The Last Whistle

PG

Released Jun 28, 2019

1h 28m

Drama

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Reviews

48%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

Brad G

This movie must have been part of the compensation package to get Les Miles to coach at Kansas a few years ago. There can be no other reason this movie needed to be made. It's so predictable and melodramatic that it's painful. By the end I was wishing that it was me that had a heart attack and died on the field instead of Benny. I have to be the only person who watched this movie in the year 2022. Honestly this movie made me like football less.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/05/22

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

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Rob Smat

Director

Brad Leland

Victor Trenton

Jim O'Heir

Ted

Deanne Lauvin

Theresa Robinson

Les Miles

Billy

Eric Nelsen

Greg Reid

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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

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

Another Texas high school football melodrama. Lukewarm in its best moments.

Rated: 1.5/4

Oct 29, 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

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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: Eric Nelsen, Sainty Nelsen
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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