The Way of the Gun (2000)

Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie | 119 minutes | crime, thriller | Actors: Ryan Phillippe, Benicio del Toro, Juliëtte Lewis, Taye Diggs, Nicky Katt, Geoffrey Lewis, Dylan Kussman, Scott Wilson, Kristin Lehman, James Caan, Henry Griffin, Armando Guerrero, Andres Orozco, Jan Jensen, José Perez

After Quentin Tarantino stunned the cinema world with the highly violent but exceptionally cleverly crafted films ‘Reservoir Dogs’ (1992) and ‘Pulp Fiction’ (1994), it was not long to wait for filmmakers to follow this new trend and Tarantino tried to copy. The trick then is not to make a direct copy (which, incidentally, no one has succeeded either), but to incorporate innovative elements. Christopher McQuarrie, who in 1995 wrote the critically acclaimed and Oscar-winning script for that year’s mystery hit, “The Usual Suspects,” took a gamble in 2000 with “The Way of the Gun.” A film of which he not only wrote the script, but also directed. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite come out what was in it, but McQuarrie does show how much talent he has at times.

The main characters in ‘The Way of the Gun’ are petty criminals Mr. Parker (Ryan Phillippe) and Mr. Longbaugh (Benicio del Toro), for whom it is time for them to take a really big hit. During a visit to a sperm bank – because you can also earn something with that – they overhear a doctor’s conversation. They learn that one of his clients is a young woman carrying a child for the wealthy Chidduck couple. They decide to kidnap this Robin (Juliette Lewis) and demand a large ransom. What the two criminals failed to take into account, however, is that Hale Chidduck (Scott Wilson) is a powerful man with criminal connections. To save his child, he sends his right-hand man, ruthless veteran Joe Sarno (James Caan), after Parker and Longbaugh. Robin’s bodyguards (Taye Diggs and Nicky Katt) are also on their tail. Just over the Mexican border, a violent confrontation erupts…

Christopher McQuarrie is daring to plunge straight into an ambitious project like ‘The Way of the Gun’ on his directorial debut. According to his own words, he wanted to get rid of the standard that applies in Hollywood for violent films, but he was not able to quite live up to that. Although he has done his best, for example by integrating refreshing western elements in this film. A side note that should be noted here is that the whole at times therefore resembles a style exercise too much. McQuarrie’s greatest asset, which has earned him so much credit for his script of ‘The Usual Suspects’, is the unexpected plot twist. Unfortunately he has been a bit excessive in ‘The Way of the Gun’ with surprising twists, so that you lose the overview a bit. The script also often lacks the right balance. For example, Parker and Longbaugh (the movie freak has long since discovered that these are the surnames of the real “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”) are extremely intelligent one minute, while the next they come across as the dumbest criminals on the planet. . Nevertheless, there are some gems of scenes in this film. The meeting and conversation between Longbaugh and Sarno in an abandoned bar is already legendary, as is the unusual chase scene. In addition, the necessary striking dialogues have been incorporated into the script.

Still, ‘The Way of the Gun’ doesn’t quite come into its own and that is largely due to the unsympathetic characters. There is hardly a character in this film that you can empathize with. Sarno and Longbaugh – both tough criminals! – are the closest, but that has to do with the actors who play these roles. James Caan (‘The Godfather’) is perfect for the role of Sarno, the gray but tough bagman, who does everything in his power to carry out his assignment, but also has human traits. Benicio del Toro (“21 Grams”) reportedly had a big finger in the pie when his character was created. Longbaugh is a man of few words, a mysterious figure. McQuarrie had given him more dialogue, but it was adjusted on Del Toro’s advice. And it works. In addition to one trick pony Ryan Phillippe, who has a lot more dialogue, Del Toro jumps off the screen (especially when you watch the best scene in the film, which Del Toro has with Caan, who manages to counter him much better than the flat Phillippe ). Longbaugh needs no words. Phillippe, no matter how hard he tries, always remains that pedantic man from ‘Cruel Intentions’. Juliëtte Lewis (‘Cape Fear’), as she usually does, only gets on the viewer’s nerves. Unfortunately, she has a pretty crucial role in the whole. A salient detail is that her father, Geoffrey Lewis, also has a role in the film, as James Caan’s sidekick.

It’s a shame that Christopher McQuarrie is taking so much out with his directorial debut. As a result, ‘The Way of the Gun’ is excessive and out of balance and that is a waste of the promising set-up. If you look closely, however, you will discover moments in the film in which the talent of McQuarrie, both the scriptwriter and the director, shows itself. In almost all of these moments, either James Caan or Benicio del Toro – occasionally even together – is involved. The insight, the experience and the sober performances of these born actors save this film. ‘The Way of the Gun’ is nice to rent once, because for those who don’t have too high expectations, it might not be too bad.