Sometimes a movie arrives that charms its way into your heart and The Old Man & the Gun is just such an unassuming, exuberant gift. Only afterwards do you see that its roots go deeper, that its evocation of the past points to an uncertain future. In this self-proclaimed mostly true story, Robert Redford still defining movie-star magnetism at 82 takes on the role of Forrest Tucker, a real-life bank robber who prides himself on having escaped from prison 16 times. You might call him a gentleman bandit, since hes unfailingly polite to those he robs. Hell, he never even puts bullets in his gun. That wouldnt be nice, now, would it? And deep into his AARP years, Tucker still has the itch to add to his record of 80 stickups.
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The exceptional writer-director David Lowery (A Ghost Story, Aint Them Bodies Saints) had previously worked with Redford on the 2016 remake of Petes Dragon. But actor and filmmaker find a rhythm here that bubbles up into pure, irresistible pleasure. With a devilish wink, blue eyes that age cannot wither nor custom stale, and a soulful presence that comes from years of experience at his craft, the former Sundance Kid slips into the role like a comfy pair of boots. He had previously announced that this would be his swan song as an actor. Luckily, hes since walked that back were not ready to give up watching Redford show how its done. Not yet. Not ever.
Basing his screenplay on David GrannsNew Yorkerarticle about Tuckers career in lawbreaking, Lowery never pushes for effect, shooting Old Man like one of Redfords 1970s films think The Sting or Three Days of the Condor that expertly balance action and character. We meet this career criminal in 1981, after his jailbreak from San Quentin, and Redford makes it clear that this outlaw loves his trade too much to ever consider retirement. Hes a breed apart from his cohorts, the other members of the so-called Over-the-Hill gang played by Danny Glover and Tom Waits; crossing the country from Texas to Missouri has taken its toll on these aged boys. Theyre feeling their aches and pains. Not Tucker. He only feels the thrill of the chase. Even John Hunt (a winningly low-key Casey Affleck), the cop on Tuckers trail, starts showing a grudging appreciation.
If you dont fall for the elderly rascal right away, you will when he meets up with a ranch widow named Jewel. As played by the glorious Sissy Spacek, whose flirty rapport with Redford is the essence of screen chemistry, this horse trainer is the audience surrogate. She cant believe Tucker is the man he says he is. And when Jewel does accept it, she sticks with him anyway. On paper, the connection between the bank robber and the lady may seem like Hollywood pap. But watching Redford and Spacek court, spark and connect is a beguiling acting treat. Suddenly the camera disappears and theres nothing between them and us. Theyre magic.
Some have accused The Old Man & the Gun of glamorizing criminals. (Have they every seen Bonnie and Clyde? Or The Godfather? Or The Sopranos and Breaking Bad and ?) But finding the humanity in flawed personalities is called characterization, and Redford and Lowery make it painfully clear how much Tuckers unarmed bank jobs have robbed him of permanence, family and personal freedom. As he leads the cops on one last, merry chase, his defiance isnt aimless its the whole point. What the star does, and its no small thing, is to show why one man nurtures his renegade spirit above all else. And whether its really his final bow or not, Redford gives a virtuoso performance that feels like a valedictory. You want to salute him.
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