YMMV / The Last Detail

• Award Snub:
  • For Jack Nicholson, who at the time of the film's release, was disappointed he didn't win the Academy Award as he felt that this was his finest work. Fortunately for him, he would get his wish eventually.
  • The film was nominated for three Academy Award nominations, but it wasn't nominated for Best Picture or Director.
• Heartwarming Moments: Both Buddusky and Mulhall fear what will be of Meadows when he eventually arrives at the Portsmouth Naval Prison, and with him being 18 and with a harsh 8-year sentence, they know he'll miss a lot of his young adulthood years. The time they showed Meadows gives him some happy memories to go by before his eventual fate.
• Hilarious in Hindsight: Buddusky would rant about how sadistic the Marines were. Then nearly twenty years later, his actor, Jack Nicholson, would play one who is really sadistic.
• Once Original, Now Common: The film's usage of the word "fuck" was record-breaking at the time, but these days it doesn't seem particularly notable, given you can even get away with it in a PG-13 production.
• Retroactive Recognition:
  • Two years before SNL would come to air, Gilda Radner would make her film debut as one of the Buddhists at the meeting.
  • The sullen, hollow-eyed young prostitute selected by Meadows is played by none other than Carol Kane.
• Tear Jerker:
  • With all the fun Meadows had with Buddusky and Mulhall, it's no surprise that eventually he would be due for the brig. It's clear neither want to do so, but regardless, it's their job.
  • The scene when Meadows makes his failed escape sees him being brutally pummeled by Buddusky, and his pained reaction makes him sound like a hurt little kid that you want to hug, complete with Meadows telling him off to back off and him crying.
  • Also, the scene where they walk into the prison, and Meadows is dragged away immediately by two Marines without even a chance to say goodbye is pretty heartwrenching.
• The Woobie: Meadows is a good candidate. Between his stiff punishment, his lack of confidence before character development and afterwards, while having a good time and laughing before being sent off to prison, what more could you want? Hell, he's even treated like one in-universe by his captors.

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