The Last Shot (2004) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The FBI arrested John Gotti and dismantled his operation because they had gathered enough evidence to convict him. The entire film production was merely a distraction and surveillance tool, not the actual plan to bring down Gotti. Devine was kept in the dark about the timing because the FBI wanted to avoid tipping off the mob that their cover had been blown, ensuring the arrest could happen seamlessly without warning.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Devine pressured the FBI to extend the investigation for one more week, unaware that authorities had already decided to move in.

• fbi arrest
• gotti
• sting operation
• timing
• movie production

FBI agent Joe Devine created a fake Hollywood production called Arizona as a front to get close to Tommy Sanz, a corrupt Teamster linked to John Gotti's crime family. The film production allowed Devine to arrange meetings and document interactions with Sanz accepting bribes. The FBI recorded everything, using the movie as cover to gather evidence of racketeering and organized crime activity.

Foreshadowing: Devine explained to Schats that the movie needed to look legitimate to attract real investors and suspects.

• fbi
• sting
• teamsters
• sanz
• movie front
• undercover

Devine needed a real filmmaker to make the fake production convincing. Schats was a struggling screenwriter and director who was desperate to direct his own feature film, making him vulnerable to Devine's pitch. His genuine passion for filmmaking and financial desperation made him the perfect stooge to believe the Hollywood producer story without question.

Foreshadowing: Devine specifically targeted Schats after observing his frustration with his current circumstances.

• steven schats
• filmmaker
• desperate
• chosen
• undercover

Tommy Sanz was the corrupt Teamster that Devine targeted with the movie production. The film provided opportunities for Sanz to meet with the fake producers and accept bribes, which the FBI recorded as evidence of racketeering. While the film doesn't explicitly show Sanz's arrest, the extended investigation was specifically to catch him and other Teamsters involved in illegal activities.

Foreshadowing: Devine specifically mentioned Sanz as the target and urged the FBI to extend the operation to catch more racketeers.

• tommy sanz
• teamster
• bribe
• arrest
• racketeering

The FBI needed to maintain the cover of the sting operation until the very moment they moved in. If Devine had known about the impending arrest, his behavior might have changed and raised suspicion among the mob. Keeping him in the dark ensured the operation appeared normal and that Gotti's associates wouldn't be alerted to the law enforcement presence.

Foreshadowing: Devine expressed enthusiasm about continuing the operation right up until the arrest happened.

• devine
• fbi
• arrest
• timing
• secret
• cover

Two years after the sting, the film was released under the title Leaving Arizona. It was inspired by the actual sting operation and premiered with Devine and Schats in attendance. Devine secretly wrote a screenplay and presented the opening scene to Schats as a gesture of reconciliation, showing that the project became real despite its origins as a fake front.

Foreshadowing: Devine's genuine passion for filmmaking grew throughout the production, hinting he would continue creating real movies.

• arizona
• leaving arizona
• premiere
• screenplay
• devine
• schats

Devine apologized because he had manipulated Schats into参与 an FBI operation under false pretenses. Schats believed he was making a real independent film, only to discover the entire production was a sting operation. The apology at the premiere of the film that resulted from their collaboration was Devine's acknowledgment of the deception and its impact on Schats' life.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, Schats showed signs of unhappiness with the production but was swayed by the luxurious treatment.

• devine
• apology
• schats
• premiere
• reconciliation
• deception

Val became upset when she learned that a high-profile actor had landed the lead role in the movie, feeling that Devine had kept this from her. Her frustration stemmed from feeling excluded from the exciting developments in the production. In response, Devine offered her a different part in the film, which initiated a sequence of changes in their relationship and the project itself.

Foreshadowing: Val's reaction highlighted the personal stakes involved in the operation beyond just the criminal investigation.

• val
• girlfriend
• tension
• casting
• actor
• relationship

Devine's enthusiasm and success with the operation convinced his FBI superiors to grant him a three-picture deal. This agreement allowed Devine to continue producing films while pursuing his undercover mission against organized crime, essentially legitimizing his dual role as both an agent and a Hollywood producer. The deal reflected the FBI's willingness to use film productions as ongoing sting operation covers.

Foreshadowing: Devine's genuine excitement about filmmaking convinced his superiors of the operation's viability.

• three picture deal
• fbi
• devine
• approval
• production

The ending shows Schats with a new deaf girlfriend as a symbol of his personal transformation and peace. Earlier in the film, he was stressed and unhappy living next to a noisy kennel. His new relationship represents his contentment and growth following the tumultuous experience with the sting operation, showing he has found tranquility away from the chaos of the fake movie production.

Foreshadowing: Earlier tension existed between Schats and his girlfriend who was distressed over the barking dogs.

• schats
• deaf girlfriend
• peace
• ending
• tranquility
• transformation