Last Man Standing is a very interesting story. Not only does its subject call for immediate analysis, but the way the film is put together is very clever. On the one hand, we have an endearing individual who’s quite open about his sketchy lifestyle, but we also face the inevitable path of the story, one that’s grounded in a reality that not many films would dare to address. Myron Sugerman is a one-of-a-kind representation of a culture, but this doesn’t mean he’s seeking redemption by being extremely honest.
Sugerman is the son of Barney Sugerman, partner of mobster Meyer Lansky. He’s a very important figure of Newark’s Jewish Mob, an organization that always worked close with the Italian Mob in the mid-20th century. As he mentions in the documentary, he was in charge of many illegal operations decades ago, but at 85 years old, it’s all a very funny anecdote now. At least, that’s the reception up until the documentary sheds light on Sugerman’s most important business associate.
Last Man Standing is an extensive documentary in which Sugerman narrates his life. He doesn’t leave out anything that could make people scrutinize him. After all, he’s a mobster, and he’s not afraid to say it. The difference is that Sugerman’s business doesn’t seem to include the mafia tropes Hollywood has made us believe are present in every mob operation. Sugerman’s testimony is based on the usual documentary format, but when he contacts the outside world, the film has its dose of humor.
The documentary’s progression towards its darker shade is masterful. It feels inevitable for Sugerman to finalize his story with what makes it the most interesting: he was a partner to Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal. The most important message in Last Man Standing is the confirmation of Sugerman’s raw nature. He traveled to multiple countries to aid in a Nazi-hunting operation where he located the notorious angel of death, Joseph Mengele.
In the conclusion, Sugerman is presented in raw fashion as one of the notable fighters in the war against anti-Semitism. Sure, his methods are non-traditional, and all he can do today is try to convince a divided society to see the past. He uses terms that will perhaps sound a bit controversial to some, but his past speaks for itself. There’s no justification for crime, but the hate he seems to try to obliterate is much more important than rigging slot and pinball machines.
Last Man Standing is also an illuminating story about family. In the end, that’s what everything is about: the values you grew up with and finding a way to honor them by being the best you can be. Sugerman isn’t a perfect man, but his navigation through a rocky lifestyle modeled him to become a relevant figure in the war against hate. The mob business? That was just secondary to the cause he served because of his blood.
Film critic. Lover of all things horror. Member of the OFCS. RT Approved Critic.
