The Current Cinema: The Old Man & The Gun (2018)

Directed by David Lowery. Starring Robert Redford, Sissy Spacek, Casey Affleck, Danny Glover, Tom Waits. Released October 19, 2018. Running time: 93 minutes.

There is something sad about "Old Man & The Gun" being Robert Redford's last film, capping a career that included such timeless classics as "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "The Sting," "All The President's Men," "The Way We Were," and "Jerimiah Johnson." When Redford turned to directing, he won his only Oscar for "Ordinary People." As the head of the Sundance film festival, he has long supported indie filmmakers.

And there is something commendable that Redford, like his actor-director peer Clint Eastwood, has allowed himself to age. Once considered one of the handsomest men in movies, Redford is now past 80 and makes no attempt to hide it with phony cosmetics. He has earned every rugged crease on his face, and despite his age, he still retains the effortless charisma that has made him an appealing presence for 60 years. They don't have movie stars like Robert Redford anymore -- someone whose stardom is so significant, people would attend "the new Robert Redford movie" without much concern as to what it was about. There were a lot of stars like that in the 70s (and before). Not so much since. With his last movie, Redford shows he is still able to command every scene.

Playing a prison escapee who supports himself robbing banks, along with two elderly accomplices played by Tom Waits and Danny Glover, Redford's character exudes the same sort of charm the actor is still able to convey. Casey Affleck plays the cop who trials the old men, their wily method of old fashioned disguises and activities being so archaic, it makes the officer's job more difficult. They have long experience, longer than the cops have been alive, and that factors into the narrative as well. Sissy Spacek has a nice presence as Redford's love interest. Now nearing 70 herself, Spacek also has comfortably aged into senior roles without losing the on-screen charisma she's been successfully exhibiting since the 70s.

Based on real people and actual events. the relaxed pace of the film always maintains the viewer's interest. The writer-director, Milwaukee-born David Lowery, doesn't have a lot of experience, but he certainly rises to the occasion. However daunting it might be to direct Robert Redford's last film, Lowery's vision, his succession of shots, and his framing of the action, are all quite commendable. His screenplay is such that it is honest to the original story while responding to Lowery's direction. It's an old-fashioned auteurist approach, and it works perfectly on a film that celebrates a classic star.

There are layers of cinematic significance to "The Old Man & The Gun" It shows the further work of a young writer-director. It culminates the career of classic star Robert Redford. And it is brilliantly understated in an era that is filled with garish special effects, seconds-long shots, quick edits, and noisy soundtracks. For this old man reviewer, it was quite welcome.