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The Way of the Gun (2000)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.4/10
Reviews Counted: 104
Fresh: 50 | Rotten: 54

The Way of the Gun has some good parts, but overall, the movie is derivative, sloppy, and sluggish.

Average Rating: 4.9/10
Critic Reviews: 24
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 14

The Way of the Gun has some good parts, but overall, the movie is derivative, sloppy, and sluggish.

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Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 30,050

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Movie Info

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

R, 1 hr. 58 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Directed By: Christopher McQuarrie

Written By: Christopher McQuarrie

In Theaters: Sep 8, 2000 Wide

On DVD: Jun 19, 2001

Box Office:$5.2M

Artisan Entertainment

The Way of the Gun Trailer & Photos

Cast

Ryan Phillippe
Parker
Benicio Del Toro
Longbaugh
James Caan
Joe Sarno
Juliette Lewis
Robin
Taye Diggs
Jeffers
Nicky Katt
Obecks
Dylan Kussman
Dr. Allen Painter
Scott Wilson
Hale Chidduck
Kristin Lehman
Francesca Chidduck
Geoffrey Lewis
Abner

Critic Reviews for The Way of the Gun

All Critics (119) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (51) | Rotten (54) | DVD (16)

Both the picture and its nefarious plot seem self-consciously calculated.

April 25, 2003 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail

| Comment

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

The Way of the Gun sometimes trips over its own contrivance, especially at the ammo-ridden end. But most of the time McQuarrie and his cast -- especially Del Toro, Philippe, and Lewis delivering her best, grittiest work in years -- make it crackle.

January 1, 2000 Comment

Jay Carr

Boston Globe

Top Critic

Christopher McQuarrie makes a sluggishly paced directing debut.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

| Comment

Steve Murray

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Top Critic

In a way, [McQuarrie] almost seems motivated by the same things that drive his killers: desperation and loot.

January 1, 2000 Comment

Michael Wilmington

Chicago Tribune

Top Critic

At first you're surprised when you get the rug pulled out from under you. Eventually, if you're a quick study, you stop stepping on it.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

McQuarrie has a gift for curveball casting.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly

| Comment

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Top Critic

Exceptionally violent movie -- not for kids.

December 29, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comments (2)

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

It boastfully claims roaring, bloodletting gunfire to do Sam Peckinpah proud, Joe Kraemer's throbbing percussive score (proving timpani should get more melodies) and any number of quotable, slick dialogue snippets. Swaggering, verbose, soulful and badass.

December 2, 2010 Full Review Source: Suite101.com

| Comment

Nick Rogers

Suite101.com

An odd mingling of the old and the no-longer-quite-so-new, a picture that shows flashes of wit but as a whole doesn't hang together.

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion

| Comment

Frank Swietek

One Guy's Opinion

It wants to keep you guessing, but there are so many twists and turns that I gave up trying to guess.

December 6, 2004 Full Review Source: Looking Closer

| Comment

Jeffrey Overstreet

Looking Closer

one hell of a sick, exhilarating roller coaster ride through Modern Film Noire Land

June 1, 2003 Full Review | Comment

Brandon Judell

Detour Magazine

The movie has a bunch of great individual scenes, but as a whole, the thing never gels.

February 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Wants to be one of these violent, manly yet provocative films, but unfortunately it unfurls as more of a big budgeted student film; a collage of borrowed images paying homage to great directors.

December 8, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Threat

| Comment

Tom Meek

Film Threat

Brutal scenes are undercut with lyricism and deadpan wit.

December 2, 2002 Full Review Source: Sight and Sound

| Comment

Geoffrey Macnab

Sight and Sound

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Way of the Gun

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A pair of small time crooks decide to gamble all on a big score when they kidnap the pregnant surrogate mother of a mobster's unborn child. Written and directed by the man responsible for the script for The Usual Suspects, Way Of The Gun may not have the clever twist in the tale of his most famous work, but it is still

April 6, 2007

xGary Xx

Super Reviewer

A slick, stylish, funny, pistol-packing, pulse-pounding and wickedly entertaining thriller. Compelling, gripping and electrifying. It's fast, intense and furious. It has enough explosive action, suspense, humor and crackling twist that never stop. Ryan Phillippe gives his best performance to date. Benicio Del Toro is

August 28, 2006