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The Way of the Gun

The Way of the Gun

Action · Crime · Drama · 2000

Two criminal drifters without sympathy get more than they bargained for after kidnapping and holding for ransom the surrogate mother of a powerful and shady man.

Movie details

The Way of the Gun

“Choose your side carefully, because the only way out is the way of the gun.”

2000 Action · Crime · Drama 1h 59m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.3 / 10

Community rating

Two criminal drifters without sympathy get more than they bargained for after kidnapping and holding for ransom the surrogate mother of a powerful and shady man.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Way of the Gun?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Christopher McQuarrie

Written by

Christopher McQuarrie

Ryan Phillippe

Ryan Phillippe

Mr. Parker

Benicio del Toro

Benicio del Toro

Mr. Longbaugh

Juliette Lewis

Juliette Lewis

Robin

Taye Diggs

Taye Diggs

Jeffers

Nicky Katt

Nicky Katt

Obecks

Geoffrey Lewis

Geoffrey Lewis

Abner Mercer

Scott Wilson

Scott Wilson

Hale Chidduck

Court is in session

Put The Way of the Gun on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.