It would be difficult, maybe impossible, to be not completely engaged by 85-year-old Myron Sugerman. 

Self-described as the last "real" Jewish gangster, Sugerman is a diverse tapestry of humanity. Born in New Jersey in 1938, Sugerman's father, Barney, was a well-known gangster and member of the New Jersey Jewish Mob who associated with the likes of Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Lucky Luciano, and a host of others. Myron Sugerman would grow up in the family business and become known as the king of illegal slots. While this alone would make for a compelling documentary, equally compelling is Sugerman's known association with Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal. Alongside Wiesenthal, the two would search for Nazis in 80 countries including Dr. Josef Mengele. 

Directed by Jonny Caplan, Last Man Standing is a vivid portrait of a complex man whose actions might be questionable to some, however, Last Man Standing paints a realistic portrait that neither romanticizes nor denies Sugerman's background. Growing up with the rise of the German American Bund party and its leader Fritz Kuhn, Sugerman's world was undeniably jarring. While many of us know of Hitler's Nazi Party in Germany, Last Man Standing reminds us of the rise of the Nazi party in the U.S. including the infamous 1939 Madison Square Garden rally that is captured here in archival footage. 

In a world in which we're seeing a resurgence of anti-semitism, it's incredibly unnerving. 

Based for the most part off Sugerman's own memoir, Last Man Standing features extensive interviews with Sugerman himself, an intriguing fellow who reportedly dealt with COVID-19, pneumonia, and other illnesses while filming yet still managed to fully participate. We learn about such things as the Newark Minutemen, a group of Jewish mobsters whose leanings were admittedly more toward physical aggression out of necessity and who were more than willing to match the Nazi Party in the U.S. 

The film's strongest scenes are those in which Sugerman meets up with Wiesenthal. The meeting resulted in a long-term partnership dedicated to hunting Nazis worldwide and defending Judaism. 

As dramatic as Sugerman's life has been, Last Man Standing is surprisingly straightforward. Caplan mostly allows Sugerman to tell his own story, an observational approach that is effective in recognizing the drama already inherent in Sugerman's stories. For those who appreciate true crime stories or unique parts of American history, Last Man Standing is for sure a film to check out. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic