Written & Directed By: Christopher McQuarrie
Cinematography By: Dick Pope
Editor: Stephen Semel
Cast: Benecio Del Toro, Ryan Phillippe, Juliette Lewis, Nicky Katt, Taye Diggs, James Caan, Sarah Silverman, Geoffrey Lewis, Scott Wilson, Kristin Lehman
Two petty if violent criminals kidnap a girl being paid $1m to be a surrogate mother. As the baby is for a gangster the pair's demand for money sees several henchmen and assorted other ruthless characters head after them to Mexico. Bullets rather than talking are always going to settle this one
The movie has tension that builds up until the end and then kind of slowly let’s you down.
The violence that the film hints at, You expect a bloodbath by the end and for it to be over the top. Then once it happens it’s more a disappointment. Though the film gives hints of the violence coming in little increments. The final gun battle is such a let-down and ill planned that it makes it that much more believable.
It seems that everyone especially our protagonists and the mood of the film is that everyone tries hard to be cool and moody .No matter what the situation.
The film tries to keep it’s dark humor that is prevalent in the beginning of the film. The first scene of the movie is comedically over the top and violent. Breaking taboos to show the unpredictable nature of the film. No rules that it never really cashes in on. Plus it’s the only real action sequence the film has until it’s ending. The action bookends the film. The opening really is politically incorrect, but it set’s the tone for the rest of the film.
Benecio Del Toro is an actor you don’t see too much or not nearly enough. He seems to be very picky about his projects. It’s nice to see him when he’s in his element. Though some time like in this film it seems he isn’t putting up much of an effort. More hanging back and seeing when he has to really be aware and use his goods. I would love to see him try an out and out comedy. Here it is more of a dark comedy and hard edged laughs. This film was made when he was a hot commodity.
Likewise this film was made when Ryan Phillippe was a hot commodity it feels like it was based more on look then talent. He is a good actor, yet here he seems like he is trying hard. Which leaves him to be a lightweight around all these heavyweight brooding veterans.
The names of the main characters, Parker and Longbaugh, are the real last names of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. In fact The final shootout scene in the brothel is the same location where the final shootout scene in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid occurs.
One of the things that keeps you interested in the film is that it’s clear these two are in over their heads and as they learn just how much, so do we. Though we are privileged to the twists and turns they only learn in passing.
Christopher McQuarrie had written considerable amount of dialog for Longbaugh's character, however Benicio Del Toro suggested the "less is more" approach and had him cut down his lines.
The violence was scaled back because the MPAA threatened the film with the NC-17 rating.
The film is ultimately a slow burn that has a lot of bark but very little bite. It feels like a genre exercise more from the 70’s and 80’s.
The unusual car chase scenes after the kidnapping were Benicio Del Toro's idea. He suggested it to Christopher McQuarrie after watching the show COPS where a couple of criminals did the same when cops were chasing them.
It’s a pleasant viewing experience that I saw twice in the theater. The film has vision. The problem is that it’s advertised more as a action film. Where as it is more a thriller or drama with some action in it.
Christopher McQuarrie's brother, a US Navy SEAL, was technical advisor for the gunfight scenes, hence the realism of the coordinated movements, use of cover, and room-clearing tactics used by Parker and Longbaugh.
Unlike many movies with action-packed gunfights, every round fired is accounted for and all characters reload when appropriate, with the exception of one sequence in the brothel courtyard where Parker and Longbaugh fire dozens of rounds in rapid succession without pausing to reload: an intentional sort of fun tribute to classic action movies.
SPOILER
The opening scene where Parker punches the loudmouthed character played by Sarah Silverman is explained in the commentary as an idea Christopher McQuarrie had kicked around with his friends while heckling a large group of ultimate frisbee players at a dog park. They realized that if a group of people actually came at them, they would surely lose, but could "steal the victory" by giving the women bloody noses, making the womens' boyfriends to be the focus of their ire (reasoning that the women would blame the boyfriends for starting the fight in the first place) long after the fight was over.
SPOILER END
This film is truly a sleeper that is rarely mentioned and shown. It is definitely worth checking out. So much so that I have forgotten this film a few times, but there are so many scenes that come rushing to my mind. When the title is mentioned.
GRADE: B
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