The Way of the Gun

Name: The Way of the Gun
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Released: 2000-09-08
Duration: 1 h 59 min
Rating: 6.6
Cast: Ryan Phillippe, Benicio del Toro, Juliette Lewis, Taye Diggs, Nicky Katt

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

The Way of the Gun (2000)

Timing: 1:59 (119 min)

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6.3/10
501

6.6/10
37000

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Everything about the movie

Video 4

Photo 33

Actors and characters

Video for the film The Way of the Gun — The Way Of The Gun | Theatrical Trailer | 2000

2:05

Photo 33

Release date

2000-09-08

Country

United States

Production

Artisan Entertainment, Aqaba Productions

Genre

Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller

Budget

$21 000 000

Box office

$13 069 740

Website

Director

Christopher McQuarrie

Actors

Ryan Phillippe, Benicio del Toro, Juliette Lewis, Taye Diggs, Nicky Katt, Geoffrey Lewis, Scott Wilson, Dylan Kussman, James Caan, Sarah Silverman
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Kenneth Kokin, Russell D. Markowitz

Camera operator

Dick Pope

Composer

Artist

Maia Javan

Audition

Lynn Kressel

Editing

Stephen Semel, Christine White
Whole Team (48)

Short description

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.

What's left behind the scenes

Unlike many other action movies, a meticulous count of every shot was kept during filming, and the characters' weapons were reloaded on time. The only exception was the shootout in the brothel courtyard, where the main characters played by Ryan Phillippe and Benicio del Toro fire without reloading. This scene was intended as a tribute—with a touch of irony—to classic action films.
The painting shown on the wall of the Mexican brothel had already been seen by viewers in Uli Edel's television film Purgatory (1999).
In all scenes, Nicky Katt, who played Obekks, drove the car himself.
The screenwriter and director wrote many lines for Benicio Del Toro's character, but the actor convinced him that the less his character spoke, the better.
The film owes its realistic gunfight scenes (referring to the coordination of character movements, the correct choice of cover, and the professional "clearing" of rooms) to a consultant. This role was played by the brother of director Christopher McQuarrie, a former member of the US Navy SEALs special forces unit.
The American Film Association threatened to give the film an NC-17 rating (no one 17 and under admitted), so the filmmakers had to reduce the number of violent scenes.
The final shootout took place in a brothel—the same setting where George Roy Hill's western 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' (1969) ends.
Unlike many other action films, this production meticulously accounted for every shot fired, and the characters reloaded their weapons on time. The only exception was the shootout in the courtyard of the brothel, where Ryan Phillippe and Benicio Del Toro, playing the main characters, fire without reloading their weapons. This scene became a kind of tribute – with a touch of irony – to classic action films.
All the actors in the film shoot from the "Weaver stance", named after its creator, Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff Jack Weaver (1928-2009). It was subsequently developed by US Marine Corps Colonel John Dean "Jeff" Cooper (1920-2006). The shooter holds the weapon with both hands. A more modern stance (one hand on the grip, the other supporting it) is often preferred in shooting competitions and in the military.
The authenticity of the shootout scenes (specifically the coordination of the characters' movements, the correct choice of cover, and professional room clearing) is thanks to a consultant. This role was filled by the director's brother, Christopher McQuarrie, a former member of the US Navy SEALs.
During the filming of the scene that opens the film, Ryan Phillippe accidentally hit Sarah Silverman for real. When the actress came to, Phillippe was almost in tears. The blood in the scene was fake, but the bump on the actress's cheek was very real.
The final shootout took place in a brothel – the same location where George Roy Hill's Western "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969) ends.
Benicio Del Toro suggested the unusual car chase during the kidnapping. He came up with this idea after watching "Police Academy 6: City Under Siege" (1989), where a similar stunt was pulled off by a pair of criminals.
Viewers had already seen the painting shown on the wall of the Mexican brothel in Uli Edel's TV film 'Purgatory' (1999).
The role of Juliette Lewis's character's father was played by James Caan, while Jeffrey Lewis, the actress's father, played Ebner.
In all the scenes, Nikki Katt, who played Obex, drove the car himself.
James Caan played the role of the heroine Juliette Lewis's father, while Jeffrey Lewis, the actress's father, played Ebner.
The main characters of the film bear the surnames of Butch Cassidy (1866-1908) and the Sundance Kid (1867-1906), famous bank robbers.
Benicio del Toro suggested the unusual car chase during the kidnapping. The idea came to him after watching the movie 'Police Academy 6: City Under Siege' (1989), where a pair of criminals pulled off a similar stunt.
While filming the scene that opens the movie, Ryan Phillippe accidentally hit Sarah Silverman for real. When the actress came to, Phillippe was nearly in tears. The blood used in the scene was fake, but the bump on the actress's cheekbone was as real as it gets.