Any movie that starts with Ryan Phillipe threatening someone by saying he’ll “fuck start” their head should have your attention. The film in question is The Way of the Gun, which turns twenty later this year. Led by the previously mentioned Phillipe and Benicio del Toro, the film centers around two career criminals looking for a million dollar payday by kidnapping a surrogate mother. From there, the plan goes to shit with all kinds of side characters getting involved. It’s violent, vulgar, and a lot of fun.
The film was written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who may be best known for writing The Usual Suspects or for working with Tom Cruise a shit ton in recent years. If you know him more for his Mission Impossible work, let me tell you this one is a much darker animal. As you can imagine by the previously mentioned opening, McQuarrie REALLY cut loose in The Way of the Gun. And why not? Especially with the talent that was put together. Phillippe, del Toro, James Caan, Juliette Lewis, Taye Diggs, Scott Wilson, along with a true journeyman in Geoffrey Lewis. Lewis is one of those you’ve probably seen in a few movies but don’t realize it. He’s gold in this one as the darkly funny Abner Mercer. Lewis passed away in 2015, but put a career together that included more than 200 films.
His daughter, Juliette Lewis, is also great here in a much more low-key role for what we normally see her in. As the surrogate mother caught up in all of this, she brings some emotional layers to the twisted tale. I also want to make a point to say Ryan Phillippe fucks in this. He gets to play a different kind of asshole in this than normal and I thought he really brought some grit when he needed to. He and del Toro are a great tandem as the anti-heroes that put the story in motion.
The Way of the Gun is available to rent from all your favorite VOD services!
John Mosley is the independent wrestling and TV aficionado of the SoBros Network. He graduated from ETSU with a degree in Radio, TV and Film along with a minor in Film Studies. Since graduating he’s done pretty much nothing but watch, film, edit or commentate for local wrestling promotions and is the current color commentator for Resolute Wrestling. #Preds #Titans #DefendOrVacateConor
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