The Last Stop In Yuma County

"The Last Stop In Yuma County" is for the most part very well written and directed by Francis Galluppi. The movie is reminiscent of Sam Shepard's "Fool For Love", "The Bus Stop" and "Genius", all of which I saw on stage. All of these movies/plays take place in one area, one set. Like all of the aforementioned, "Yuma" is set in a diner where people are waiting for the full truck to arrive.

This 2023 crime thriller is a throwback to a lost art in movies. More of a screenplay style, "The Last Stop" doesn't feature desperate people the way a "Bus Stop" or "Genius" did, most of the people here in this dinner are happy for the most part with their lives. The only person who struggles with his life is the traveling knife salesman who gets delayed in this remote Arizona town from seeing his daughter and estranged wife. He is cynical about life and he struggles with everyday life.

The news of the day is a bank robbery outside of Yuma; $700,000 has been stolen and authorities are looking for a green Pinto. I like the way Galluppi set this movie up. People need to get gas and the only gas station in town is next to this obscure diner. The only gas station near Yuma is 100 miles away, so the people have to wait even though they don't want to.

At first it is the knife salesman and the waitress; the bank robbers are next to come in. It is when the full compliment of actors fill the dinner that the movie really hits its stride. From the newbie policeman to the old couple who are old and inquisitive, the cast of characters that enter this diner are all interesting in their own way. Actors Jim Cummings, Jocelin Donahue and company are well chosen, each contributes effectively; their believe ability is never questioned in this movie.

The dialogue in this movie is meaningful throughout the film. It is not filled with many words but what the characters say are all to the point. While some talk more than others, it is all relevant to how we perceive each person in the dinner. Each person has a story to tell and each person in their own simple way is interesting.

I have no doubt that this movie would make a great off Broadway play. Reminiscent of the many off Broadway plays that I saw in the 80's that had this genre, "The Last Stop" would easily pack in audiences as a stage play. To see a day in the life of these people live would be even more effective than the movie version.

As tensions get high among the characters is when the movie falls into its proper place. We get an array of personalities from all walks of life. Each person is a simple person standing on society norms with the exception of the bank robbers. The stolen money tempts some, but not all in the diner. People question the bank robbers and they push their boundaries, give opinions and try to talk sense. Where good tries to over come the evil in the robbers, it is fruitless and they only incite the robbers.

The only disappointment about this movie is the last 10 minutes. How the movie ended could have been written better I thought. The ending was to predictable, to lame for such a well written movie. The sheriff on a revenge mission goes after the last man standing in this switch about movie. What was originally rational became very irrational and the ending spoiled one of the most entertaining films that I have seen in a while.

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