L'ultima corvé

Two older, grizzled sailors, transport a baby faced, vulnerable young sailor to 8 years in prison for stealing $40.

The acting is very good, especially Jack Nicholson and Randy Quaid, and the film has lots of wonderful moments and details.

That said, I've never loved it quite as much as many others do. It feels a bit sappy at times, 'cute' at others, and the story feels a bit too predicable.

We know the two old salts will soften and come to care for their charge, and they will all bond before the journey ends.

Without the high level of talents involved, that predictability could have sunk the film, but the brio of Nicholson, the sure hand of director Hal Ashby, and Robert Towne's salty, idiosyncratic script keep it afloat and always worth watching, if not quite rising to 'great film' level for me