Plot by Imdb: "Two criminal drifters without sympathy get more than they bargained for after kidnapping and holding for ransom the surrogate mother of a powerful and shady man."
To begin with, this movie has one of the best opening scene ever: watch it here. Now, let make it very clear: this is one of my favorite noir thriller of all time. Not that it's the best movie I've ever seen but it contains a certain nihilistic "je ne sais quoi" that clearly works with me. Scriptwriter Christopher McQuarrie's only directorial work, "The way of the Gun" is between a post modern Western and a Noir movie. There's also something we don't see everyday in the storytelling and dialogues: silence, emptiness... A lack of explanation that feels good. For once, the scriptwriter/director doesn't take us for fools and doesn't need to explain everything, even let some of his character's histories and motivations appart. In this aspect, it's almost an Asian movie. For example, we don't have any details on the main characters past lives. We just have to deal with them as they are. The other great aspect is the "desperate" feeling that exudes from the story and the characters. Like if they were all living on borrowed times. But ain't we all ?
The cinematography is cold, well done, almost classic. I think the Coen Brothers are very close to this kind of filmmaking in their own masterpiece "No country for old man". The acting is marvelously subtle: in addition to the main trio - Benicio Del Toro, Juliette Lewis and Ryan Philippe (all amazing) - some old school supporting actors steps in to further improve the high level: James Caan & Geoffrey Lewis, amongst others.
Some scenes are, in my opinion, classics: the opening - already mentioned, the kidnapping/chase scene, and the final shootout are all very impressive.
It 's time to put this movie were it belongs: amongst the best of its genre.
PS: Again a warning to the pregnant ladies out there, the final scene might not be the most indicated for you as it is "tough" to say the least. I added the label "Gore" to the post just for that scene, so beware.
Trailer:
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