Movies are how we are entertained. They take us places only our imaginations can create, and it sparks excellent opportunities to grow our leadership.

There are quite a few good leadership movies, but the best leadership movie of all time is The Last Castle. The producers purposefully developed this movie to illustrate good versus bad leadership. Nearly every scene highlights a leadership principle and provides a captivating example.

The setting is a military prison, and the conflict is between a convicted general (Robert Redford) and a self-absorbed warden (James Gandolfini). The movie uses the personalities and prison setting to set the stage for the good and bad leadership lessons.

At some point, all of us have worked for a bad leader and hopefully a good leader. In stark contrast, The Last Castle is a vivid, bigger-than-life example of what it looks like to be under good and bad leadership.

Disclosure
The movie is rated R for a reason. The prison setting and language earn the rating as much as the violence. You will get re-acquainted with the F word in the first 20 minutes. It is not for everyone and certainly not for children.

The first few minutes of the movie introduce us to all the characters and begin to set the stage for the leadership lessons. General Irwin is a three-star general who is court-martialed and sentenced to ten years for disobeying an order that resulted in the death of eight soldiers. General Irwin is a highly decorated soldier and deeply regarded throughout the military. So much so, when he arrives at the prison, everyone is in awe.

The prison’s self-absorbed warden, on the other hand, has never seen combat and, in short, wants to assert himself as the leader.

Inside the prison is a stone wall that was part of the original castle from which the prison was constructed, and it serves as something the prisoners can spend time working on. The wall becomes the catalyst from which the general’s leadership begins to make a difference, resulting in the prisoners tearing down the old, poorly built wall and working together to rebuild it with pride and excellence. The wall and several other situations ignite a leadership war between the warden and the general.

To punish the prisoners, the warden destroys the newly rebuilt wall. To further drive his point home, the warden kills the prisoner who led the rebuilding efforts in front of everyone. Up to this point in the movie, General Irwin has ignored the warden’s harshness and horrible actions but now decides to step up and lead.

The remainder of the movie is an incredible illustration of leadership at work. Vividly, the movie shows how a great leader, even in the worst of situations, can step up and make a difference. While only a fictional story, The Last Castle does a great job illustrating many of the 21 Laws of Leadership.

As you watch this movie, don’t just watch it for entertainment. I would encourage you to put on your leadership glasses because every scene is rich with insight.

The Last Castle is now available on Amazon Prime.

Movie Discussion Guide
As you watch the movie, here is a discussion guide that includes both lessons and discussion starters. This guide can be used personally or in a group setting to learn and teach as you watch the movie. At the end of the scenes listed below, pause the movie, and take a moment to discuss the question.

Introduction
The first 14 minutes introduce the setting and the people. We also get a good feel for the key players and what motivates people to step up and lead.

Leadership Lesson – Leading by Force and Fear
Scene – Fight scene in the yard where the prisoner is shot (about 14.5 minutes in)

• Leadership Lesson
  • Bad leaders tend to lead with force and fear instead of influence and respect.
  • Good leadership comes from the hard work of growing and nurturing our leadership.
• Discussion
  • What are the differences between leading by force and leading by respect?

Leadership Lesson – Leading at Home Sacrificed by Leading at Work
Scene – The general and his daughter (about 25 minutes in)

• Leadership Lesson
  • Here are two powerful quotes from this scene: “You weren’t a father at all,” and “I don’t know you, and you don’t know me.”  This scene vividly illustrates the importance of leading at home and that it isn’t easy!
• Discussion
  • What can we do to step up our leadership at home?

Leadership Lesson – Building Confidence and Investing Time
Scene – The general with the stuttering Corporal Aguilar (right after the daughter scene)

• Leadership Lesson
  • Corporal Aguilar is an outcast and often made fun of. The general gives him two things—time and confidence. Time and confidence are two simple things a leader should give everyone they lead.
• Discussion
  • Who in your world is not very cool and is often made fun of? How can you give them time and confidence?

Leadership Lesson – Building Trust
Scene – The general is punished for his interaction with Corporal Aguilar and is forced to move all the rocks.

• Leadership Lesson
  • Being a leader always comes with a personal price. This scene shows how people put him down, bet against him, and tried to hurt him.
  • Being a leader, the general showed he could do the hard work, pay the price, and was worthy of being followed. In leadership, these things are not given; they are earned.
• Discussion
  • Why do leaders need to pay the price for trust and followership?
  • If one wants to be a good leader, can this step be skipped?

Leadership Lesson – Actions of Bad Leaders
Scene – After the rocks and the general is in the hole (solitary)

• Leadership Lesson
  • Bad leaders need to explain and defend their poor words, actions and make themselves look good. This will almost always do this by putting others down and explaining things away.
• Discussion:
  • Do good leaders need to make themselves look good?

Leadership Lesson – Earning Respect
Scene – After the hole and prisoners banging against the bars to show their respect

• Leadership Lesson
  • Respect and credit come from the followers, not from the leader. The warden tried to demand respect through fear, but now the prisoners give their respect to the general.
• Discussion
  • What did the general do to gain the prisoners’ respect? 

Leadership Lesson – Giving Respect and Purpose
Scene – A wall or a castle (about 45.5 minutes in)

• Leadership Lesson
  • Leaders create special moments, often when times are hard or when overcoming a challenge.
  • Also, leaders empower people. In this case, the general brings attention and importance to Corporal Aguilar.
• Discussion
  • Why did all the men want to jump in and help, even in the rain?

Leadership Lesson – Hearts and Minds
Scene – The tower, warden’s office, and killing of Aguilar

• Leadership Lesson
  • Good leaders earn hearts and minds; bad leaders demand with force and power.
• Discussion
  • What is the difference between earning and demanding hearts and minds?

Leadership Lesson – Instilling Purpose and Confidence
Scene – Fall in and the speech by the general

• Leadership Lesson
  • Good leaders give honor and infuse confidence. In this case, the general is giving back what has been taken away from the prisoners.
• Discussion
  • What was it about the general’s speech that grabbed the men?
  • How did you feel when the prisoners were singing the Marine Corp anthem?

Leadership Lesson – Threats
Scene – In the cell (about 1.03 hours in)

• Leadership Lesson
  • Good leaders respond well to confrontation. Poor leaders will always respond poorly when confronted, and they despise being called out. Often bad leaders will try to get rid of those people that confront them.
• Discussion
  • How should a good leader react when rightfully confronted?

Leadership Lesson – Ego and Pain
Scene – Making the general look bad in front of all the prisoners by reading General Irwin’s record (about 1:14 hours in)

• Leadership Lesson
  • Bad leaders make themselves look good by making others look bad. They put others down to build themselves up, instill fear, and use force. Often this is done publicly.
• Discussion
  • How do good leaders and bad leaders handle ego?

Leadership Lesson – Doing What’s Right
Scene – The mess hall

• Leadership Lesson
  • Good leaders know how to present what is right and rally the team to make it happen.
• Discussion
  • What stood out to you in this mess hall scene?

Leadership Lesson – Team Planning
Scene – Final planning in the cell

• Leadership Lesson
  • Good leaders surround themselves with a team, have a vision of the future, connect the team to the vision, then lean on the team to make it happen.
• Discussion
  • What about the general’s planning with the team stood out to you?

Leadership Lesson – Final, Big, Vivid Lesson of Good Leaders Versus Bad Leaders
Scene – Final battle

• Leadership Lesson
  • Leaders often ask much of their people, yet good leaders should also be willing to pay the highest price.
• Discussion
  • What other well-known leaders were willing to pay the ultimate price for their people, and why?
    
    
    

Comments

comments