The Way of the Gun

Rating:
Summary: A TRUE GUILTY PLEASURE!
Review: This movie really ought to be junk. The story is a very convoluted kidnapping caper, but it's also a bit stock and predictable. The violence is SO gratuitously over-the-top. And yet, and yet...IT'S A LOT OF FUN!!!

It tells the story of two really stupid hoodlums who kidnap a girl who turns out to be surrogate mother for a big-time mobster, and naturally, his henchmen are determined to get this pregnant mother back. And they far outnumber these two stupid guys in brains AND firepower. And the girl has a secret of her own that makes her even more dangerous.

But are these guys as stupid as they seem? Are they as ruthless? It's hard to tell. And that is part of the fun. The two hoods are played by Ryan Phillipe, who is the very occasional voice-over narrator of the film, and thus it's hero, I suppose. But his partner is played by Benicio del Toro, and he's GREAT. What a great look this guy has. His hair and burning eyes. He does "still waters run deep" very well.

On the other side of the fence, we've got James Caan as the chief "bag man" for the mobster, and he's very good as well. Weary but dangerous, that's him. Taye Diggs is a young bodyguard who has a few secrets of his own. Juliette Lewis (perhaps a little less annoying than usual) is the girl with the baby and the secret.

The scenes of gunplay are simple but fun. If you like your action scenes to involved lots of bullets flying and people just flat out shooting at each other, you'll be happy. It's all stylishly done, especially the grande finale in a cheap, Mexican hotel/cathouse. Lots of adobe flying everywhere, lots of great music in the background.

The movie really gets by on mood, and the fascinating Del Toro, with solid help from Caan and Phillipe. WARNING: The opening scene, which pretty much has nothing to do with the rest of the movie, is INCREDIBLY foul-mouthed, so if you don't want your kids exposed to every word in the book (makes Tarentino look tame), you may want to skip it.

Rating:
Summary: Song on Trailer?
Review: This is a great DVD and a great movie.

Does anybody know what the name of the song is that plays at the end of the theatrical trailer?

I would appreciate it if anybody who knows would respond.

Thanks.

Rating:
Summary: If you like shootouts, this is your movie
Review: I don't remember a movie I've ever seen with more gunfire per minute than this one. And not just random shooting. I'm talking about intense gun battles where main characters do not necessarily have the usual "immunity" to bullets as the plot goes by. Judged by this alone, if you like these kind of sequences, and they are very well done, then this is your kind of movie.

Of course they have to wrap a plot around it, and to their credit, they do populate the movie with credible stars. Best of the bunch is James Caan, who shows a weariness as a veteran mob enforcer who has probably been through a hundred shootouts. Taye Diggs is good as the modern day version of Caan, all business suits and corporate behavior, unlike the street-smarts of Caan. We expect Benecio del Toro to act appropriately as a thug, but pretty boy Ryan Phillipe does do a good job playing someone with a self-imposed "nothing to lose" mentality.

While not critically important to many viewers, there is a plot, and it also involves a good performance. Juliette Lewis is arguably the centerpoint of the movie, as a surrogate mom for a wealthy couple. She gets kidnapped by two of the above actors, and held for ransom. In some ways, it's a thankless role, as she has to waddle around looking nine months pregnant for the whole movie, and ready to give birth at any minute. The movie teases you in making you wonder if she really doesn't mind the kidnapping as an out to keep the baby she's mentally bonded with for herself.

For those that want plot, there's enough there to keep the cerebral view interested, but this is a well-done action movie for the afficionado of well-done action movies.

Rating:
Summary: I love this movie
Review: Buy it!! I love this movie. It's one of my favorites. It;s worth the money.

Rating:
Summary: TARANTINO. WITH BRAINS.
Review: Written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who wrote the screenplay of THE USUAL SUSPECTS a few years ago, THE WAY OF THE GUN is a movie not to be missed. Benicio Del Toro's and Juliette Lewis's performances are excellent and the rest of the cast include the always surprising James Caan, Taye Diggs and Ryan Phillippe as Benicio's pal.

A well-known critic once says that in every movie there are at least five minutes of pure cinema that justify the eighty-five other minutes you lose in front of your TV. If you take this affirmation for granted, THE WAY OF THE GUN is a masterpiece. Because several scenes of the movie are, in my opinion, worthy to be praised if you are a movie lover. Take Juliette's delivery in the middle of a gunfight à la Sam Peckinpah, for instance. Absolutely improbable but the scene is cinema at its highest level.

Another scene of anthology is the car chase with its moments of quiet observation and sudden violence. A lot more impressive than all the BULLITT-like car chases featured in today movies. In short, you'll find in THE WAY OF THE GUN all what you've appreciated in the first creative period of Quentin Tarantino. Suspense, surprises, creativity. Plus the brain.

A DVD zone your library.

Rating:
Summary: PURE GARBAGE!!!
Review: ...I must say that this is by FAR the worst movie I have ever seen. Believe me, that is to say ALOT. If you are a producer of this movie and are reading this review, I have just one thing to say to you: what on God's earth were you thinking?

First of all, the movie's plot line is extremely weak and not clearly defined. There is little to no characterization. The opening scene is just pure vulgarity and senseless use of the English language, if it can even pass as that. The movie just drags on in a monotonous and dull manner with periodic gunfights that are a bad imitation of scenes from The French Connection and The Matrix.

If you are thinking of buying this movie, just send your money to the Cuban Communist Party, because it will do greater good there. Or, if you are Buddhist, you could just get the ten dollars and take a trip to your local temple and make an offering. This would augment your religous beliefs and faclilitate your progress on the Eight-fold Path.

Bottom Line: Put your money and intellect to better use.

Rating:
Summary: Quite simply the greatest movie of its genre
Review: If you saw it in the theatre (like I did) count yourself a true fan of quality cinema. I introduced this classic to my co-workers after I had purchased it on Amazon.com. At first most were leary of watching a movie that they had never heard of before. Jokes were thrown back and forth and my taste in movies was questioned. Then they saw it. End to end it is a solid picture with no glaring flaws. Ryan Phillipe was a good actor in bad movies...now he has been immortalized along with a superb ensemble cast. Gritty, thought provoking, frenetic, classic.

Rating:
Summary: A solid example of neo-noir
Review: To understand this film, one should definitely be able to understand the genre which the film is trying to emulate. Although the plot is somewhat standard (kidnapping plot gone wrong), the characters give the film a somewhat new spin on the old standard.

This film, it should be noted, is not a comedy, not even a dark comedy. It is unfortunate that the preview tried to portray it as one. Rather, it is a crime drama that does not quite rise to the level of being a thriller.

Del Toro plays a much more understated performance than his one in "Usual Suspects". Phillipe's DiCaprio-esque pretty boy looks are offset by the intensity and intelligence of his character. But the star of this film is really James Caan, whose coolness, like Del Toro's, does not come across as forced. Caan is a jaded bagman at the end of his career, who has been in the business so long because he's good at his "job".

Ultimately, the intensity of the violence is underscored by the thoughtfulness of the dialogue. The writing is not just snappy (read: Tarantino), but rather intelligent, which is not a surprise given that McQuarrie wrote "Usual Suspects".

This movie is not on the level of "Usual Suspects", but it is a very good film which is better written than 90% of the movies that Hollywood churns out. See it if only for the dialogue.

Rating:
Summary: A SWAT Operator Reviews A Mostly Technically Accurate Film
Review: I first saw this movie in the theater during the 2000 Texas SWAT Competition. My teammates and I were surprised to see some very accurate technical aspects of gunfighting in this movie. As an armed professional and SWAT operator, I can state that the weapons handling, tactical movement, and verbiage of the protagonists and the two executive protection pursuers were fairly accurate. Most such films are rife with technical errors and sloppy weapons handling and movement. One of my closest friends and teammates is a former SEAL and he too was surprised by the accuracy in the tactics and gunfighting scenes. A little research revealed that the technial advisor for this film is the writer/director's brother and he is also a former SEAL. Clearly, this explains the refreshing technical accuracy which is so often missing from other films. Without getting too detailed, there are a few minor movements, and words used by the actors in this movie that would only be done by somebody with a high-level of training. While this may interfere with the story-line for some hardcore film critics, it only goes to reinforce a professional's enjoyment of the film. While not perfect, this movie depicts what just may be the most realistic gunfight scene ever filmed. It's too bad that many people (like my wife) do not appreciate this.

There are a few slow spots in the movie but they are critical for character and plot development. The Way of the Gun is a cross between "The Wild Bunch" and "Heat." Since this movie was released, it has developed a cult following in the SpecOps and SWAT communities much like the movie "Heat" has. This film is not a "date movie" nor is it something that your wife or girlfriend is likely to enjoy. If you want fairly realistic, modern gunfighting techniques mixed with a western-style gritty crime story, then this movie is for you.

Rating:
Summary: The Never Ending Shootout
Review: This film has so many things working against it. First, there is Ryan Phillippe whose role in "Gosford Park" was tailor made for a bad actor of his caliber. Second there is Juliette Lewis who does nothing but scream throughout the entire film (she is probably still screaming after seeing this film). Third this movie feels as though it will never end. It goes on and on and on. It's redundant. It goes on and on and on. It's redundant.

Seriously, if gun violence for the sake of gun violence appeals to you, you need to seriously evaluate your repressed emotions and stay away from this film.