Review of The Way of the Gun (2000) by Aaron N — 25 Jun 2008
Joe Sarno: So, you the brains of this outfit, or is he?
Longbaugh: Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation.
The longest distance between two points is a kidnapper and his money. Basically sums up the movie. A kidnapping plot that is mixed with lots of twists and convoluted plot points that make me enjoy it more. The dialog is also what makes this movie great to me. A lot of it is very funny,.
Longbaugh: I've... never killed a man.
Interviewer: I beg your pardon?
Longbaugh: I said I never killed a man.
Interviewer: I didn't ask if you had.
Longbaugh: You asked why I thought I was qualified, I think of that as qualification.
Some of it is insightful in its own sort of way,.
Hale Chidduck: Do you believe in karma?
Joe Sarno: Karma's justice without the satisfaction. I don't believe in justice.
And with that, the movie is also fun to me. It plays a lot like a western themed movie, but plays against a lot of Hollywood conventions, the car chase done here would be a great example of this. The gunplay is also awesome, realistic and very cool to watch.
Ryan Phillippe and Benicio del Toro star as the leads, two low lives, who try to make it big with a not-too-planned out kidnapping. Juliette Lewis plays the victim, who is a surrogate mother for the man who needs to pay the money. James Caan is awesome as a bagman, who has to resort to his own means to get back the woman. And Taye Diggs and Nicky Kaat play to bodyguards concerned only with winning.
Longbaugh: You know what I'm gonna tell God when I see him? I'm gonna tell him I was framed.
From the writer of the Usual Suspects, Christopher McQuarri, I like this film more because of the way these characters handle the subject manner. What's also enjoyable, is that the movie plays out a lot like a western as mentioned, having two anti-heroes going after what they want, mixing it up with tough guys along the way, complete with a soundtrack playing tribute to Ennio Morricone. A movie that has it's own sort of groove, and is one of my favorites.
Longbaugh: What do you think?
Parker: I think a plan is just a list of things that don't happen.
This review of The Way of the Gun (2000) was written by Aaron N on 25 Jun 2008.
The Way of the Gun has generally received mixed reviews.
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