The Old Man & the Gun

The Old Man & the Gun

Starring Robert Redford, Sissy Spacek, Casey Affleck, Danny Glover

Directed by David Lowery

The Story:
Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford) is a lifelong criminal who's escaped from different jails a total of sixteen times, most recently escaping the nearly impossible San Quentin, and reunites with friends Teddy (Danny Glover) and Waller (Tom Waits) to rob several banks in multiple states.  What makes their crime spree so different - besides their age - is how Forrest treats his victims.  He's a gentleman, always smiling, and even offering consoling words to the bank tellers he robs, and the three are deemed "the Over the Hill Gang."

For Detective John Hunt (Casey Affleck), this is a case that he wants to solve desperately, even if it seems no one else around him really cares, since the criminals are so oddly likeable and they don't steal a lot of money.  While on the run, Forrest meets widower Jewel (Sissy Spacek), and the two begin a slow romantic relationship, but can it last with his continual lust for robberies coming between them, along with the law hot on his heels?

The Pros:

The Sundance Kid.  Johnny Hooker.  Jay Gatsby.  Bob Woodward.  Roy Hobbs.  Robert Redford has been a cinematic icon since the 1960s, and now, with "The Old Man & the Gun," has officially announced his retirement.  Forrest Tucker will be the final character Redford will ever play - yet I still hold out hope he'll eventually come out of retirement (maybe to do a movie with fellow recent-retiree Daniel Day-Lewis?), and for such a celebrated, decorated, seasoned, top-notch actor, this is the perfect role to go out on.

Forrest Tucker was a real-life bank robber who escaped from several prisons and continued his crime spree every time he escaped, and the reason he kept robbing wasn't for the money - but because he wanted to really live.  Redford encapsulates this man's insatiable thirst for life with simply a glimmer in his eye or sideways smile that shows this is what he loves to do, and it's somewhat ironic that his last outing is playing a character who repeatedly went back to what he was best at - maybe it's a subliminal hint that he really won't retire, or that's just my wishful thinking yet again.

Redford plays Tucker with nuance and professionalism, dignity and grace.  He's the epitome of an old-school gentleman, who consoles those he robs as he's robbing them, and doesn't brandish his gun for everyone to see and fear, but rather approaches the tellers and managers of banks with a quiet, respectable attitude, and even as the police ask questions to them, they somewhat credit Tucker as a man who was smiling, and was a gentleman.  This makes the job difficult for the police, as Tucker comes forth as sort of a folk hero, who doesn't steal a lot of money, and who's already higher up in age, so what would it behoove them to send such an old man back to prison?

There are some wonderful cinematic moments between Robert Redford and Sissy Spacek that is truly haunting and magical.  When these two titans of cinema are together, you can sense not just the decades of talent on screen, but the consummate professionals harbor such respect for one another that they bring out the best in both of them.  You won't find this type of talent with any other two actors, and it's kind of a surprise that it took this long for these two legends to grace the same screen together.

Casey Affleck shines as the detective bent on bringing Forrest in on his own, and yet even he harbors some respect and admiration for the criminal.  As he enters his fortieth birthday, he begins to feel his own life on the downswing, but hearing of these older men who still act like young hoodlums, he shows a new zest for life and is bent on bringing Forrest in himself.  Affleck gives a subtle performance that's somehow also electrifying, and even though you don't want Forrest to get caught, you would love to see these two characters sit down, share a beer, and have a talk.

While the film takes place in 1981, the filming style gives it a very old-timey feel that hearkens back to Redford's classic time.  "A Ghost Story" director David Lowery (which is another fantastic film that uses unique filming styles), combined with the talents of cinematographer Joe Anderson and composer David Hart, bring forward a unique film that will take you back farther than when the movie is set to the classic era of Hollywood.  The cinematography gives a darker feel like the classics of old, and Hart's music is intertwined throughout with classic piano scores and bluesy jazz ensembles that only add to the magic on screen.

The Cons:

While this is Redford's final film, the role of Forrest Tucker doesn't seem big enough for such an iconic actor to go out with.  While it was absolutely tremendous and formidable, I don't know if this character will be remembered as fondly as his other on-screen creations.

This film is rather dry, and the only way you can truly appreciate it is if you know what it is.  This isn't a film you gather a bunch of friends with on a Friday night to have in the background, but rather one that should be appreciated, valued, and studied for the piece of art it is.  You wouldn't go to the Louvre to think you're going to watch a football game, and you shouldn't go into "The Old Man & the Gun" thinking it'll be a non-stop action thrill ride.  It's a film that you need to be prepared to see, and if you go in with the wrong attitude, you'd probably find it boring.



The Summary:
With a stellar career like Robert Redford's, "The Old Man & the Gun" is a great way for the acting titan to go out on, providing another unique character that will linger in your memory long after it ends.

The Score: A+