The Old Man & the Gun (2018)

I haven't seen enough of his films to consider Robert Redford as one of my favourite actors, but I really like him. So of course I had to see The Old Man & the Gun, a heist movie starring Redford in his alleged last performance before retirement. 

The film tells the true but fictionalized story of Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford) and follows him after his audacious escape from San Quentin at the age of 70 as he continues robbing banks with the help of two other old men, Teddy Green (Danny Glover), and Waller (Tom Waits), falls in love with Jewel (Sissy Spacek), and is pursued by rookie detective John Hunt (Casey Affleck).

The biggest issue I had with The Old Man & the Gun was the plot. It is simply too thin —nearly non-existent, to be honest— to support the running time, hence the film is filled with unnecessary things such as John Hunt's life subplot —it is only distracting. Frankly, I don't understand the need to give Hunt a family since he wasn't married nor had kids, while in the film he is in an interracial marriage. The "issue" isn't even addressed so I don't really get the point— and scenes that add nothing and ends up being tedious and unengaging. It does, however, work as some sort of meditation on life and what it means to find joy in the small things, and I think it's the kind of story that makes for a fitting farewell.

The characters are a little disappointing too. Without much of a plot, the film needed solid characters but unfortunately, they are nearly as shallow as the plot. Most have a nice characterization and development, but the relationships between them aren't developed very well and because of it, they don't feel genuine. The romance between Tucker and Jewel being the only exception because Redford and Spacek have amazing chemistry.

Fox Searchlight Pictures

The acting arguably is the best bit of The Old Man & the Gun. Robert Redford gives yet another charming performance as he brings to the screen another likeable character. Sissy Spacek steals the show as Jewel, giving a very charismatic and moving performance. Danny Glover and Tom Waits do a nice job as Tucker's partners. Elisabeth Moss, who makes a short appearance as Tucker's daughter, also does a good job. The only false note is Casey Affleck who is basically playing himself and mumbling his way through the movie —if it wasn't for the subtitles, I would have missed most of the stuff that came out of his mouth.

Overall, The Old Man & the Gun was quite disappointing. While the ending is wonderful and the acting more than solid, the story is just too slow and dull. Definitely not the farewell an actor such as Robert Redford deserves.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

I've been meaning to watch The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford for years but I kept putting it off because of the length. Two hours and forty minutes is a long time and you really have to have your head in the game to watch such a long movie. But people over Twitter kept talking about it --mainly posting beautiful gifs of Sam Rockwell-- and then Margaret posted "Sam Rockwell's performance in "Jesse James" is some kind of a miracle" which I wanted to read. And what's the best way to avoid spoilers? Watch the film. 

Just in case you didn't get it by the title, the film is about the assassination of Jesse James (Brad Pitt) by Robert Ford (Casey Affleck). Actually, it's more about the events that led up to the killing. The film is indeed a dramatization of the last seven months in the life of James. 

Yeah, I do realize I'm basically saying the same thing over and over but the fact is that there isn't much of a plot here. The little there is is also quite disjointed and jumps around a little and it's not always easy to understand what the heck is going on. To that, add the snail's pace that could make you fall asleep at eight in the morning. 

Unless it doesn't. That's the peculiar thing about The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. It's supposed to be boring and unengaging, instead, it's very interesting and engaging from start to finish. Not much happens in the film but I just couldn't take my eyes off of it. 

How does the film manage to do that? It's very simple, with great characters. Their characterization and development are outstanding. The film's main focus is the psychology of the characters. We don't get to know their backgrounds, why they do what they do, how they became who they are. Instead, we learn who they are.

Jesse James is, in a few words, a psychotic family man. He is a cold-blooded murderer considered a hero by many and a loving father and husband, but most of all he is an enigma, even to himself. And this is probably Brad Pitt's greatest performance ever, one very charismatic and interesting. Robert Ford, on the other hand, is a nobody. He is obsessed with Jesse James so much that leads him to an inferiority complex. He doesn't want to be like Jesse James, he wants to be Jesse James. That being impossible, he decides to kill him so to become a hero --he will be the only one to think so as people will keep reminded James after his death and forget about Ford. The performance from Casey Affleck is also great, easily the best in the film. I don't know what it is but there's something about him that makes him perfect for this character. Also, the chemistry between Pitt and Affleck and the relationship between James and Ford are very intriguing.

Warner Bros

Although the supporting characters aren't as complex and developed, the supporting cast does a wonderful job as well. Sam Rockwell is amazing as Ford's not-so-bright but good-hearted brother Charley, giving the magnetic and charming performance required by the role. Also great in the role of other outlaws are Jeremy Renner, Paul Schneider and Garrett Dillahunt. And at last but not least, there's Mary-Louise Parker. She doesn't have a lot of screen time --her character, James's wife is definitely underused-- but she really stands out. 

Another weird thing about The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is that the film is very detached and distant from the characters, hell, the characters are detached and distant from themselves, and yet I somehow felt close to them, and I cared about them --and of course I picked a side.

That's not all. The film doesn't only deliver great characters and performances but an outstanding, Oscar-worthy cinematography by Roger Deakins. The blurry and dreamy landscapes, the wheat fields, the snow, the mud, it's all gorgeous. And the camera movements, the way it lingers on the characters for the perfect amount of time. At last, there's a beautiful and haunting musical score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

There's one thing left to say, go watch this film if you haven't already.