In interviews prior to the film’s release, actor Robert
Redford has said that his performance in “The Old Man & the Gun” will be
his final onscreen role. The film’s inspired by the true story of bank robber
Forrest Tucker who, starting at the age of 15, spent a lifetime in and out of
prison, managing to escape to freedom nearly every time. Directed by David
Lowery (“A Ghost Story,” “Pete’s Dragon”) with a loose, freewheeling style,
it’s appropriately a story about a man who can’t seem to stay away from doing
what he loves.
Tucker is a
fascinating character: An outlaw who carries a gun but claims to never have
used it. He’s so friendly and courteous while holding up bank tellers that they
can’t help but describe him to police officers later on as “a gentleman.” He’s
always charming and polite, with a smile that never leaves his face. And why
shouldn’t he be happy? He’s having fun, clearly getting a kick out of his bank-robbing antics. Redford plays Tucker with his movie star charisma dialed up to
11, a twinkle in his eye and an impish grin; it’s not hard to see why he’s
irresistible to everyone he encounters.
When we meet
up with Tucker, he’s working with a crew, Theodore “Teddy” Green
(Danny Glover) and John Waller (Tom Waits), two men who seem to get the same
satisfaction from being outlaws that Tucker does. Together, they’re quickly
dubbed by the media as “The Over-the-Hill Gang,” but even that seems to amuse
them. Tucker’s also started wooing a recent widow named Jewel (a luminous Sissy
Spacek), and their courtship is a joy to watch
unfold. She’s (understandably) a bit skeptical of him, but is just as drawn to
him as everyone else is.
There’s the
barest hint of conflict to the film, as Tucker is pursued by detective John
Hunt (Lowery regular Casey Affleck). He’s dissatisfied with his career, turning
40 and cranky about it. That plot is almost beside the point, and along the way
Hunt realizes that the chase is more fun than the actual catching. As a result,
there’s no real tension to this story, which I suppose might be a problem if
that’s at all what you’re looking for. Instead Lowery gives the whole thing a
genial, laid-back vibe. He lays on the 70’s style in effective but unobtrusive
ways, using lots of pans and zooms, and occasionally turning his camera away from
the main action to notice small details or conversations happening nearby.
There’s a
playful energy to the film, but with a slightly melancholy undercurrent derived
from the feeling of growing older, and tying into Lowery’s
continued fascination with the passage of time. There’s a wonderful sequence
late in the film, in which Tucker lays out his 17 previous prison escapes.
Incorporating footage from Redford’s films, we’re able to see him age from a
boy, then a teen, and finally the man we recognize.
As a breezy
crime caper, “The Old Man & the Gun” makes for satisfying entertainment,
but as a tribute to Redford’s legacy and his remarkable career, it becomes
immensely moving. It’s a charming fable about the simple joy of doing what
makes you happy, knowing what you’re good at, and sticking to it. If this does
turn out to be Redford’s final screen appearance, he’s chosen well. We’ll just
have to see if it sticks.
This article appears in Oct 17-23, 2018.
