Way Of The Gun

Release Date: September 8th, 2000

Cast :

Writer and Director: Christopher McQuarrie 

Studio executives must have been licking their chops when Oscar winning writer Christopher McQuarrie decided that he wanted to make his directorial debut.  After all, his script for The Usual Suspects was masterful in its development and intelligence, while his collaboration with Bryan Singer helped make that film a critical favorite, and one of my top films of all time.  McQuarrie does not disappoint with Way of The Gun, a sharp, intelligent, well made movie, but he does show that his raw talent for writing and storytelling cannot overshadow his anxiety in including a plot that puts much more its plate that it can ever deal with.  With a good editor, and a patient storyteller, this could have been a memorable film.  As it is, Way of The Gun exists to show that his voice will be heard from again, but gets drowned out amidst the gunfire and plot twists that pervade this film.

Part of the joy, and at times frustration, of the movie, is watching the way the plot unfolds, and is unveiled.  The twists are overdone, because after the first couple, they become expected rather than surprising.  It becomes more a case of when, not if.  At times though, the development is masterful.  Phillippe and Del Toro are down and out criminals, who overhear a conversation while making a living through donations, to remain self-sufficient.  They kidnap a pregnant surrogate mother, in an attempt to extort money from the father.  Confusion, convolution, madness, and violence ensue.  It bounds effortlessly between being an exciting and energetic tale and a prolonged, overblown cliché of every crime film and western ever made.  It seems as if McQuarrie and company are afraid of losing the audience on the way to its conclusion.  So instead of editing, he seems to insert scenes for the sole purpose of having an avenue for his dialogue.  McQuarrie seemed so anxious to tell his story, that over told it, and thus convoluted and stole some of the thunder from movie that does manage to shine amidst the dust, just not glow like it should have.

The best thing that can be said about the performances, is that no one is really that intolerable, even Lewis, who is annoying, but then again, her character is supposed to be.  Del Toro gives a strong, sarcastic yet intense portrayal of a man who is on the verge of desperation, yet still can remain cool, calm and sarcastic.  Hopefully he’ll make more movies like this and Usual Suspects, and less like Excess Baggage.  As his partner, Phillippe is nearly indistinguishable, both in appearance, and performance.  Anytime he isn’t annoying, or butchering lines, that is a positive.  Unfortunately, Diggs is thrown as nothing more than distraction and window dressing amidst the bloodshed and madness.  He is faceless (which is a strike in his case) and emotionless (another shame, since he has the looks and ability to do much better than this), but the true reason to see this movie is the award worthy supporting role of Caan.  As a hit man/bagman for the baby’s father, Caan has some memorable lines, and scenes (including an exchange in a cantina with Del Toro) that reaffirm the fact that he can still hold a movie, and steal it, regardless of the screen time.  It would have been interesting to see a movie, about how these characters, Caan most notably, got into the situation that they did.

Someday, McQuarrie is going make a truly great and memorable film.  Way of The Gun is almost it.  He has the ability to write insightful dialogue, and an interesting story, and then translate his ideas into a great vision.  His story barely needs words at times. What he is missing is the patient and deft touch that is rare in a newcomer, and usually developed over time.  He over utilizes his budget in effects and bloodshed, either for shock value, or to keep the audience’s attention and anticipation.  He needs to learn patience in his suspense and surprises, which worked so well in Suspects, but here, become expected and anticipated.  What McQuarrie lacks is the discipline and self control to what and how much to use.  Excess never equals success in movies.

Ultimately, Way Of The Gun is a very impressive promising debut of a filmmaker who will be a voice and visionary for the new millennium, as long as his talent is harnessed.  He has the touch, vision and ability to communicate his ideas in a manner that shows intelligence and makes the audience think amidst the madness.  There are moments of absolute brilliance, which are more than flashes which are enough to forgive the flaws and recommend this movie, but also show that he still has a long way to go to be mentioned amongst his obvious influences from Tarantino and Rodriguez to Peckinpah.  I applaud McQuarrie’s effort, and admire what he tried to do, for his failure comes not in the effort, but in the execution.  He who does not try, never knows the taste of success, but he who does and fails, cherishes that taste once he gets it.  McQuarrie will get his, mark my words on that. ($$$ out of $$$$)

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