For any action movie fans out there that love shoot-outs that hinder on the brink of insanity then this movie is for you. The plot was hard to understand in some parts yet it was still good and sometimes the motives were beyond the viewer's grasp but it still flowed well regardless. There were some kick ass quotes as needed in this genre of film and James Caan was simply awesome in his role as an aging bag-man. While I'm not a huge fan of Ryan Phillippe he actually was passable as this character and utilized a suiting accent. Benicio Del Toro was probably the best as his expressions and just the way he says things is unbeatable. Even though it was two hours long it seemed like only half that, so overall it's a great watch. My only warning is that if you're included in the faint of heart then this probably is one to avoid as this was definitely a dab of the good OL' ultra-violence!

Final Say:

Movies: Would've been enjoyable to see it there.

DVD Purchase: Based on how low it's currently priced I probably won't be able to help myself.

Rental: Come on, you know you want to!!!

Well I don't really have much to say about these clever-clever twisty thrillers so I'll keep my review short. THE WAY OF THE GUN is a mixed bag. On one hand you have an overly labyrinthine plot which keeps piling on the characters and layers, causing the audience to stay on its toes at every moment to keep track of what's going on. Characters are not introduced and sometimes their motives not explained clearly, like what the heck was Geoffrey Lewis doing and who was he? I'm sure it was explained somewhere in the film but on casual viewing its easy to miss.

Another flaw is that the two "heroes" of the film are a detestable pair, so its difficult to care whether they get killed or not during the film's course. Both are cold-blooded killers and kidnappers, only in it for themselves, lacking any moral scruples whatsoever. Now I know this worked with stuff like RESERVOIR DOGS but their characters just aren't as interesting in this film. And what is it with the opening? The over-the-top use of bad language isn't funny, just offensive and a good way to lose viewers right from the start.

Right, after that little rant, we come to the good points. Firstly the ensemble cast, with Ryan Philippe, Benicio del Toro, James Caan, Geoffrey Lewis, Juliette Lewis, Taye Diggs, Scott Wilson and others all putting in strong performances in their respective roles. Watching these actors emote is half the fun and its not often so many individual acting styles cross in a single movie. Secondly, the movie is unpredictable and often grittily realistic. The action sequences are also well-choreographed, culminating in a huge epic bloody shoot-out which owes a nod to THE WILD BUNCH but is enjoyable in its own right, with lots of blood squibs exploding and stylish deaths. Check out that moment where Philippe jumps into the 'empty' fountain - one of the best throwaway shock/painful moments I've seen in a film in a while. Despite the fact that I'm not really a fan of modern movies in which the characters are arrogant and unlikeable, and that this appears to be geared towards a teen market, THE WAY OF THE GUN is an interesting film which is worthwhile if you're looking for something a little different. It just won't set your world on fire.

Parker (Ryan Phillippe) and Longbaugh (Benicio Del Toro) are two petty criminals with not much going for them. They come up with a scheme to kidnap surrogate Robin (Juliette Lewis) who is carrying a gangster's baby. She is under guard every moment by Jeffers (Taye Diggs) and Obecks (Nicky Katt).

This starts with a pretty funny scene with a loudmouth Sarah Silverman pushing her boyfriend to fight Ryan Phillippe. She gets punched in the face and it's shockingly funny. I wish the rest of this is just as good. Writer/director Christopher McQuarrie has created something that is a little bit off. It's pulpy but it's way too much of a mess. It has a bit of action, but there are long stretches of boring inaction . It tries to be 'Pulp Fiction' but he ain't no Tarantino. But then who is? The dialog is stiff. Overall there is no likable character anywhere, not even Robin. There is no rooting interest. It is stretched out far too much after an interesting kidnapping start. McQuarrie is trying to do his own movie after the success of writing 'The Usual Suspects'. It shows some promise with some unusual touches. However this is a near miss overall.