Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • 3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)
    • 3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)
    • 3625. Ode To Joy (2019)
    • 3624. One Chance (2013)
    • 3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)
    • 3622. The Polka King (2017)
    • 3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)
    • 3620. Friendzone (2021)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»2378. The Old Man & The Gun (2018)

    2378. The Old Man & The Gun (2018)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on December 9, 2018 2018, 6 - 7.9, 90-99 mins, Comedy, Crime, Dec 18, Drama, Movies Of 2018, Review, United States
    7.5 Delightful
    • Acting 7.7
    • Directing 7.5
    • Story 7.2
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Robert Redford, Sissy Spacek, Casey Affleck

    Director: David Lowery

    Running Time: 93 mins


    The Old Man & The Gun is an American film about the true story of Forrest Tucker, and his exploits robbing banks all over the country at the age of 70.

    This is a delightful film. With a classic old-style vibe running throughout that’s reminiscent of the likes of Bonnie And Clyde, Harold And Maude, and of course Robert Redford’s exploits in Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid and The Sting, The Old Man & The Gun is a wonderfully elegant and enjoyable watch throughout, complete with a surprising true story, great humour, and strong performances from an all-star cast.

    There’s only one place to start with this film, however, and that’s with Robert Redford. If this is to be his last film, as he has stated, then it’s a fantastic way to go out, with a thoroughly exciting and memorable performance that signals he has lost absolutely none of his effortless charisma over his legendary career.

    The Old Man & The Gun is a delightful watch in many ways, but its strongest suit is definitely Redford’s performance, as he demonstrates his incredible natural talent for acting with a performance that’s just as good, and arguably even better than it was decades ago, surprising once more as he takes on the role of an old man with just as much spark as someone fifty years younger.

    As a result, the film’s premise, that of an old man stumping police officers across the country as he pulls off bank robbery after bank robbery, works brilliantly throughout, and the Redford’s cheekily charismatic turn perfectly sums up his character’s motivations, as a highly intelligent man who was just living life the way he loved living, something that makes him an immensely likable lead from beginning to end.

    The fact that this is a true story is just the icing on the cake for what is a thoroughly enjoyable watch, and while the film does a great job at telling the story of Forrest Tucker’s many, many bank jobs, it also brings a pleasing and moving emotional heart to the table as well, as we see Robert Redford and Sissy Spacek develop an intimate and elegant relationship, even while all of the madness around the heists is going on.

    As a result, during the downtime where we don’t see one of the many perfectly-executed heists, there’s still a lot to focus on, and Redford and Spacek are absolute dynamite on screen together, meaning that their characters’ relationship is just as wonderful to follow as the crime is exciting and entertaining throughout.

    If I were to have one problem with The Old Man & The Gun, it would be the fact that it doesn’t quite tie those two elements of the story together perfectly. While the crime is exciting, and the drama is just as engrossing, I would have liked to see the two come together a little more cohesively. Furthermore, when the film really tries to push the cat-and-mouse aspect of the police investigation, it doesn’t quite have the pace necessary to make that thoroughly convincing, at least not until the final act.

    In the end, what makes this film work is its combination of good humour, great acting, and classic, old school-style filmmaking, creating an elegant swansong for Redford, as well as an emotionally engrossing story right the way through, and that’s why I’m giving The Old Man & The Gun a 7.5 overall.

     

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. Since January 1st, 2013, he has watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    7.1

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    5.3
    January 17, 2022

    3620. Friendzone (2021)

    7.1
    January 10, 2022

    3612. The Lost Daughter (2021)

    8.0
    January 7, 2022

    3609. Licorice Pizza (2021)

    7.2
    January 7, 2022

    3608. Lamb (2021)

    7.4
    December 30, 2021

    3599. The King’s Man (2021)

    6.3
    December 29, 2021

    3598. The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

    8.4
    December 28, 2021

    3597. West Side Story (2021)

    6.3
    December 27, 2021

    3596. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

    Recommended Movies
    8.2
    Review
    November 26, 20130

    361. Green Street (2005)

    8.0
    Review
    March 27, 20170

    1705. 99 Homes (2014)

    8.1
    Review
    October 5, 20210

    3502. Fail-Safe (1964)

    8.0
    Review
    April 30, 20210

    3332. The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)

    8.5
    Review
    December 12, 20160

    1578. Open Your Eyes (1997)

    Popular Posts
    7.1
    January 24, 2022

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8
    January 23, 2022

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9
    January 22, 2022

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    7.4
    January 21, 2022

    3624. One Chance (2013)

    6.3
    January 20, 2022

    3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)

    7.5
    January 19, 2022

    3622. The Polka King (2017)

    6.0
    January 18, 2022

    3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)

    © 2022 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.