The Last Full Measure

The Last Full Measure is a compelling war drama produced and released in 2019 by Roadside Attractions. Notable stars include Sebastian Stan, Alison Sudol, and Asher Miles Fallica among a host of other talented cast members.

The film centers around Sebastian Stan, who plays the role of Scott Huffman – a diligent Pentagon investigator assigned to delve into the case of a decorated Airman, A1C William H. Pitsenbarger, who gave his life to save his comrades during one of the harshest battles of the Vietnam War.

Alison Sudol takes on the role of Tara Huffman, providing strong emotional depth as the supportive wife of Scott Huffman. With Asher Miles Fallica giving a commendable performance as the young son of Scott, the Huffman family serves as a vital subplot to the main story, effectively illustrating the link between the personal and professional life of Scott Huffman.

The narrative ensues when Huffman is introduced to a Congressional Medal of Honor request. However, this was twenty-four years after when Airman Pitsenbarger made the ultimate sacrifice. The request was brought forward by Pitsenbarger's best friend and PJ partner in the war, Tom Tulley, portrayed by William Hurt. The subsequent events and the storyline that unfurls lead Huffman onto an extraordinary path of discovery that tests his determination, career, and sense of justice.

The Last Full Measure walks the audience through Huffman's bulldog-like tenacity as he uncovers inconsistencies and unanswerable questions behind Pitsenbarger's striking act of valor. An emblem of bravery and selflessness, Pitsenbarger personally saved more than sixty men before making the conscious decision to forego a final helicopter rescue – eschewing the safety of returning home – to remain and protect his fellow soldiers.

Peter Fonda, Ed Harris, and Samuel L. Jackson give impassioned performances as veterans who were saved by Pitsenbarger's selfless and heroic deed. They manifest as war-weary figures who, in their battle scars and stories, reiterate Pitsenbarger's heroic sacrifice. Their narrations, dotted with elements of survivor's guilt, inform a key aspect of the film – a narrative approach that pushes the film beyond the standard war biopic.

Director and writer Todd Robinson intriguingly navigates the journey of Huffman’s investigation, filled with political roadblocks and numerous bureaucratic impediments. The film weaves emotional depth and illuminates the corridors of power, addressing heady themes like government corruption and an individual's moral responsibility toward a persistent pursuit of truth and justice.

The cinematography lends a visceral experience to the audience, either through the chaotic war scenes – heartbreaking in its realness – or the quiet, pensive moments that Huffman shares with the war veterans. Memories from the past and the Vietnam War scenes presented in flashbacks give real-time exposure to Airman Pitsenbarger's heroic exploits amid his comrades.

The Last Full Measure is a poignant exploration of one man's heroism and another man's journey to honor that heroism against seemingly insurmountable odds. The film lays bare the moral ambiguities of war and nuances of recognition, persevering justice, and unsung heroes.

Above all, the film emerges as an effective juxtaposition of valor on the battlefield and courage in the bureaucratic maze, once again reinforcing the fact that the concept of bravery extends well beyond the confines of the battlefield.

In serving as a sobering testament to the human elements of war - the bravery, the valor, the cost, and sometimes, forgotten glory - The Last Full Measure is a must-watch for those who appreciate equally stirring narratives of both war front heroism tempered by the equally battleridden pursuit of justice.