The Old Man & the Gun

Name: The Old Man & the Gun
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Crime
Released: September 28, 2018
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 80
Cast: Ari Elizabeth Johnson, Augustine Frizzell, Casey Affleck, Danny Glover, Denise Barone

2018

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 49 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 100 Ratings

See All

6.7

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.7	Your Score
6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 100 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Old Man & The Gun

Now Playing: The Old Man & The Gun

Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: September 28, 2018 | PG-13

Starring: Ari Elizabeth Johnson, Augustine Frizzell, Casey Affleck, Danny Glover, Denise Barone, Elisabeth Moss, Gene Jones, Isiah Whitlock Jr, John David Washington, Keith Carradine, Robert Redford, Sissy Spacek, Teagan Johnson, Tika Sumpter, Tom Waits

Movie Facts:

Redford has announced that this is his final performance as an actor.

Summary: Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford) has been on the wrong side of the law since he was a teen. He grew into a career bank robber who broke out of prison 18 times, including a daring escape from San Quentin at age 70. The film covers his twilight years, and an unprecedented string of daring heists that confound authorities and enchants theForrest Tucker (Robert Redford) has been on the wrong side of the law since he was a teen. He grew into a career bank robber who broke out of prison 18 times, including a daring escape from San Quentin at age 70. The film covers his twilight years, and an unprecedented string of daring heists that confound authorities and enchants the public. Wrapped up in this chase are a detective (Casey Affleck) who becomes captivated with Forrest’s commitment to his craft, and a woman (Sissy Spacek) who loves him in spite of his chosen profession.… Expand

Director: David Lowery

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Crime

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 93 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Jamie Graham

Dec 3, 2018

So damn charming it makes your heart twinkle like Redford's eyes. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Aug 31, 2018

The film makes plenty of mileage from trading on the charm of a good bad boy, and Redford’s long experience in playing such roles serves him beautifully here; he knows by now he doesn’t have to push his attractiveness to be ingratiating. His work here is natural, subtle, ingratiating and doesn’t miss a trick. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Sep 10, 2018

However suave the movie itself may be, it's another accomplished piece of work from a filmmaker who is now four for four, and continues to surprise with the range of his interests and output. And it’s a love letter to a cinematic legend, serving as a perfect final film for someone who long ago surpassed mere actor status to become an icon. Read full review

Tim Grierson

Sep 11, 2018

Redford has rarely been this commanding in his recent work, playing Tucker with a mischievousness in his eyes but also so much soul that his thieving feels more like an expression of some sad longing than a chronic criminal mind-set. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Oct 4, 2018

David Lowery’s film is about as quiet and patient as what is ostensibly a caper movie can be. Yet its engine never idles, in large part because Redford, at 82, remains a movie star, someone to whom we are drawn, even as he is politely robbing a bank with a note, a gun and a smile. Read full review

Mark Feeney

Oct 4, 2018

Director David Lowery (“Ain’t them Bodies Saints,” “A Ghost Story”) did the adaptation of David Grann’s New Yorker magazine article. His direction is winningly relaxed, and his script has real flavor. Read full review

Keith Uhlich

Sep 26, 2018

David Lowery has a carefree, bordering on insubstantial touch, which gives rise to several rank absurdities. Read full review

SEE ALL 49 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

fonzea

Aug 29, 2019

Interesting, touching, and stylish to boot, The Old Man & the Gun often has us looking to the future for comfort rather than dwelling on the past; an interesting feat for a movie set in 1980's America, and a fitting swan song for Redford.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Nov 22, 2021

I enjoyed this film, knowing its the last film Robert Redford intended to star in (certainly as the lead character). It somewhat reminded me of the Mule, I suppose as its a film about an older gentleman involved in potentially violent crime, although no doubt there are a lot of other suchI enjoyed this film, knowing its the last film Robert Redford intended to star in (certainly as the lead character). It somewhat reminded me of the Mule, I suppose as its a film about an older gentleman involved in potentially violent crime, although no doubt there are a lot of other such films around. There isn't actually a lot of violence in this film, its much more of a low key character based drama. I particularly enjoyed the scenes with Forrest and Jewel acquainting themselves, there are some heart to hearts, interesting discussions that give an insight into Forrest's life perhaps. It's perhaps somewhat thought provoking in terms of how the authorities regard the recent robberies when they realise the culprit is an older man who is, as I say, regularly described as 'a gentleman', as if that could ever be the case(!) surely not(!).

I also like it as its based on a true story, which always appeals to me. I would certainly recommend this film, yes.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Brent_Marchant

Oct 16, 2018

A charming and curiously inspiring tale about living life on one's own terms, even when questionable activities are involved. In what is said to be Robert Redford's cinematic swan song, the acting legend shines in a quietly understated role, backed by an excellent supporting cast who knowA charming and curiously inspiring tale about living life on one's own terms, even when questionable activities are involved. In what is said to be Robert Redford's cinematic swan song, the acting legend shines in a quietly understated role, backed by an excellent supporting cast who know how to complement their colleague without outshining him. A delightful comedy-drama to round out a storied acting career.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Bertaut1

Dec 26, 2018

A well-made, old-fashioned yarn, but the laid-back ballad-like tone will be too insubstantial for some

Written and directed by David Lowery, and originally touted as Robert Redford's final performance, although he has walked that claim back somewhat, The Old Man & the Gun is a laid-backA well-made, old-fashioned yarn, but the laid-back ballad-like tone will be too insubstantial for some

Written and directed by David Lowery, and originally touted as Robert Redford's final performance, although he has walked that claim back somewhat, The Old Man & the Gun is a laid-back ballad-like elegy filmed in the style of a 1970's indie.

Based on David Grann's 2003 New Yorker article, the film tells the "mostly true" story of prolific bank robber and prison escapee Forrest Tucker (Redford) who had been robbing banks since his early 20s. The story takes place in 1981, when Tucker was 61 (although in the film, he's 76), and had recently escaped from San Quentin. Meeting a widow named Jewel (Sissy Spacek), after pulling off a job, they strike up a tentative romance. Meanwhile, he is pursued by Det. John Hunt (Casey Affleck), who is starting to respect him more and more.

The first thing you'll notice about Old Man is its pace, which is measured, to say the least. Ostensibly, this is a heist film, but the crime narrative is very much secondary to tone and character beats, with Lowery relatively uninterested in excitement, suspense, plot twists, or any of the usual generic tropes. And that's not a criticism. Rather, the meditative pace is one of the film's charms. Additionally, Lowery almost completely ignores what, for many, would be the most interesting part of Tucker's story - the 18 prison escapes. Instead, he puts them all together into one montage.

Instead, Lowery's goal is to create an ode to an icon, and that icon is Robert Redford. Tucker's story is a vehicle which Lowery uses to celebrate Redford; the character is always there, but he exists behind the actor, rather than the other way around. Indeed, during the escape montage, there's even a clip of Redford from another film, The Chase (1966). We can never look past the fact that Tucker is played by Redford, and for the most part, Redford is playing Redford, with the film existing in large part only because it explicitly leans on his back catalogue and real-life legacy. Essentially, the whole thing is an extended metatextual allegory for Redford's own impending retirement, not to mention his reluctance to let go.

As one would expect from Lowery, the film is aesthetically fascinating. Shooting on Super 16, Lowery wanted the film to look like it had been made in the period in which it was set, trying to suture the viewer into the past. Another important aesthetic point is how much Lowery has obviously been influenced by Michael Mann, to whom there are several homages - a scene in a diner recalls a similarly shot scene in Thief (1981); the scene where Hunt approaches Tucker is an obvious nod to Al Pacino confronting Robert De Niro in Heat (1995); and the scene of Tucker gaining inspiration whilst sitting in a cinema recalls a scene in Public Enemies (2009).

In terms of problems, there are a few. If you're not a fan of Redford's, for example, you will get very little from this. Lowery also has a strange habit of introducing themes which seem to be setting something up, only to completely abandon them without any kind of engagement. This is most obvious in relation to Hunt's inter-racial marriage to Maureen (Tika Sumpter) and their two mixed-race children. This is a fictional element added by Lowery, so one assumes there was some thought behind it. But this is Texas in 1981; there wouldn't have been a huge amount of mixed marriages. Yet Lowery seems to portray it as if it's the most normal thing in the world. Indeed, for the wife and children, life is fairly idyllic, with not a hint of any kind of societal disapproval. Why would you introduce a mixed-race marriage into this milieu without commenting on it?

These few issues aside, however, The Old Man & the Gun is a fine film. As much about Robert Redford as it is Forrest Tucker, although it won't appeal to everyone, there is much to praise. Made in a key so low, it's practically subterranean, Lowery hinges everything on Redford's presence, and, for the most part, it works well. There's little to get overly excited about, but neither is there much to criticise. Yes, the film is somewhat insubstantial, and there's virtually nothing here beyond the Redford/Tucker character, but it's still beautifully made, and, honestly, there's nothing wrong with spending 93 minutes hanging out with Redford, whether he's playing Forrest Tucker or Robert Redford. Whether or not this is actually his last performance remains to be seen, but if it is, it's as fine a send-off as any Hollywood icon could hope for.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

m15964

Mar 15, 2019

Didn't really liked that even it's still a good movie that maybe you suggest to your friends.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Apr 23, 2019

A just fine farewell for Robert Redford in a irregular film by David Lowery that chose to be sweet instead of being more tense and dramatic, which considering the story it missed that mark.

Like I said it was just fine. Nothing memorable, which is kinda sad for Redford.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

sbermont

Oct 21, 2018

It is true. Robert Redford has made some great ones...The Natural was perfect. But, this one fell so short for me that I walked out of the movie house after 20 minutes. The one thing I keep noticing about Redford movies is that he insists that his hair be perfectly coiffed and his clothingIt is true. Robert Redford has made some great ones...The Natural was perfect. But, this one fell so short for me that I walked out of the movie house after 20 minutes. The one thing I keep noticing about Redford movies is that he insists that his hair be perfectly coiffed and his clothing tailored to his own inimitable style. That over-concern with perfection in image has taken away from the the chracter's portrayal and many of the other characters he's played through the years. Casey Afleck seems to need a course or two in elocution. He is a career mumbler. The camera work lacks the smooth touch of a pro. If "low-key" was the director's intention; the lackluster music didn't provide emotional juxtaposition that a good score should. Too bad. I was really looking forward to it...and I'm a big Sissy Spacek fan.… Expand

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

SEE ALL 29 REVIEWS