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The Last Whistle

Play trailer Poster for The Last Whistle PG Released Jun 28, 2019 1h 28m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 48% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
When the all-star player of a high school football team dies during practice, all eyes turn to the storied head coach. Instead of mollifying the situation, the coach tries to maintain the team's winning streak, leading to citywide controversy.
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The Last Whistle

Critics Reviews

View All (3) Critics Reviews
Joe Leydon Variety Brad Leland scores as a Texas high school football coach who pushes his players too far in Rob Smat's indie drama. Jun 28, 2019 Full Review Bradley Gibson Film Threat The odds are, when you borrow heavily from a great movie, you're probably going to produce at least a pretty good one unless you screw up, which Smat did not. Rated: 6/10 Jul 8, 2019 Full Review Lynnette Nicholas Common Sense Media Compassion and teamwork beat pride and ego in sports drama. Rated: 3/5 Jun 27, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member This is a really great debut feature from writer/director Rob Smat. The performances are excellent, and the film is visually stunning. It captures the Texas football vibe very well, and the lead character story of redemption is truly inspirational. Good all around. Go see it! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member The worst sports movie ever made. There is literally one scene in the entire film worth watching and it comes at the very start. A minute or two of an actual high school football game. That's the last game play you will get. Instead you will get a story of a player dying at training after being overworked by the coach. The coach only caring about his potential college career. Coupled with some horrendously over the top writing where the college scout, acts as if the coach is in the wrong. Not for the player dying, but because the next game doesn't go ahead. The game doesn't go ahead because of the coach either. The coach wants it to go ahead, solely to be able to impress the scout. You then get about 5 empty bar drinking alone scenes, a scene where the coach holds a signed football with the dead players name written in capital letters in bright silver. A court case against the coach by the players mother. All of this may sound like a story where a coach realises that winning isn't everything. Nope, instead it's a story of the coach being vindicated. No consequences for him at the end. I stayed with it, thinking the ending would be worth it. It was not. Watch if you want to waste your time. If you want an actual decent football movie with actual football in it. Rewatch Friday Night Lights. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member The last whistle may have a decent performance from its lead actor and it tells a decent story but overall the movie is just pretty bland. The supporting performances aren’t very good, the football scenes are poorly shot, and the dialogue is not interesting. It’s definitely a very low budget film and it kind of shows. Feels like a lifetime movie of the week than anything. With better talent and a bigger budget this could’ve been a decent film. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/20/21 Full Review Audience Member Underrated movie for a sports fan. Growing up lessons for young people as they aren't invincible. Especially applicable in this COVID era. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member A straight-line high school football tale that's grounded by horrendous acting from most of the cast. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member I feel the screen writer did not know much about football for some of the stuff the characters do is not somthin high school coaches or schools would do in general. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Last Whistle

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis When the all-star player of a high school football team dies during practice, all eyes turn to the storied head coach. Instead of mollifying the situation, the coach tries to maintain the team's winning streak, leading to citywide controversy.
Director
Rob Smat
Producer
Michael Orion Downing, Jim Goldner, H. Max Gonzalez
Screenwriter
Rob Smat
Distributor
Vertical Entertainment
Rating
PG (Thematic Elements and Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 28, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 28, 2019
Runtime
1h 28m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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