Review of THE OLD MAN & THE GUN – Rated PG-13 – 1 hr. 33 mins.

THE OLD MAN & THE GUN – Rated PG-13 – 1 hr. 33 mins.

DIRECTOR: David Lowery

WRITERS:  David Lowery

                     Based on the New Yorker article by David Grann 

STARRING:  Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek, Danny Glover and Tom Waits

Based on the true-life story of professional bank robber, and San Quentin escapee at the age of seventy…Forest Tucker (Robert Redford), THE OLD MAN & THE GUN drops us smack dab into the life of Tucker, as he is in the midst of conducting numerous robberies, both single handedly, and sometimes with the aid of his good friends Teddy (Danny Glover) and Waller (Tom Wait) too.

When a chance encounter with the sweet and endearing Jewel (Sissy Spacek) gives Forrest a new reason to change his ways, his bank robbing ways start to slow down a little, but sadly, not for long.

When Agent John Hunt (Casey Affleck) decides to take on catching the “very nice and engaging” thief that’s continuing his spree of heists across numerous states, it seems that Hunt and Tucker are about to play a good ol’ game of “Cat & Mouse” …

But when it’s all said and done, will Hunt get his man? Or will Tucker be able to continue his nice guy robbery facade until the bitter end???

I give THE OLD MAN & THE GUN a rating between MUST SEE ON THE BIG SCREEN and WAIT AND CATCH THIS FILM ON DVD!  Redford is perfectly cast as the seemingly nicest bank robber EVER – as between his love for the heist, and his smuttiness with Spacek’s character, you find yourself routing for “the bad guy” throughout this entire film.  C. Affleck is enjoyable to view too, as although he wants nothing more than to put Tucker behind bars, once he gets to know a little more about the bank robber everyone seems to be enchanted by, it becomes rather easy not to be too hard on the old guy J  Glover and Wait’s performances, although small, are perfectly delivered too, thus adding even more of a reason to thoroughly enjoy this film.  THE OLD MAN & THE GUN is one of those rare films that just seems to draw you in with its sweet and sentimental storyline, and it periodic comedic timing mixed in along the way for good measure.  If you want to see a film that will make you totally happy just from having spent 93 minutes watching two Academy Award winning actors do what they do best, then please, take a few hours out of your blustery weekend and go see THE OLD MAN & THE GUN at a theater near you!  This no muss, no fuss film will absolutely put a big ol smile right upon your face! 

Kathy Kaiser