie lives in the conversations on trains, in the back of U-Haul trucks, and in cheap motels.
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They talk about:
- The lie of the "hero's death."
- How the military hides the reality of combat.
- The absurdity of choosing a casket.
- Why they still care about each other after thirty years of zero contact.
There’s a specific scene where the trio is on a train, and they start laughing about their youthful idiocy. It’s one of the few moments where the grief lifts. It feels authentic. It feels like three guys who have seen too much and are using humor as a shield. If the actors didn't actually like each other, you’d feel it. But here, the bond feels lived-in.
The Supporting Players You Might Have Missed
While the "Big Three" get the posters, the supporting last flag flying cast members add the necessary friction.
J. Quinton Johnson plays Charlie Washington, the young Corporal assigned to escort the body. He represents the "new" military—the Iraq War generation. His interactions with the veterans are fascinating. He’s respectful, but he’s also a reminder of who they used to be. He’s the "straight man" to Cranston’s chaos.
Then there’s Yul Vazquez as Colonel Wilits. He’s the bureaucratic face of the Marine Corps. He isn't a villain, exactly, but he represents the institutional pressure to keep things "clean" and "honorable," even when the truth is messy. The tension between the Colonel and the three veterans provides the movie’s central conflict: do you follow the protocol, or do you do what’s right for the family?
Cicely Tyson also makes a brief, heartbreaking appearance as the mother of a fallen soldier from their past. It’s a small role, but it carries immense weight. It forces the men to confront a lie they’ve been carrying since Vietnam. Honestly, Tyson’s scene is the emotional climax of the film for many viewers.
The Realism of the "Road Trip"
Most movies about veterans are either ultra-patriotic or strictly anti-war. Last Flag Flying sits in the uncomfortable middle. The last flag flying cast portrays people who love their country but are deeply skeptical of its leaders.
They argue about the Bush administration. They argue about the pointlessness of the Iraq invasion. They compare it to their own experiences in Southeast Asia. This isn't just "flavor text." It’s the core of the movie.
The film was shot in various locations across Pennsylvania and New York, and it looks... gray. It’s not a beautiful travelogue. It’s cold. It’s damp. The setting mirrors the internal state of the characters. When they’re hauling a casket in the back of a rented truck because they refuse to let the military ship it like freight, you feel the physical toll.
Misconceptions About the Movie’s Connection to The Last Detail
A lot of people think Last Flag Flying is a direct sequel to the 1973 film. Technically, it’s not. In the book, the characters are the same. In the movie, the names were changed.
- "Badass" Buddusky became Sal Nealon.
- "Mule" Mulhall became Richard Mueller.
- Larry Meadows became Larry "Doc" Shepherd.
This change allowed the last flag flying cast to create their own history. You don't need to have seen the 1973 film to understand this one. In fact, it might be better if you haven't. Linklater’s version is much more focused on the long-term effects of trauma and the specific bonding of older men.
Production Secrets and the Linklater Touch
Richard Linklater is known for his long rehearsal periods. He treats film like theater. Before a single frame was shot, the last flag flying cast spent weeks just talking. They went over the script, shared personal stories, and built a rapport.
This is why the dialogue sounds so natural. When Cranston interrupts Fishburne, it doesn't feel like a scripted "beat." It feels like a guy who has been interrupting people his whole life.
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The film also avoids the "Hollywood" ending. There’s no grand resolution where everything is fixed. Doc’s son is still dead. The wars are still happening. But the men are together. That’s the only victory they get.
Real-World Reactions from Veterans
While the movie had a modest box office run, it has found a second life among the veteran community. Many have praised the last flag flying cast for capturing the specific "dark humor" that exists in the service. The way they talk to each other—the insults, the ribbing, the immediate return to old nicknames—is incredibly accurate.
It’s a movie about the "middle-aged" veteran experience. It’s not about the glory of the battlefield; it’s about the quiet years that follow. It’s about what happens when you’re fifty-something, your knees hurt, your past is full of regrets, and you're just trying to make sense of a world that has moved on without you.
How to Appreciate the Film Today
If you’re going to watch Last Flag Flying, don't go in expecting an action movie. It’s a character study. It’s a movie about three men in a truck.
Pay attention to:
- The way the light changes in the scenes where they talk about Vietnam.
- The subtle shifts in Steve Carell’s facial expressions when he’s looking at his son’s uniform.
- The "preacher" cadence Laurence Fishburne uses, and how it slips when he gets angry.
- The genuine grief buried under Bryan Cranston’s jokes.
The last flag flying cast delivers a masterclass in ensemble acting. They don't compete for the spotlight. They support each other, much like the characters they are playing.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Film Buffs
If you’re interested in diving deeper into the world of the last flag flying cast and the themes of the film, here are some specific steps to take:
- Read the Source Material: Pick up James Ponicsan’s novel Last Flag Flying. It offers a darker, grittier look at the characters and provides more context for their Vietnam-era trauma.
- Watch the Unofficial Prequel: See The Last Detail (1973). Even though the names are different, seeing the "younger" versions of these archetypes helps you appreciate the wear and tear the characters have endured in the 2017 film.
- Explore Linklater’s "Spiritual Sequels": Check out Everybody Wants Some!!, which is a spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused. It helps you understand how the director views the passage of time and the evolution of friendship.
- Research the Era: The movie takes place in 2003, right at the start of the Iraq War. Looking back at the news cycles of that time makes the characters' cynicism much more understandable.
- Support Veteran Storytelling: Movies like this often struggle at the box office because they aren't "escapist." Sharing the film or discussing its portrayal of grief can help keep these types of grounded, human stories alive in the industry.
The last flag flying cast reminds us that the best stories aren't always about the events themselves, but about how we process those events with the people who were there. It’s a quiet, soulful film that deserves a spot on your "must-watch" list if you value acting that feels less like a performance and more like a conversation.