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Dom Robinson reviews
Momentum Pictures
- Cert:
- Cat.no: MP 017D
- Running time: 115 minutes
- Year: 2000
- Pressing: 2001
- Region(s): 2, PAL
- Chapters: 18 plus extras
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
- Languages: English
- Subtitles: English
- Widescreen: 1.85:1
- 16:9-Enhanced: Yes
- Macrovision: Yes
- Disc Format: DVD 9
- Price: £19.99
- Extras: Trailer, Cast Interviews, Cast & Crew Biogs, Isolated Music Scorewith Composer’s Commentary, Director & Composer’s Commentary
Director:
- Christopher McQuarrie
(The Way of The Gun)
Producer:
- Kenneth Kokin
Screenplay:
- Christopher McQuarrie
Music:
- Joe Kraemer
Cast:
- Parker: Ryan Phillippe
Longbaugh: Benicio Del Toro
Joe Sarno: James Caan
Robin: Juliette Lewis
Jeffers: Taye Diggs
Obecks: Nicky Katt
Hale Chidduck: Scott Wilson
Francesca Chidduck: Kristin Lehman
Dr. Allen Painter: Dylan Kussman
Abner: Geoffrey Lewis
The Way of the Gun,the directorial debut for Christopher McQuarrie, screenwriter ofThe Usual Suspects,is a kidnap film in which drifters Parker (Ryan Phillippe) andLongbaugh (Benicio Del Toro) take charge of young surrogate motherRobin (Juliette Lewis), who is carrying the child of wealthy businessmanHale Chidduck (Scott Wilson) and his toy-girl wife Francesca (KristinLehman) because the latter wanted a baby without going through thechildbirth process.
Once on the run, they’re pursued by Chidduck’s bodyguards Jeffers(Go‘s Taye Diggs)and Obecks(Boiler Room‘s Nicky Katt),along with James Caan as Joe Sarno, the “bagman” who works for Chidduckand gets involved in the nastier side of the gangster life so his boss doesn’thave to. Dylan Kussman makes up the cast as family doctor, Allen Painter.
There’s $15 million up for grabs to the two leads if they’re successful, oranyone else in cast given that there’s double-crossings aplenty, whether it’sin terms of planning a murder, having an affair or making ends meet your ownway.
What starts off as an interesting premise cools off a bit because it becomesthe type of thriller that’s been done before and better. Characters chat aboutthings that don’t matter, occasionally throwing in things that do, as well asmaking references to events which occured before this film took place which getsannoying when they get mentioned constantly. The 45 minutes in the mid-sectioncould use some tightening up because you’re expecting a lot more action afterthe opener, but it does redeem itself in the final half-hour.
Parker (Ryan Phillippe) and Longbaugh (Benicio Del Toro)The film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and looks fine mostof the time but there is an underlying level of grain that shows itself upon occasion which lessens the impact during those scenes.The average bitrate is 6.93Mb/s.
The soundtrack is superb, not only with the split-surround gunfire actionbut also with the dominance of Joe Kraemer‘s outstanding score when keymoments are forming in Dolby Digital 5.1.
The extras begin with a 2-minute Trailer in 4;3 fullscreen, soundbiteslasting between a minute and two for many of the main actors masquerading asCast Interviews and brief Cast & Crew Biogs for just about everyoneimportant.
There are Two Audio Commentaries on this disc. One is an IsolatedMusic Score with commentary from composer Joe Kraemer and thesecond contains chat from both him and director Christopher McQuarrie.
The disc contains 18 chapters which isn’t enough to break up all the scenes,subtitles in English and menus with subtle animation and backed by the score.
PICTURE QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
EXTRAS
OVERALL
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.