A Reel Preview: Everything You Need To Know About THE OLD MAN & THE GUN

This week comes a film which has been unfairly flying under the radar; unfair because it involves one of today’s best working directors, along with a Hollywood legend in what may be his last bow. Here now is a preview, and everything you need to know about THE OLD MAN & THE GUN. 

What is this about? –THE OLD MAN & THE GUN is based on the true-life story of Forrest Tucker; a bank robber, career-criminal, and escape artist. In this yarn, Tucker is on what may be his final heist, when he comes across a possible romance while dodging investigators. 

Who is in this? – Robert Redford, in what may be his final film role, plays Forrest Tucker, and fellow acting legend Sissy Spacek plays the romantic interest. Casey Affleck plays the detective on the trail. The rest of the cast is rounded out by Danny Glover, Elisabeth Moss, Keith Carradine, John David Washington, and Tom Waits. 

Who is behind the camera? – THE OLD MAN & THE GUN is written and directed by David Lowery, who so far has a perfect film record. In 2013 he brought us the most-excellent contempary Western AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS. In 2016 he left the friendly confines of indie filmmaking for the big-studio, surprisingly good remake of PETE’S DRAGON. And last year, he brought us the mind-bending A GHOST STORY. 

Random but Important Facts – Robert Redford announced this film as his final role in August of this year * The script is loosely based on a 2003 article which appeared in The New Yorker by writer David Grann, who later recounted the story in his novel The Devil and Sherlock Holmes * The real-life Forrest Tucker robbed 18 banks, including four when he was 79 years old and living in a retirement community. He died in prison in 2004 at 83 * The film has a cast of four Oscar winners; Redford, Affleck, Spacek, and Carradine…and one Oscar nominee, Tom Waits * Spacek and Redford both won their Oscars in 1980; Spacek for COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER, and Redford for ORDINARY PEOPLE * Affleck appeared in Lowery’s AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS and A GHOST STORY, and Redford was in his PETE’S DRAGON * John David Washington also appeared in Spike Lee’s BLACKKKLANSMAN this year * The film re-uses footage from THE CHASE (1966), which stars a young Redford * 

What to expect – Starting with the story itself, the tale of an aging bank robber on his last heist has been told before, but there is something endearing about it; if a coming-of-age story can speak to us, then so should an end-of-age tale. And there is a certain, lovely poetic irony about Redford using this character and story to finally ride into the sunset. The rest of the cast is impressive and should deliver. Director David Lowery has pulled some great performances out of his actors and actresses in his prior films, and with this cast there is a lot of great acting to look forward to. Lowery’s writing has focused on what’s inside of his characters, and his gentle touch behind the camera makes for some patient, mature, and classic-feeling cinema…and his frames always look great; which is exactly what Redford deserves in his last bow. We say goodbye to a legend this week, and he couldn’t be in better hands. 

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THE OLD MAN & THE GUN arrives in theatres September 28^th.