MPAA Rating: R, strong violence/gore, language and some sexuality
Run time: 119 minutes
Director/Writer:
Christopher McQuarrie (directoral debut), also wrote The Usual Suspects
Cast:
Longbaugh - Benecio Del Toro (The Usual Suspects, Traffic, Snatch)
Parker - Ryan Phillippe (I Know What You Did Last Summer, Cruel Intentions, Gosford Park)
Robin - Juliette Lewis (Natural Born Killers, Who's Eating Gilbert Grape, From Dusk Til Dawn)
Joe Sarno - James Caan (El Dorado, The Godfather, Thief, Gardens Of Stone)
Jeffers - Taye Diggs (How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Chicago, Basic)
Obecks - Nicky Katt (Phantoms, One True Thing, Rules Of Engagement)
Do you like Quentin Tarantino? Do you like Sam Peckinpah? If you answer yes to either of these you should check out this film. If you answer yes to both, you really owe it to yourself to watch this little known gem of a film. Be warned though: it has several scenes of intense violence and gore. Hmmm, I did mention Tarantino and Peckinpah, right? :yesnod:
Way Of The Gun tells the tale of two unrepentant, small-time criminals that step up to the big leagues by kidnapping a pregnant woman (Robin) for ransom, that is the surrogate mother for a rich businessman and his trophy wife. Little do they know that this businessman is a frontman for the mob and their money-laundering operations - oops. James Caan is "the bag man" who is called in to set things straight by bailing out the bodyguards (Jeffers and Obecks) that failed to protect Robin, return the girl and baby, and take out the kidnappers. Throw in a double-cross or two, some infidelity, lots of gunplay, a well written script and you have quite a rollercoaster of a movie.
Fine performances across the board by this ensemble cast give the movie a sense of depth and presence. Even with the moments of violence and gore, this is a dialog driven movie - yes, that's right - a dialog driven movie. There's a Tarantino-esque feel to the conversations and narration that suggest moments from The Usual Suspects or dare I say it, Pulp Fiction. James Caan is a gem, tossing in small things like a perpetually stiff neck (notice the bullet scar below his jaw) that causes him to have to swivel his entire upper body. He can put more into a small look than many actors can put into an entire role. His characterization of the stoic, conflicted "cleaner" is a fine one. Benecio Del Toro? Ryan Phillippe? Both turn in fine performances as completely amoral thugs that get into a situation well out of their control. Juliette Lewis is convincing as the mom-to-be struggling through her last days of pregnancy and trying to survive this insanity.
Visually, the sets are well framed in an "enhanced for widescreen" 1.85:1 presentation. While the color palette and lighting are fairly standard, there are a couple of shots in the Mexican desert that are tinged with yellows and browns which are appropriate to the setting. Detail is quite good, although there are a couple of dark scenes that crush some of the black definition. Overall, there's nothing too spectacular, but at the same time, nothing too negative in the visual presentation.
Sonically, the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack has a good front soundstage, with clean clear dialog - yea! In the theater, I had some difficulty picking up some of what was being said, but that is not an issue on the DVD. Gunshots - of which there are many - are convincing in tone and feel. You get everything from automatic weapons to shotguns to revolvers. If you are a "gunner", it's in here for you. Surrounds are used in an off-and-on manner, but you'll get your fill of directional cues in the gunfights!
Overall, I enjoyed Way Of The Gun. It's definitely not for everyone - especially those of delicate sensibilities - but if you want a fine, quirky little change of pace film with nice dialog interspersed with moments of seriously violent gunplay, check it out.
I give Way Of The Gun :35: out of :5:.
DVD info:
1.85:1, enhanced for widescreen
DD 5.1, English
Single-side (SS-RSDL)
Macrovision protected
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