The Way of the Gun

Rating:
Summary: It's one of those love it or hate it movies
Review: Christopher McQuarrie deservedly won an Oscar a few years ago for his screenplay for The Usual Suspect. Not only did he pen the script for The Way of the Gun, he also chose the movie as his first directing effort. The result is not a great American film, but I do not feel, as some critics do, that it is a bad one. Most of the negative reviews concentrated on the violence in the movie, as if the level of it was unexpected. The fact is that The Usual Suspects was also quite violent. Guns, mayhem and macho misadventures are McQuarrie's stock in trade to date. The title itself should have been a warning. What sets him apart is his creative, twisted plot devices and his way-above-average dialog.

The story is dark and nihilistic. Parker [Ryan Phillipe] states at the beginning that he and his partner, Longbaugh [Benicio del Toro] are misfits whose only reason for existing is to survive. The pair learns of a wealthy, ruthless businessman who is paying a woman $1,000,000 to bear a child for him and is wife, simply because the wife does not want to go through pregnancy herself. The resourceful Parker and Longbaugh hatch a plan to kidnap the mother and unborn child and hold them for ransom. The scheme is fairly well thought out, but the men do not take into account the people they are dealing with. The businessman, Chidduck [Scott Wilson], has in his employ two bodyguards who do not like to lose. He also knows a hit man who he has used on several occasions. Parker and Longbaugh barely manage to capture their victim. Keeping her is no easy task, and getting the ransom is certainly problematic. None of the players in this cat and mouse game play by the rules. The result is quite a guessing game for the audience.

This is Ryan Phillipe's best role and performance to date. Like Brad Pitt, Phillipe's great acting abilities are hindered by a face that is just too pretty. He will probably have to prove himself over and over again. Benicio del Toro, who is also talented, does not have the pretty boy problem. Ironically, this fact will probably confine him to character actor status. Juliette Lewis does her best in the role of the victim, but it is a thankless part. It is difficult to play a woman nine months pregnant, much less one who is being held by two admitted sociopaths.

The Way of the Gun is one of those movies that people tend either to like or to loathe. I am one who liked it, despite its flaws, yet I can understand why it could repel many viewers. I don't think that this is because of the level of violence, which is high but not extraordinarily so by current standards. I think it is because the story and its characters are so nihilistic and because the movie strikes a chord in American society. We are schizophrenic in our view of handguns and assault rifles. The majority of us believe we have a right to own them but are appalled that some people use them for their intended purpose. The Way of the Gun suggests that we might be trying to have our cake and eat it too.

Rating:
Summary: Slick Action Flick
Review: Okay first thing first, this is a movie you have to pay attention to or you will get lost. So take heed, when watching Way of the Gun, put on your thinking cap. If you do so, it's a awesome movie to watch, the plot is super slick, the action is great and all the characters are fun to watch and see how they interact with one another. The only downfall I did see to this movie is that none of the characters are really ones you would get attached to. If they die, big deal, if they don't well happy happy joy joy. The movie doesn't give you those characters you get attached to and make you say "damnit why couldn't he have lived!"

As for the extras, I think this flick is a pretty nice package all in all, its got some good extras to keep you entertained for awhile. But nothing terribly earth shattering, just simple and nice to look at.

So in closure, this is a slick action flick that I feel is pretty real to life. Hell all the characters are corrupt and well they don't hide the fact that they are. I think the movie is super well done and a great watch. But be warned, if you do not pay attention to this movie when watching you will miss out on the great plot.

So go out movie buyer and buy/rent Way of the Gun.

Rating:
Summary: you like benicio you like this film
Review: another stunning performance from benicio del toro, this film is a must for all fans

Rating:
Summary: ORIGINAL MOVIE WITH GREAT CHARACTERS & ACTION
Review: If you like non-formula movies with interesting characters and outstanding action, order this film. If you hate movies where stupid technical errors are made with weapons and tactics, you will not be disappointed in this movie. They had a great technical advisor for the shootout scenes, and the characters are good bad guys without apologizing for their actions. They don't try to make you like them, but you probably will anyway. If you like Reservoir Dogs and Fight Club and movies like that, you will dig this flick. Check it out!

Rating:
Summary: Not a Good Movie
Review: This movie was boring. The dialogue was unimaginative and stale. The language used was technical cold and uninspired. The plot had holes and too many entanglements to care about. Every person involved had some angle so no one was ever developed fully. The movie ointroduces the two main characters as "petty thieves" or "small time crooks", yet when the action begins they move and act as if they are ex-navy seals. Oh yeah, and apparently they are telepathic though that angle is never explored. Juliet Lewis did nothing but sceam throughout. I honestly can't think of one thing I liked about this movie.

Rating:
Summary: The Way of the Gun
Review: Wow! I bought this film on DVD for two reasons: one, my husband and I had just bought a DVD and we wanted a film to test it; and two, Benicio del Toro is one of my favorite actors. My husband and I were really blown away by it!

Starring Benicio del Toro, Ryan Philippe, and Juliette Lewis, this film is definitely not for a young audience or an audience that doesn't like alot of shooting or gore. My husband and I only watch it when we're sure the kids are in deep REM sleep. The storyline is pretty interesting. del Toro and Philippe are your well-rounded criminals, specializing in theft and murder. When they plot to kidnap the pregnant woman (played by Juliette Lewis) who is a surrogate mother for a very wealthy couple and hold her and the unborn child for ransom, they get alot more than they bargained for. Taye Diggs(who plays a bodyguard) and James Caan (who plays a hitman) are among the strong, all-star supporting cast, who are on the tail of the kidnappers. The plot twists and turns, and definitely keeps you glued to your seat. Get the popcorn and the snacks before sitting down, because you won't want to miss a second of this! There are alot of shooting and gory scenes, but it is excellently directed and not badly written by McQuarrie. McQuarrie doesn't do as great here as he did with The Usual Suspects, but this is worth getting if you like fast, edge-of-your-seat shooting films.

The DVD itself has alot of good features, such as theatrical trailers, cast biographies and interviews, deleted scenes storyboards, etc. LIke I said, it isn't the type of film the entire family can sit down to watch, but it's still a very good film.

Rating:
Summary: What a mind-bender!
Review: Well, all in all a great flick. Good characters, great action scenes, wonderful plot twists that keep you struggling to keep up. And the final scene gets the award for Most Efficient Brain-Melting Twist Ending of all time because it is only 4 seconds long, but causes you to utter "Ohhh, my brain" and sit in a corner, whimpering. So...you should see this movie.

Rating:
Summary: ....hmmmmmmmm.....
Review: let's see: a movie entitled "way of the gun"...proly not gonna be somethin spiritually redeeming...and it's not! it gets bogged down a couple times for a minute or so but only when the writers and them are tryin to "flesh out" the characters and some of the convoluted plot. but sometimes convolution is good! i didnt buy this expecting to see "saving private ryan"...i like movies like "pulp fiction", "snatch", "jackie brown" and even "low down dirty shame"..."way of the gun" falls somewhere inbetween "snatch" and "...dirty shame". and i'm glad i saw it!

Rating:
Summary: Waste of time....
Review: Just what civilization needs...more shoot-it-out silliness. Pretty unendurable, sensationalist script which sounds out of kilter. Has no redeeming value and the stupidity of it all are summarized by the last scene. Don't waste your time on this one.

Rating:
Summary: ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!
Review: I must strongly disagree with the editorial review which claims this film is not as good as the Usual Suspects. On the contrary i think it is a far superior film and Christopher McQuarrie demonstrates what a truelly fabulous career in film he could have ahead of him both as a writer and director. I have long been a fan of action thrillers, but have rarely come away from a movie so impressed. How often can you come away from an action movie and say that you've just seen something totally new, something you've never seen before? Christopher McQuarrie has given us a superb and very unique film experience.ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!! Great performances, great script, great direction, great film!