Yes. Yes yes yes.

Author: Lofwer from The Big Apple
8 September 2000

Does one usually go into an action film starring Ryan Phillipe expecting to think, expecting to be challenged. I did not, in this case. And so, as I found myself confronted by this extraordinarily cool contemporary crime  western, I was shocked. This has all the makings of a generic film. The philosophical/amoral central team... could've been Pulp Fiction redux. The wise older criminal sharing his wisdom with those below him... If I really went into all the elements of this movie that could've been handled as shameless rip offs of other films, that list alone would take me over 1,000 words.

The brilliance of this film is that MacQuarrie, impressively directing for the first time from his own script, takes familiar elements, tired cliches, and breaths new, inventive life into them. This is a neat hat trick, and not an easy one. Godard did it with HIS first film, Breathless. Tarantino did it with Pulp Fiction. And MacQuarrie does it here. Note that the aforementioned instance is the only place where you will hear a mention of Tarantino similarities in this review. Those who would criticize Way of the Gun as being derivative of Taranton's film are missing the point and not really watching the film.

This film reflects an utter familiarity with the conventions of CINEMA. Of the things that go into a great film. Knowing those thigns so well, as Godard did, allows MacQuarrie to become freed enough to work with them, change them, and make them become something knew. It is quite an achievement, and this is quite an awesome film.

it's about the gun

Author: edumacated from United States
2 August 2010

Now some of you are wondering what this movie is about. i don't blame you.the title says it all. now usually the title is a cryptic clue, but in this case--it says it all.if you are wondering why devote a film exclusively to gun-play, then ask yourself why devote a summer movie solely to computer special effects.

i know most of you are guilty of seeing one of the hot season flicks because your friends said it looked awesome. it's the same motivation for a different audience.i'm an old pro, and let me tell you the action direction in this film is awesome, and i don't use that word often.this film is a gunfight pasted with story, instead of the other way around. and i believe it shows a director who wanted to direct the ultimate action+editing rendition of a running gunfight.

i can only say, that if the director and the technical adviser ever read this statement, you have my vote as one of the best, most thrilling and realistic film gunfights ever. thank-you.

You didn't get it

Author: GonzoChrist from Philly
18 March 2003

Rating this film in the 6's is a travesty. I can see how most viewers may not have picked up on the reflexivity, the subtle way in which the 6 mercenary characters almost knew they were in a film... maybe a lot of people found it boring at times... I can imagine an American moviegoer who finds the plot a bit to convoluted... hell, it's not perfect, I mean Juliet Lewis has certainly had less obnoxious roles... But you couldn't have missed the elegantly photographed and painstakingly arranged gunfight sequence, or the top notch performances from most of the cast, or the intelligent writing. There is a degree of craft in this film that reflects a great deal of care and artistic integrity, qualities that are all too seldom rewarded in our countries film industry. 6.7? BULLs***. Cmon, people.

-The names of the main characters, Parker and Longbaugh, are the real last names of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
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-The final shootout scene in the brothel is the same location where the final shootout scene in Butch Cassidy et le Kid (1969) occurs.
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-Benicio Del Toro coached Nicky Katt in his Spanish dialogue scenes.
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-The unusual car chase scenes after the kidnapping were Benicio Del Toro's idea. He suggested it to Christopher McQuarrie after watching the Show Cops (1989) where a couple of criminals did the same when cops were chasing them.
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-Christopher McQuarrie's brother, a US Navy SEAL, was technical advisor for the gunfight scenes, hence the realism of the coordinated movements, use of cover, and room-clearing tactics used by Parker and Longbaugh.
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-The main characters meticulously adhere to "trigger discipline" when handling their weapons: the only time their fingers are actually on the trigger is when they are willing to shoot somebody.
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-Unlike many movies with action-packed gunfights, every round fired is accounted for and all characters reload when appropriate, with the exception of one sequence in the brothel courtyard where Parker and Longbaugh fire dozens of rounds in rapid succession without pausing to reload: an intentional sort of fun tribute to classic action movies.
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-James Caan portrays Juliette Lewis's father in the film, while her real-life father, Geoffrey Lewis, plays the minor role of Abner.
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-Nicky Katt (Obecks) did all his own stunt driving.
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-The hotel (where the parking lot gunfight takes place) is said to be in the town of Salsipuedes, which is Spanish for "get out if you can".
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-The original painting by "Oliver Dear", that is hanging in the Mexican brothel scene was originally painted and used in the TV movie La ville des légendes de l'Ouest (1999).
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-The rifle used be Benicio Del Toro at the motel and in the brothel was an Isreali made Galil in 7.62mm. The handguns used by Parker and Longbaugh were Colt MK IV Series 70 Government Models in 9mm for ease of use with blanks. The handguns used by the bodyguards were H&K USP 9's. The Revolvers were Taurus Model 85 .38 Specials. The shotgun was a Remington 870 12 gauge. (chuper! et on achète ça où?)
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-The violence was scaled back because the MPAA threatened the film with the NC-17 rating.
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-The name of the motel, Nacio Madre, translates to "birth mother".
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-The store clerk seen at the 7-11 truck stop (the one who shares a cigarette with Longbaugh) is the wife of the film's composer, Joe Kraemer.
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-Christopher McQuarrie had written considerable amount of dialog for Longbaugh's character, however Benicio Del Toro suggested the "less is more" approach and had him cut down his lines.
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-In a scene where Parker jumps into a well to take cover, he lands in a number of glass bottle and cutting his arm. The bottles did have labels which were all approved to be used. When the sponsors saw what was done with the bottles, they asked to have their labels removed because they were not approved as weapons. The filmmakers complied.
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-According to the DVD commentary, Christopher McQuarrie hired Kristin Lehman based on her performance in Dog Park (1998).
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-The castanet staccato heard several times throughout the movie is from the first few seconds of Les professionnels (1966).

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Spoilers (ne pas lire si tahpahvü elflim)
The trivia items below may give away important plot points.
-The opening scene where Parker punches the loudmouthed character played by Sarah Silverman is explained in the commentary as an idea Christopher McQuarrie had kicked around with his friends while heckling a large group of ultimate frisbee players at a dog park. They realized that if a group of people actually came at them, they would surely lose, but could "steal the victory" by giving the women bloody noses, making the womens' boyfriends to be the focus of their ire (reasoning that the women would blame the boyfriends for starting the fight in the first place) long after the fight was over.
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-At the start of the brothel shootout, the Bag Man who was killed by first being shot in the foot from around the corner outside the birthing room was the result of repeated bungled attempts by the actor to hide out of sight of Parker and Longbaugh. After many rehearsals where some part of the actor's body could still be seen, the scene was finally changed to reflect this.
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-In the audio commentary on the DVD it is confirmed that in the alternate ending, Parker and Longbaugh do die due to their gun shot wounds.
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-The Mexican brothel scene when Longbaugh (Benicio Del Toro) slaps one whore on her behind as she is running out, was unscripted. Christopher McQuarrie privately suggested it to Del Toro who was very resistant to it. The extra playing the whore was not told about this. As Del Toro feared, she came back after the shot was filmed very angry and complained how she was slapped. Del Toro immediately turned to McQuarrie and said "he made me do it!!!". (From the director's commentary on the DVD)