The Way of the Gun [Blu-ray]

Director: Christopher McQuarrie Christopher McQuarrie

Overview

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 Francesca 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.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/24/2009
UPC:	0012236106135
Original Release:	2000
Rating:	R
Source:	LIONS GATE
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:59:00
Sales rank:	19,352

Special Features

Audio Commentary with Director/Writer Christopher McQuarrie and Composer Joe Kraemer; ; Music Score Commentary with Composer Joe Kraemer ; Cast and Crew Interviews; Theatrical Trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ryan Phillippe	Parker
Benicio Del Toro	Longbaugh
James Caan	Joe Sarno
Juliette Lewis	Robin,Abner
Taye Diggs	Jeffers
Nicky Katt	Obecks
Scott Wilson	Hale Chidduck
Dylan Kussman	Allen Painter
Kristin Lehman	Francesca Chidduck
Mando Guerrero	Actor,Federale #1
Andres Orozco	Actor
Henry Griffin	Actor
Irene Santiago	Actor
Jan Jensen	Actor
Jose Perez	Actor
Neil Pollock	Actor

Technical Credits

Christopher McQuarrie	Director
Kenneth Kokin	Producer
Lynn Kressel	Casting
Russell D. Markowitz	Executive Producer
Gary Paul	Stunts

Editorial Reviews

Scriptwriter Christopher McQuarrie's directorial debut is a leaner, meaner cousin to The Usual Suspects (which he wrote). Two wandering nuts, Parker and Longbaugh (Ryan Phillippe and Benicio Del Toro, respectively) attempt to make a quick buck donating sperm, only to hear about an odd fertilization scheme involving Robin (Juliette Lewis), who is pregnant with an affluent couple's child. After snatching Robin from two bodyguards, they hold her for ransom and then wend their way toward Mexico and the payoff and/or standoff. While Suspects hinged on a hoary whodunit plot, Way of the Gun ups the ante on character discovery. As the violence escalates, McQuarrie mercilessly peels each relationship apart, revealing so much information that the unborn child begins to suggest Kiss Me Deadly's Great Whatsit. One of the delights of this film is seeing Del Toro chew his part slowly, with a mannered cool that makes it look like he's still digesting his character onscreen. The Way of the Gun also brims with film-buff references and virtuoso gunplay. If anyone wants to create a Sam Peckinpah Award for first-time directors, McQuarrie wins for 2000.