Movie · 2018 · Comedy, Crime, Drama · 1h 34m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 8.3/10 (53.8K ratings)
This story is mostly true.
Overview
The true story of Forrest Tucker, from his audacious escape from San Quentin at the age of 70 to an unprecedented string of heists that confounded authorities and enchanted the public. Wrapped up in the pursuit are a detective, who becomes captivated with Forrest’s commitment to his craft, and a woman, who loves him in spite of his chosen profession.
Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek, Danny Glover, Tom Waits, Tika Sumpter, Ari Elizabeth Johnson, Teagan Johnson, Gene Jones, John David Washington, Barlow Jacobs, Augustine Frizzell, Jennifer Joplin, Lisa DeRoberts, Carter Bratton, Mike Dennis, Tomas Deckaj, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Patrick Newall, Daniel Britt
Curator Review
Verdict
A warm, easygoing caper with real charm, elegant period detail, and a graceful farewell performance from Robert Redford. It’s lighter on suspense than a conventional crime film, but the movie’s laid-back style and affectionate tone are the point.
Best for
Viewers who like charming, low-stakes crime stories
Fans of late-career star vehicles and farewell performances
People drawn to 1970s/early-1980s period texture
Audiences who enjoy gentle, wistful Americana
Skip if
You want a tense, twisty heist thriller
You dislike movies that feel soft, reflective, or deliberately understated
You prefer hard-edged crime drama over character-driven capers
You’re allergic to a nostalgic, lightly sentimental tone
Overview
The Old Man & the Gun is less interested in the mechanics of crime than in the pleasure of watching a consummate performer move through a world that seems to admire him. David Lowery keeps the film airy and unforced, letting the period detail, the music, and the easy rhythm of the storytelling do most of the work. The result is a caper that feels relaxed without feeling lazy.
Worth noting
Robert Redford is the movie’s center of gravity, and the film understands that its real subject is charisma itself: how it works, how it ages, and how it can make even repeated bad decisions feel almost graceful. Casey Affleck gives the pursuit a quiet counterweight, while Sissy Spacek and the supporting cast add warmth and texture without crowding the frame.
Bottom line
It’s not a movie for viewers who need escalating stakes or a tightly engineered plot. Its pleasures are softer: tone, texture, and the bittersweet sense of an era and a screen presence passing into memory. If that sounds appealing, it’s an easy recommendation.
Top Letterboxd reviews
lauren (4.5★) · 1098 likes
2017: baby driver
2018: baby boomer driver
Sean Baker · 838 likes
Took a couple of weeks to see because it just opened up in Canada where I am right now.
Really impressed by the supporting cast, who aren't getting any attention with this film -- Casey Affleck, Tom Waits, Danny Glover, Keith Carradine, Elizabeth Moss and great character actors such as Gene Jones.
Lowery truly captures that era with the style. Almost every shot feels like it was photographed in 1981. LOVE Joe Anderson's cinematography and Scott Kuzio's production design.
Watched at Cineplex Odeon Intl. Village, Vancouver
Patrick Willems · 746 likes
It’s so rare (and extremely difficult) for a movie to feel this effortless. Redford tying a perfect bow on the end of one of the best careers ever.
karen h. (5★) · 634 likes
the level of charm in this movie is insane and i loved every minute of it
1998 · Crime, Drama, Thriller · 2h 1m · R · Curator 8.0/10 (147.9K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A crime story that balances moral drift with regional texture and a grounded, human-scale tension.
2013 · Drama, Adventure · 1h 55m · R · Curator 8.5/10 (234.6K ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, MGM Plus
A wry, compassionate road movie about age, stubbornness, and the dignity of ordinary lives.