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Ryan Phillippe, Benicio Del Toro, James Caan, Juliette Lewis, Taye Diggs ... see more see more... , Nicky Katt , Dylan Kussman , Scott Wilson , Kristin Lehman , Geoffrey Lewis

In this suspense thriller, two small-time crooks make a bid for the big time with disastrous results. Robin (Juliette Lewis) is carrying a child as a surrogate mother for a wealthy couple, Hale and Fr... read more read more...ancesca Chidduck (Scott Wilson and Kristin Lehman) when she's kidnapped by Parker (Ryan Phillippe) and Longbaugh (Benicio Del Toro), who believe that the adoptive parents will pay a large ransom to ensure the safety of both mother and baby. The kidnappers soon discover that they're out of their league when they're confronted by Mafia-connected lawyer Joe Sarno (James Caan) and a pair of hired killers, Jeffers (Taye Diggs) and Obecks (Nicky Katt); at the same time, Parker finds himself increasingly attached to Robin. The Way of the Gun marked the directorial debut of screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie, whose script credits include The Usual Suspects and Public Access. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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67% liked it

30,093 ratings

Critics

48% liked it

104 critics

R, 1 hr. 58 min.

Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie

Release Date: September 8, 2000

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DVD Release Date: June 19, 2001

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Flixster Reviews (1,302)

  • garyX
    January 17, 2012
    garyX
    A pair of small time crooks decide to gamble all on a big score when they kidnap the pregnant surrogate mother of a mobster's unborn child. Written and directed by the man responsible for the script for The Usual Suspects, Way Of The Gun may not have the clever twist in the tale ... read moreof his most famous work, but it is still an extremely stylish and well written crime drama stocked with some smart dialogue and sharply directed Peckinpah-esque shoot-outs. The bare bones of the plot are a little workman-like, but the joy of this film is in the detail; the same old stereotypical events are given a slightly different spin all the way along the line making for a blackly comic, cynical crime drama that is painted in varying shades of dark, dark grey. Very much in the tradition of Tarantino, it's full of colourful characters who are constantly trying to outsmart and double cross each other and it makes for a tangled web of deceit and murder ending in a great Butch and Sundance style finale that I enjoyed immensely. Great stuff.
  • allan913
    March 6, 2010
    allan913
    A slick, stylish, funny, pistol-packing, pulse-pounding and wickedly entertaining thriller. Compelling, gripping and electrifying. It's fast, intense and furious. It has enough explosive action, suspense, humor and crackling twist that never stop. Ryan Phillippe gives his best pe... read morerformance to date. Benicio Del Toro is excellent. James Caan is in top form. A well-crafted crime film mixing into a urban western film noir with shady characters, gun-play and dark comedy. An interesting directional debut by Oscar winning screenwriter, Christopher McQuarrie. An ultra dark, sizzling, wild and terrifically original film.
  • matertenebraum
    December 23, 2009
    matertenebraum
    Most action movies don't bother with such simple devices as plot, characters or an engaging storyline. Some would say that this is a genre strength, an excuse to turn away from highbrow thought to high-key, mindless mayhem. Whilst that is all well and good, most people eventually... read more find themselves wanting...more. That little bit extra to garnish an already tasty dish. Here, Christopher McQuarrie presents a whole lotta extra treats, whilst never losing his grip upon tension or bloody spectacle. Rambo-lovers, however, should best stay clear, for this is undoubtedly a Thinking man's shoot 'em up. When,as an example, did the "hero" confess to feeling guilt over murdering a paedophile? Conduct torture purely for cash? Get royally shafted in what we assumed would be an all-out celebration of hip carnage? Bear in mind that this was 200, a whole year before Spider-Man told folk that "it's ok to cry whilst kicking the sh*t out of somebody". Brave stuff. Were this all that Chris provided in the way of innovation, it'd still be mightily impressive, yet he also shows some serious balls within structural limits. As opposed to having bullet dance/chat/explosion/one-liner, he allows moments to build, ebbing, flowing, surely swelling into one large tidal wave of carnage. By the time blood begins to shed, an audience is engaged with two low-life antiheros, whilst sympathising with their-refreshingly scarred-nemesis. It's truly remarkable to see well-choreographed brutality mixing delicately with excellent performances, there's that constant "Yes, i GET you!" feeling beneath every frame. Sit back, tune your head and, and relish this sun-drenched delight.
  • yona71
    November 8, 2009
    yona71
    A brilliant film of two criminals portrayed by Benicio Del Toro and Ryan Phillippe who hold a surrogate mother for ransom as they seek an ultimate fortune.
    The acting is first rate by Del Toro, Phillippe, and James Caan as the opposing professional hitman, and the "gunplay" scen... read morees are very well executed allowing for optimal suspense.
    The end scenes shot in New Mexico are reminiscent of the spaghetti westerns, but differ in a modern, realistic look at the violence that may result from these situations.
  • SirPant
    September 14, 2009
    SirPant
    It's like a modern day western without any Tarantino crap. It's clever, witty and very cool!
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    June 27, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Dumb, with some ocassional good moments. A movie is suppose to be more than just a compilation of "cool" dialogues. And i blame Tarantino for making so many people believe that.
  • DrZeek
    June 26, 2008
    DrZeek
    Joe Sarno: So, you the brains of this outfit, or is he?
    Longbaugh: Tell ya the truth, I don't think this is a brains kind of operation.

    The longest distance between two points is a kidnapper and his money. Basically sums up the movie. A kidnapping plot that is mixed with lots o... read moref twists and convoluted plot points that make me enjoy it more. The dialog is also what makes this movie great to me. A lot of it is very funny,

    Longbaugh: I've... never killed a man.
    Interviewer: I beg your pardon?
    Longbaugh: I said I never killed a man.
    Interviewer: I didn't ask if you had.
    Longbaugh: You asked why I thought I was qualified, I think of that as qualification.

    Some of it is insightful in its own sort of way,

    Hale Chidduck: Do you believe in karma?
    Joe Sarno: Karma's justice without the satisfaction. I don't believe in justice.

    and with that, the movie is also fun to me. It plays a lot like a western themed movie, but plays against a lot of Hollywood conventions, the car chase done here would be a great example of this. The gunplay is also awesome, realistic and very cool to watch.

    Ryan Phillippe and Benicio del Toro star as the leads, two low lives, who try to make it big with a not-too-planned out kidnapping. Juliette Lewis plays the victim, who is a surrogate mother for the man who needs to pay the money. James Caan is awesome as a bagman, who has to resort to his own means to get back the woman. And Taye Diggs and Nicky Kaat play to bodyguards concerned only with winning.

    Longbaugh: You know what I'm gonna tell God when I see him? I'm gonna tell him I was framed.

    From the writer of the Usual Suspects, Christopher McQuarri, I like this film more because of the way these characters handle the subject manner. What's also enjoyable, is that the movie plays out a lot like a western as mentioned, having two anti-heroes going after what they want, mixing it up with tough guys along the way, complete with a soundtrack playing tribute to Ennio Morricone. A movie that has it's own sort of groove, and is one of my favorites.

    Longbaugh: What do you think?
    Parker: I think a plan is just a list of things that don't happen.
  • shiftyeyeddog
    June 18, 2008
    shiftyeyeddog
    Christopher McQuarrie, writer of The Usual Suspects made his directorial debut with this film, and he hit a home run. Sadly, most people never saw it or took notice.



    It's a great piece of work. Phillippe and Del Toro shine in the lead roles, supported by s... read moretellar turns by Taye Diggs, Nicky Katt, James Caan, and others. The film starts off with a great laugh that sets up the characters perfectly. From there it only gets better, culminating in a masterfully directed old-school gunfight.



    McQuarrie recently reunited with Bryan Singer for another film (Valkyrie), and I hope from here he decides to take another shot at directing (IMDb says he's directing something called The Stanford Prison Experiment). Whatever he does, I'll be first in line to check it out.
  • kenstachnik
    June 6, 2008
    kenstachnik
    Featuring one of the coolest (and slowest) car chases ever
  • pier007
    June 6, 2008
    pier007
    Being Christopher McQuarrie's directorial debut, my expectations were too high. A Peckinpah-like crime thriller with a diffuse story line and shallow character development. The shootout at the end is the only intense moment, without being surprising at all.

View All The Way of the Gun Reviews

Critic Reviews

Rick Groen
April 25, 2003
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Both the picture and its nefarious plot seem self-consciously calculated. Full Review

Peter Stack
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

Rotten, pretentious movie full of minimalist dialogue and self-consciously arty cinematography. Full Review

Carrie Rickey
January 1, 2000
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

Like his characters, McQuarrie's film has two faces: It is overplotted and it is crisply directed.

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

The Way of the Gun will be too bloody for many viewers, but for those who aren't turned off by the high level of violence, McQuarrie's first venture behind the camera offers an involving experience. Full Review

Chris Vognar
January 1, 2000
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

Works better in entertaining fits and starts than as a whole. It doesn't resonate much beyond the here and now, even if the shotgun blasts ring in your ears for a good long while. Full Review

J. Hoberman
January 1, 2000
J. Hoberman, Village Voice

Stillborn. Full Review

Terry Lawson
January 1, 2000
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

You will either be endlessly entertained by its over-the-top outrageousness or be repulsed and offended that anyone could be entertained.

Susan Stark
January 1, 2000
Susan Stark, Detroit News

Before you rush out to see what all the noise is about, though, know that The Way of the Gun mounts more aural bullets, swagger and pretense than substance. Full Review

Jay Carr
January 1, 2000
Jay Carr, Boston Globe

The Way of the Gun sometimes trips over its own contrivance, especially at the ammo-ridden end. But most of the time McQuarrie and his cast -- especially Del Toro, Philippe, and Lewis delivering her b...

Steve Murray
January 1, 2000
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Christopher McQuarrie makes a sluggishly paced directing debut. Full Review

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The Way of the Gun Trivia

  • Who are the two lead actors in "Way of the Gun"?  Answer »
  • What two actors play the parts of Longbaugh and Parker in "The Way of the Gun"?  Answer »
  • In which film does James Caan speak the following line? "Fifteen million dollars is not money. It's a motive with a universal adaptor on it. "  Answer »
  • Leslie Nielsen says the following in which film? "No... you're right, Ed. A parachute not opening... that's a way to die. Getting caught in the gears of a combine... having your nuts bit off by a Laplander, that's the way I wanna go."  Answer »
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