Hi Diddlydee Everyone, Harry here and folks... this movie just friggin rules. I adore it quite a bit, and it seems... so does The Flash.... as he has been bitten by the bug of this film as well.... Enjoy....
Hey Harry & Geeks At Large,
A few weeks ago I jumped the time stream and caught a screening of Christopher McQuarrie's directorial debut, THE WAY OF THE GUN. I haven't found the time to write up a review that would do this film justice until recently, due to my unrelenting rogues gallery. I was looking forward to see what McQuarrie was capable of behind the camera. Bryan Singer did a bang-up job of directing THE USUAL SUSPECTS and has since shown off some more talent, most recently in X-MEN. However, as far as THE USUAL SUSPECTS goes, McQuarrie was the bigger brains in the outfit. The story was far and away the core of the film and he was rightfully rewarded with an Oscar. After that, McQuarrie ups and writes THE WAY OF THE GUN, directs it, adds Benicio Del Toro, Ryan Phillipe and James Caan into the mix.
THE WAY OF THE GUN is McQuarrie's first time in the director's chair. Did it work out? Oh yes. THE WAY OF THE GUN is one very cool, highly entertaining, bullets flying, blood spilling kinda movie. The story flat out engrosses you, it's fun, sharp, well-developed, a crime thriller with a twist of westen and action thrown in. The story follows the two main characters, Longbaugh (Benicio Del Toro) and Parker (Ryan Phillippe), longtime partners that live by "the way of the gun," living life by whatever gets them by. They don't have high expectations, they just do what they have to, donate sperm, kill people, whatever. They find out that Robin (Juliette Lewis), is carrying a child for a wealthy couple, and so the plan is to kidnap her and ask for a hefty ransom. The wealthy couple, being concerned for their unborn child, have hired bodyguards (Taye Diggs & Nicky Katt) full-time to protect Robin. Obviously, things get complicated. There are twists here and there, no earth-shattering conclusion that completely changes your viewpoint (i.e. THE USUAL SUSPECTS), but the movie most definitely pays off in spades.
Benecio Del Toro (THE USUAL SUSPECTS, FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS), is as always, the man, the sly Longbaugh. He keeps things simple and play everything cool. Ryan Phillippe's Parker isn't as dettached as Longbaugh, he's more sentimental. There are people who don't like Phillippe, I am not one of them. I've liked him since WHITE SQUALL, his performance in that is nothing but strong. Yeah, he did 54 and I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, but you can't attribute the huge problems those movies have to Phillippe. Then there's Juliette Lewis. Oh, how i loathe thee. Juliette Lewis is a skinny little bitch that always seems like she's whining. Fortunately for her, this plays right into her character in THE WAY OF THE GUN. As an abducted pregnant woman almost through her third tri-mester who constantly whines isn't so far-fetched. Although, she's walking around like a penguin the whole time. Even though she's not going into labor, the way she's walking makes it look like she can't hold it in any longer. Taye Diggs & Nicky "I'd tell you blow it out your ass, but my dick's in the way" Katt play the good ol' stonefaced bodygaurds, and they do it par for the course, they take their jobs seriously. James Caan is the stern-faced mutherlovin' bagman, who stands like he has a metal plate in the back of his neck, not to mess with. There is a scene in which he and Benicio are talking, coolness oozes everywhere. These are two characters that understand each other, they're both coming from similar occupational backgrounds and know how things go down. They respect each other and it's damn nifty to watch.
There are many shootouts in this film and they are all great. Tension throughout, McQuarrie milks each bullet. If you've seen Michael Mann's bullet opus, HEAT, you can expect much of the same. The finale rocks hard, guns blazing, flesh wounds all around, booyeah.
And who doesn't love the silver lining? In this film, it is without a doubt, Joe Kraemer's score. The score is fantastic. It's percusion driven (bass drummin'), has a very strong theme, and work's most wonders with the film's tension. You know when it's high noon and you get the rattlesnake effect in the music as a tumbleweed rolls across the ground, the music plays like that. When the score arrives in stores on Tuesday (8/22), I will be buying it. When this film is released in theaters on September 8th, I recommend you see it.
- The Flash
