Review! The Old Man & the Gun

Review for The Old Man & the Gun (2018) Directed by David Lowery, Adrian Molina. Starring: Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek. IMDB says “Based on the true story of Forrest Tucker and his audacious escape from San Quentin at the age of 70 to an unprecedented string of heists that confounded authorities and enchanted the public.”

“… and that’s why I hate Christmas.”

There is something confusing about this movie. I didn’t love it, didn’t hate it, but I want to watch it again. And again and again. There is a subtle charm to this film, despite its flaws, that draws me to it. Once the film finished, I sat in the theatre ready for an immediate rewatch. I don’t know why, because honestly nothing happens. Yeah, we see Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford) travel over the southern/midwest United States robbing banks, but the film doesn’t go anywhere. There is no cat-and-mouse tension between him and Officer John Hunt (Casey Affleck). There is no bubbling romance between him and Jewel (Sissy Spacek) and really there isn’t much humorous comradery or character development between him and his partners in crime (a criminally underutilized Danny Glover and Tom Waits). The cast is rounded out by Elisabeth Moss, Isiah Whitlock Jr, John David Washington, and Keith Carradine, but you wouldn’t know it. Either you sneeze and miss them or their involvement in the story is shelved as soon as we get to know them. It’s very bizarre choices like that, along with a ho hum script and score that confuses me as to why such a bland film is so charming. Where is this urge to rewatch coming from?

The film looks fine, writer/director David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, A Ghost Story) does a solid enough job to hold your attention, but there is no story. Even when we’re shown Tucker’s previous prison escapes (not a spoiler) it’s in this tonally and visually out of place Wes Anderson style montage. There really isn’t any need for it as it doesn’t build on the character. Nothing done in this film builds on any character. You just see the cast, accept them for who they are, and move on. There’s no crisis of faith in their careers or self-reflective introspective moments where the cast and showcase their acting chops. There is no fight where characters separate themselves only to realize they need each other to survive and they rejoin in an emotionally charged beautiful moment. We just glide through the film watching Robert Redford rob banks and get to know Sissy Spacek. Hell, I wouldn’t remember character names if it wasn’t in the dialogue or on IMDB.

Maybe it’s Robert Redford. Maybe it’s something in his smile and kind demeanor throughout the film that draws you in. Maybe that’s okay. Maybe we need a palate cleanser like this every so often. A film with no emotional conflict that’s just nice to have on in the background while you work around the house or cook a meal. Something you can nod in and out of and still understand the story. Will I go out of my way and head out to theatres and see this again? It’s possible. Will I browse my subscribed streaming services for twenty minutes and then select this film even when I knew this is what I was going to choose the whole time? Absolutely. At only an hour and a half, the film is a pleasant aside that is sure to leave you with a smile.

FTS SCORE: 62%