Viewers are taken on the ride of a lifetime in The Old Man & the Gun, a movie that highlights the difference between making a living and embracing the thrill of living itself.
The film, to be screened by the Brock University Film Society on Thursday, Feb. 7, is based on the true story of bank robber 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.
Written and directed by David Lowery (A Ghost Story), and featuring an all-star cast led by Robert Redford, Sissy Spacek and Casey Affleck, The Old Man & the Gun is a charming ode to the bank-robber genre that takes viewers back to the heyday of Hollywood crime comedies.
Wrapped up in the pursuit of Tucker (Redford) is a detective (Affleck), who becomes captivated with Tucker’s commitment to his craft, and a woman (Spacek), who loves him in spite of his chosen profession.
Redford is at the top of the list of reasons to see the film for many critics, especially amid rumours of his retirement from the movie business. “If this is truly Robert Redford’s final performance, he’s going out with an exclamation point,” says Us Weekly.
The Detroit News calls The Old Man & the Gun “a light, warm story that’s punctuated by the power of Redford’s smile, one of the best special effects in movie history.”
Tickets for all BUFS shows are available at the Film House in the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC) on the evening of screenings. General admission is $9.50 or $7 for members, plus tax. Memberships are available through the Film House website.
Visit the BUFS web page for a full list of this season’s selections. A calendar of films coming to the PAC over the next few months is posted on the Film House website. Look for the red B that indicates a BUFS-hosted screening.
For more than 40 years, the Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film has hosted the film society (previously known as a series) to bring some of the best in independent, international and Canadian cinema to St. Catharines.
