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The Way of the Gun

The Way of the Gun

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: If You Liked Heat and Reservoir Dogs....
Review: There's a very good chance you're going to like this one. Its got clever dialog, irredeemable unapologetic characters, and lots of cool gunplay. Un-PC? Sure. Thats what I loved about this picture. If violence offends you what in blazes are you watching a movie called "The Way of the Gun"?

Its does recall Peckinpah's the Wild Bunch (although they named themselves after Butch and the Sundance Kid) but in a thoroughly post-modern bent. Yeah, the gunplay is some of the best I've seen. Del Toro and Phillipe looked like pros handling their weapons in tight quarters. (Finally actors who kept their fingers off the triggers when they weren't shooting, I appreciated that.) Kudos to whoever was the technical advisor.

I first had reservations about Phillipe playing a Heavy but both he and especially Benicio Del Toro exude tons of charisma and menace. They would have both fit in well with either DeNiro's or Keitel's Crew.

Admittedly, some of the plot points aren't fully articulated (no, its not as finely crafted as LA Confidential or the Usual Suspects) but it does nicely in the crime genre.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great For What It Is
Review: The universe in general, and the world of moviegoing in specific, really has to lose using Tarantino as a bench mark for cinema. Believe it or not, loud shooty heist movies like "The Way of the Gun" existed before Tarantino, so it's sad that any film that can be categorized as a heist movie or a caper flick post-"Reservoir Dogs" has to be dismissed as "Tarantino-esque."

Don't get me wrong: "Reservoir Dogs" is one of my all-time favorite movies. But even Tarantino himself would admit he wasn't blazing new ground there. Peckinpah and a host of others were doing crime thrillers way before QT brought the black-suit-and thin-black-tie ensemble to these shores (from Hong Kong action movies, natch, as well as old American gangster films).

That having been said, "Way of the Gun" is great for what it is, and it knows exactly what it should be. The opening scene sets the mood of the film: loud, brash, unapologetic and brutally funny. The film follows this, and manages to take the audience on a nice little trip along the way. Gone are the chatty hitmen and pop culture references that make movies truly "Tarantino-esque," and make rip-offs of "Dogs" like "Truth And Consequences, N.M." so lame. What's left with "Gun" is a taut, well made film. "Gladiator" it's not, but then again, it's not supposed to be.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Watch Yourself
Review: As I read some of the negative reviews that were posted on this site I was amazed at how some of these psuedo-movie buffs would throw out certain comments that just do not apply. Let me be as straightfoward about this movie as possible: You aren't really supposed to like anyone in it. Yes, thats right, none of the characters are really good people. I fought with this as I watched it for the first time. I guess that you have to be a bit less than pristine and judgemental to enjoy this one, but come on what a film! The violence was gloriously shot by McQuarrie and Phillipe and Del Toro should be established headliners due to this one. James Caan is outstanding as he has always been. The story is great, the action is better, the acting is surprisingly good, and it combines the essence of so many different genres that it is irresistable. Buy it as soon as you can, it is classic in my book.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Review: Nosiy, pointlessly labyrinthine nouveaux-Tarantino gick about two hitmen who kidnap a pregnant woman... or something. The plot is almost besides the point; this is clearly a U.S. effort to cash in on the melodramatic excesses of Hongkong cinema, but it doesn't work for a lot of reasons. Director McQuarrie got his stars from the script for "The Usual Suspects;" this story seems too confused and tired to be really interesting. The biggest problem is a total lack of anyone we can give a darn about, something John Woo was an expert at doing. Mcquarrie's no John Woo -- heck, he's not even any Billy Tang, come to think of it.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Great Ambition
Review: This film was made with a huge ambition. The filmaker wanted to make a film that would be a huge story, but somewhere along the way he messed things up a little. The story revolves around to kidnappers, Phillipe, and the great Benicio Del Toro, and their plan to kidnap a surogate mother to collect the money that she will receive for having this child. The plot hits a few snags when the mother, played by the ever annoying Julliete "the other sister" Lewis enters. All the actress does is yell about everything. This acting style gets on every last nerve after her first five minutes. The gun play is probably the loudest i have ever heard in a movie. The film starts off incredible, with a hilarious altercation at a night club, then the film starts to drift into trouble with the rest of the plot, and how to get the movie to go along at an even pace.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Uterly Genius
Review: By far one of the best movies I've ever seen, if not the best. I went to see this movie three times in the theater it was so good. I was going to go see it a fourth time but i was greeted by a sign posted in the movie theater saying The Way of the Gun has been pulled from the New Jersey movie theaters. It was said to have been pulled for it's intense and graphic violence but I think that's just a load of BS. By no way is The Way of the Gun a violence jam packed movie trying to pull it's audience in with blood and gore. Sure, the movie has plenty but not enough for it to be pulled from the theaters. The movie's dialog is cunning and it's script is masterfully written. The casting for this movie couldn't be better. The only casting fault I found was the annoying voice of the pregnant, Juliette Lewis. The realism blew me away. The real sounding gun shots (not those fake Terminator sound FX) the realistic flesh wounds and makeup jobs, the soundtrack and the ingenius gunfights. The sniping scene alone makes this movie worth watching over and over. This is by far the best work of art on film I've ever seen and probably ever will see. There's not a single flaw with the movie. It is obvious this movie was well thought out and well planned. It would be a shame if this movie doesn't win some major awards including best movie for 2000, but this probably won't happen due to the Academy's lack of taste. If you're looking for an exciting, witting and intelligent film this movie should be on the top of your list.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A review from a slightly different point of view
Review: As the DVD is not out (more the pity) this review is on the move version. I went to see this, based soley on the direction/writer, and Benicio Del Toro. I came out thinking, what a great movie.

Some may say it is mindless senceless violence, I say wrong,look again. All the violence is very directed, and to a point, no wasted energy. The plot twists, are entertaining, as in usual suspects. The movie does harken to sixties style movies, with the likes of Lee Marvin, and Steve Mcqueen.

As a Full time firearms instuctor, for a metropolitin agency, I tip my hat to who ever did the weapons craft instruction to the actors, particulary Del Toro and Phillipe. No mistakes, real world pro moves, the first from a movie! Haveing seen a few real world bag men ( I hate bag men) I have to say Mr. Cann, and friends nailed that to a T. All and all, a damn good movie.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: WAY to go!
Review: It's very hard to revive cliched film genres. Especially genres that have been dead for a long time. Especially western-style shoot em`ups. But this one works, and woah, does it ever! I`ve never been a fan of teen heart throb Ryan Phillipe, but after seeing this, I have gained total respect of the man. The film starts off as a darkly written, hilarious piece of literature. And it doesn`t end there. Then the movie becomes very Tarintino-esque, and from there, a bit of western style violence (ie: Desperado). Even though, at times, it was a little soap-opera-ish, it`s a great film, with a great cast, a great script and superb direction. I think even though it uses an old format, The Way of the Gun, is a wonderful piece of work, and should not be missed, especially because of the first 20 minutes.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great flick.
Review: This movie has some of the best shootouts since Heat. If you like a good shoot 'em up buy it! It's definately worth the hefty price. The soundtrack is also extremely well done, if you have Napster be sure to download some of the songs and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: One Rotten Apple
Review: The title, the art work, Benicio Del Toro, same maker as Usual Suspects...I went into this movie with the greatest of expectations and walked out wondering if I could somehow get a refund. Overly dramatic acting and a completely mis-matched score makes this movie humorous to watch. Juliette Lewis delivers the only real performance, but it's still not enough to save this movie. Christopher McQuarrie tried using John Woo's gun scenes accompanied by a Shawshank Redemption-style score in the background. It just doesn't work. The marketing of this picture looks interesting, but the content is sub-par at best.


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