Date: September 24, 2004
Source: IESB.NET
Author: David West
The Last Shot" is inspired by true events in which F.B.I. Agent Joe Devine ( Alec Baldwin) persuaded a wannabe filmmaker named Steven Schats (Matthew Broderick) to film his screenplay titled ARIZONA in Rhode Island in order to execute a sting on mobsters with criminal ties in Hollywood. Undeterred by filming a movie named ARIZONA which is set in Arizona in its polar opposite of Rhode Island, Steven focuses on making his while Devine tightens his grip on the mob. The sooner the film goes into production, the faster Devine will catch his man and gain the respect he desires from his superiors.
While never actually intending to film a movie, Devine lets the pre-production go as far as auditioning and casting all the roles for ARIZONA. Cast in the pivotal role of Charlotte French (Toni Collette), a faded film star who auditions for the lead in Schat's film. Cast and crew of ARIZONA are unwitting pawns in what would be the only sting in F.B.I. History where civilians were used without their knowledge or consent.
The IESB had a chance to speak with the cast and crew of "The Last Shot". "Joe is a guy with dreams just as big as Steven's," Baldwin says of his character. "Both men want to be stars of their respective worlds. While Steven dreams of success in Hollywood, Joe is equally driven to shine at the Bureau. They are so much alike in many ways." When asked about the script Baldwin replied, "Much of it is insider humor, but people have become so educated with behind-the-scenes documentaries and "The E true Hollywood Story" that the script will register with the general audience".
"When I read the script I thought it was hilarious," Broderick says. "I liked everything about it. And when I met with Jeff Nathanson who wrote it, and David Hoberman, the producer, I was very enthusiastic. Jeff was very funny in person, and I felt he would make a good director. I knew this would be a very good opportunity for me." With regard to the character he's playing, Broderick observes, "Steven Schats is an idealist. In the face of one disappointment after another he never gets depressed and he tries to be positive about life. He's a very hopeful man." Then Broderick adds, "We don't know if he's at all talented because he's never had any jobs."
"I wanted to play the role of Charlotte because not only was it very funny and quite a different character than I've played before, but it covers some dramatic moments along with comedy," says Toni Collette. "Also the script, with its sophisticated dialogue and interesting story impressed me".
The idea for "The Last Shot" came about as writer/director Jeff Nathanson read an article in The L.A. Times about two aspiring directors who had the plug pulled on their movie just days before shooting because the F.B.I. used the movie set and crew as a tool for busting mobsters with Hollywood connections. Nathanson had been intrigued by this story ever since reading the article. Over a period of six years he wrote several drafts of "The Last Shot" screenplay and pitched it to Touchstone Pictures who gave it the green-light. "I admit that I was never desperate to direct," Nathanson says, "but the good people at Disney believed in me and gave me this chance." To sum up his experience as a first time feature film director Jeff Nathanson says "I didn't want to do a movie that was just sort of an inside joke about the movie business. I wanted to make a movie that embraces what I like about Hollywood, and we succeeded."
The Last Shot opens September 24th
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