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The story begins simply, but it does not continue or end that way. Buddies Longbaugh (Benicio
Del Toro) and Parker (Ryan Philippe) are fed up with their dead end life of petty crime and petty cash, and want something better. In a clinic to donate blood and sperm for a
fee, and hearing a woman is getting $15 million for being surrogate mother for a childless couple, they see opportunity staring them in the face. They do a kidnap-for-ransom
job on the very pregnant Robin (Juliette Lewis), in spite of her being closely guarded by two efficient and armed security men. In arranging for the ransom with the Chidduck
couple, (Scott Wilson, Kristin Lehmen), Joe Sarno (James Caan), their bagman and representative, is sent to take care of the deal. This starts a series of unexpected
complications.
The kidnap-for-ransom operation turns out to have unusual and some interesting elements. The
main surprise is that two small-time crooks have unknowingly pitted themselves against veteran criminals who have been playing for high stakes for years. The syndicate boss is
ably assisted by his assistant Joe and their henchmen But Longbaugh and Parker upset them for they behave contrary to expectations and often get the better of them. For Joe,
the situation calls for drastic measures leading to a series of intensely violent acts, including a forced c-section in crude surroundings with crude means.
Del Toro and Philippe are believable in their petty-crook roles; so is James Caan who plays
his character with such calm and method. Juliette Lewis has a physically difficult role but she does well with it. The complicated story, adequately directed by Christopher
McQuarrie, needs attention for the dialogue to be understood.
The world of crime, threats, and death by the gun are used by all parties involved, except
Allen and Childduck, because they are after the huge sums of money. But is The Way of the Gun, the way of violence, the way to take? The series of extreme violence, the
number of wounded and dead, the intrigues and vulgar language require a mature audience to understand and make the right critique.
A ray of light in the film comes when Parker and Longbaugh show some ability to rise above
their situation and act in some really human way. Both show a reluctance to shoot someone in the back, or unarmed; Parker pauses in doing an evil act because he says that, in
spite of all the killing he has done, he is still afraid to face God; and Longbaugh asks Parker, "What are you going to tell God when you meet him?"
This shows that there could still be something good in the worst of us, just as there must be
something that is evil in the best of us.
(Date reviewed: February 23, 2002)
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