THE LAST KING is the lightly bowdlerized A&E version of a superior bio-pic on the eponymous Restoration King. Divided into two 90 minute halves, the second part feels a bit extended & repetitious, but perhaps so was the life; too many mistresses, too much political & personal volte-face. Rufus Sewell, a great actor & a natural film star who seems to have opted away from the big-time/big star movie game, makes a compelling, readable & sympathetic ruler out of a wildly inconsistent personality. Only the great Diana Riggs, as his fanatical Catholic mother, really keeps up with him, even though the rest of the cast (Rupert Graves, Ian McDiarmid, Martin Freeman et al) are all very fine. Helmer Joe Wright tends to go in too tight with his bouncy handheld camera, and allows too many passions to be torn to tatters, but he keeps it all moving & makes it look like a far luxer production than it undoubtably was.
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