The Old Man & the Gun 2018

Full disclosure - I've got a dog in this fight. I'm an old man, and old gimmer, my fully beard is white, mostly I'm soft and podgy and I am just plain slow nowadays. The Old Man and the Gun is beautiful crime story for me, and people like me. It's how I'd rob a bank.

Robert Redford now craggier and maybe not as easy on the eye as he used to be is still a fine screen presence and team him up with veterans who know their game, Sissy Spacek, Danny Glover and Tom Waits, and throw in a young buck at the top of his, Casey Affleck, and no matter how slow-burning the story is or how unbelievable, even though it is mainly a true story, and you are going to get more good than bad.

Detractors will say the story is slow, there is 'no action' and there's a lot of sitting around and talking, well I would have to say that's the point. This is older people and specifically an older man who does not believe in violence but patience and charm to get his way. It is a slow easy conversation with a cup of coffee of a film. Sunday afternoon easiness made as a story and sometimes we are all better for watching such a story. It cannot always be evil murderers, exploding helicopters and two hours of shoot-outs.

The whole film has a relaxing feel to it and this comes through in Redford's easy charm and portrayal of Tucker. His chemistry and playful sparring with Spacek, the core to the story, is believable and enjoyable, likewise his love and friendship with partners in crime, Waits and Glover, who shine in lesser supporting roles feels authentic. Not as easy to do as many a film has proved.

Affleck as the man looking for a spark in his career John Hunt gets obsessed with the robbers gives a great 'everyman' display and his loving family life is truthful and not realistic, little touches like this make The Old Man and his Gun a slow-burning success. With the running time and barely over 90 minutes the time flew by.

With enjoyable and likeable characters on the screen for nearly all of the running time Robert Redford has certainly chosen a great film to go out on, if indeed this is his swansong, maybe not a spectacular and certainly divisive one would imagine, slow languid films are not everyone's cup of tea, but it cannot be denied at 80 years of age he is still an engaging film presence.

The locations are on the nose mid-west America and generally seem to be period-correct, although I'm no expert on 80s USA, the story and cinematography are straight forward and uncomplex, but this is the strength of the film.

An uncomplicated, mainly true, grey-bank-robber story, if you want a nice relaxing gentle time, I would recommend The Old Man and the Gun, in fact, I just recommend it anyway.

“And he did.”

‘The Old Man and The Gun’ is one of most endearing and heartfelt movie about bank robbery. A simple story with miraculous results. By the end, I wasn't sure to root for the cops or the robbers. Throughout the movie, I kept being reminded of a similar heist movie that came out this year called ‘Kings of Thieves’, but done better.

David Lowery stylistic directing shines through out. From ‘Pete's Dragon’, ‘A Ghost Story’ and now this movie; Lowery is a special soul. He’s got a unique way of presenting information across, almost like a Edgar Wright type of style by cutting away the fat of pacing. For example: There's a scene where Forrest (Redford) shows Speack a list of prison breaks through his time, and instead of talking about it, Lowery decides to show, not tell while splicing old footage of Redford's movies.

Also, the jazzy score and production design was so great it truly captures the era and tone beautifully.

If Robert Redford claims are true, I couldn’t think of a better exist. Redford is fantastic as always and will be forever missed. The old rebel still got that sparkle in his eyes. The smooth charm makes him appealing. Redford and Spacek are magnificent together. Spacek is brilliant as always, like duh.

The other supporting cast were great as well. Say whatever you want about Casey Affleck, but there’s no doubt he’s a terrific actor and here is no different. John David Washington, Tom Waits and Danny Glover have a handful of entertaining moments, especially a funny scene involving Wait’s character telling a story about why he doesn't like Christmas.

This entire movie felt like a tribute to Redford career with plenty of similarity to his past roles. Nods to ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’, ‘All The President's Men’ and ‘All Is Lost’, are only a few. Intentional or not, it feels like a goodbye.

Overall rating: “Well, he was also sort of a gentleman.”

This week starts off with what could well be Robert Redford’s last leading role credit. The man is in his 80s, and yet he does not relent in putting down the role of Forest Tucker. To feel alive, this man keeps doing what he’s good at and loves doing. Which is robbing banks. But it’s not a heist that you’re used to. Instead of impressing and intimidating, Tucker remains discreet, polite and above all, a gentleman. It doesn’t take much to feel sympathetic to the man, even if he’s committing crimes. The movie doesn’t portray him as a criminal, instead he feels like an older Georgey Clooney heist genius. Just with less bravado. A couple of times, Sissy Spacek turns up as a charming love interest. I also can’t help unsee the dewey eyed Casey Affleck from Manchester by the Sea and for me personally feels a bit lost in the role of a police detective, assigned to find Forest. It’s trying to push the Pacino – de Niro friendly rivalry from Heat too much and it’s not really working too well.
Tom Waits and Danny Glover feel severely undercast for the roles as Tucker’s aids. I think the film could have prospered with at least 20 minutes more time to flesh out the bonds the three have together, after having worked alongside each other for so many years. It’s just a bit of bickering about their situation and that’s it. Then again, sitting at 93 minutes, it’s not like it’s a huge waste of your time. If you like Redford and you like crime movies where the protagonist is lawful evil, this is definitely your jam.