GEDD!T would like to thank those fabulous people at Front Row Films for the opportunity of reviewing Robert Redford’s latest flick.
If you think you know what a bank robbery looks like be prepared to witness a true story about an old man and how he carried out his bank robberies in a way that would leave you rooting for him by the end of the movie. The Old Man & the Gun is Redford’s farewell to the silver screen as he delivered one of his best performances since he kicked off his starlit career in 1960. Robert Redford, the founder of the Sundance Film Festival really leaves a mark on the audience through his charismatic portrayal of Forrest Tucker in the movie.
The movie is set in the 1980s and is based on a true story about Tucker, a gentleman who enjoyed robbing banks in a polite and calm manner. It is really interesting to watch those experiences make their way into theatres, and for us as an audience to witness such simple yet effective bank robberies to take place. It takes you by surprise in a good way as the current cinema has built an image in our minds about how the ideal bank heist should look, certainly after the success of the Fast & Furious franchise: that a bank heist is filled with action, adrenaline and highly impactful car chases. Forrest Tucker on the other hand shows us his approach to robbing a bank which he did out of the sheer enjoyment and happiness that it brought him.
The movie is not just limited to a bank robbery; it also shows us his journey from a young age into the world of crime and how he had been in and out of prisons throughout his life. The movie also included a simple love story about an old couple who meet coincidentally and end up creating a strong bond.
Overall I’d rate the movie a 4 out of 5 as it was a different type of cinema that I experienced and also found myself left with a smile as I witnessed Forrest rob a bank and leave his “victims”(bank workers) with a smile as well when he left the bank with a bag full of money.
Movie Goer’s reactions:
- Algirda rated the film a decent 4 out of 5 as she felt the actors fit the characters in the movie really well. It was unexpected from the title of the movie as it was unique for a movie to show how a bank robbery takes place in a manner that she hadn’t seen before.
- Maeva rated the movie 3 out of 5 as she felt it got a bit boring, slow paced and dragged in the middle. She also felt the plot was a tad predictable at certain points, which is why she gave it a 3.
- Elisha rated the caper a 4 out of 5 as she liked the setting, that gave her vintage vibes that she enjoyed viewing on screen. She too found the different style of bank robbery amusing. She felt that Tucker was really cunning for his age and for him to be doing such extravagant things made him charming. She thinks audiences will be rooting for him by the end of the movie.