Among the popular movies of this year's awards season, inexplicably, this movie is indeed what I want to see the most. The reason is very simple, I want to know how the film will present the old man.
Western media and film critics are emphasizing that this is Robert Redford 's curtain call.
Robert Redford, the old gentleman who was born in 1936, has indeed left a lot of brilliant marks in the history of film. He has starred in "Tiger and Leopard" (1969), "Deception" (1973), "The Great Gatsby" (1974), "Out of Africa" (1985), etc., and also directed Many classic works, such as "The Horse Whisperer" (1998).
The film was also nominated for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy at the 76th Golden Globe Awards. Undoubtedly, Robert. Redford's excellent performance contributed to the film incomparable. Whether it is the status of the rivers and lakes, or the role of acting, he can give him a five-star praise. But today we throw away the halo of this big filmmaker and go back to the movie itself to see the characteristics of the movie.
David Lowe's last film "Ghostbusters" caused a lot of repercussions. Many people liked his poetic style, and some people liked the ending of his story - like a one-footed, fallen I don't know if it's abyss or turbulence.
The appearance of "The Old Man and the Gun" made the film critics boil, and they all praised this as a genius with a unique style. Whether it is "Ghost" or this film, it is not difficult to see that the director's romance is also embedded in the film. He uses his method to show a very gentleman robber and a calm desperado. The story takes place in the 1980s, and the film was shot on 16mm film. Of course, retro is also a point that everyone admires: the texture of the picture, the music, the scene arrangement, and the Kodak color matching system, retro has become a point that everyone cannot ignore. If you are fortunate enough to see it on the big screen, it will be extremely enjoyable.
From the overall style of the movie, this is a very uncommercial movie. Whether it is the way of moving the camera, or the structure of the story; whether it is the characterization, or the plot connection. The "character arc" we often hear about, no: the story is based on a true story. The protagonist, Forest Tucker, is a habitual offender. Going in and out of prison is the same as ordinary people traveling. The interesting thing is that he has successfully escaped prison 18 times from his teenage years to his 70s. He couldn't hold back, he didn't enjoy his old age, he had to go to the bank to rob, and he robbed was like going to the vegetable market to buy a vegetable. He dressed very politely, and the way he robbed was also gentle. Not only that, he also had a Road Trip route, robbing him all the way, robbing his pockets full of banknotes. Encountered love on the way, but love could not restrain his inner impulse and fanaticism, and he was a "prodigal son" who would never look back.
It is a bit far-fetched to say that the movie is a road movie. Although Forrest robbed all the way, this journey is like his life, enjoying the process rather than finding a destination. "Life is endless, robbery is endless"!
What we often call "fierce conflict" is not in the movie either: Forrest has a small gang of three, three old men (and Tom Waits, the smokey voice, plays a role in it - oh , to this uncle who also played the gold digger in "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs"), occasionally a gang robs, there is no fierce conflict of opinions, and it is not black at all. The three of them met and chatted with some parents, just like the old people in the nursing home who talked about topics when they met, but the overall temperament did not make people feel bored and boring at all, and they were immersed in their conversations unconsciously. went in.
The uncles discussed the arrangement of the robbery, but they did not show the enthusiasm they should have. They did not have the enthusiasm of "Let's go! Let's do something big!", and there was no passion for "seeing that we have been sticking to our great dreams." The interaction between them is as steady as "Which restaurant are you going to eat tonight?", but occasionally an uncle runs out and growls: "Hey! I can't eat the steak in that restaurant!"
There's a cop in the movie, John Hunter, bent on getting Forrest. The plot and the plot are not as intense and exciting as "cat and mouse" at all, and it is not the policeman who captures Forrest in the end.
Saying it is "not commercial" is a great feeling, unlike conventional "criminal" movies that will give the audience a lot of "ping pong, bang, bang, bang" pleasure, there are not too many intense car chases and gun battles, but a lot more calm. . The state of the movie is good, and the story is simply too close to life. Forrest is literally "irresponsible" in mainstream values—to his family, his children, and even the woman in his new relationship, of course. It's just that he can't disobey his heart and rob to satisfy/complete himself - he's just responsible for his own life. As he himself said: robbery is not for "living", but for "living".
What is the charm of a "repeated robbery criminal" that makes people think he is a legend? The movie learns from the looted man how Forrest leaves others: he looks like a gentleman, he looks happy, he smiles all the time. Come on, Forrest enjoyed his robbery so much that he didn't let a bullet escape his gun from start to finish. Even, the entire movie, the audience doesn't see him raise the gun - we don't even know if his hands are shaking when he raises the gun.
Police John Hunter, he's very obsessed with the Forrest robbery. In the process of in-depth investigation, he walked into Forrest step by step, no doubt, he was touched by Forrest. But John in life speaks lazily and is not so happy. The state of these two characters makes me wonder: do we prefer to be a happy robber or an unhappy cop? At the end of the film, it has been emphasizing Forrest's calmness and happiness, which is probably the most touching point of this character to the director!
I have seen many movies about "old people" before, some of them describe the emotional state of old age, such as "Love"; or old age life, such as "Foreign Hotel"; or positive energy to realize dreams, such as "Quartet" ;This movie feels a bit like China's "Old Beast". It tells the story of a "prodigal son", but the tone and focus of this movie is "happy and happy", which makes people watch/analyze life more. an angle. The calmness and romance presented by this film gave me a literary gain in the process of watching it. Hope you get it too! I mean, be happy and be happy! (^__^) Hee hee.
over.
Text丨Yue Zhangtu丨Official stills
This article was originally published on the official account of "Tiantang Cinema" (WeChat: BrilliantFilms), and we warmly welcome your attention.
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