When I heard about The Last Fall I was pretty excited. As an avid football lover, I couldn't imagine anything better than a film about the NFL. Unfortunately I got something entirely different than what I expected.
The Last Fall tells the story of Kyle Bishop, a relatively young NFL player who has just been cut from the team. The film goes on to share the harsh realities a player like Kyle faces as he must deal with life outside the grid iron, and it's not all that it's hyped up to be.
Director Matthew A. Cherry does a solid job of telling us of Kyle's struggles. The film would benefit from some editing and sound tweaks, but an almost all African-American cast impresses, particularly lead actor Lance Gross. HIs portrayal of Kyle is easily the best in the film, bringing to life a young man who is working to win back the love of his family and high school sweetheart.
Overall, The Last Fall is hindered by its story. Kyle's path will be humbling for athletes of all ages; however, its appeal beyond that core audience is a bit more difficult to define. The acting and directing is solid; I just wish the approach had been a bit more universal.
