A Movie You Might Have Missed #71: The Old Man and the Gun

It's been 11 years since I began this series highlighting movies I wished more people knew about. I'm rerunning it from the beginning because I still think these are movies you might have missed.

A True Story...Mostly.

Based on the true story of Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford), from his audacious escape from San Quentin at the age of 70 to an unprecedented string of heists that confounded authorities. 

Wrapped up in the pursuit are detective John Hunt (Casey Affleck) and a new acquaintance (Sissy Spacek) who might be falling in love with him.

A solid film which is more thoughtful and interesting than a lot of people have given it credit for.

I first heard of this as a fitting last work for Redford because of the good natured manner and the twinkle in his eye. This did not sound compelling. But listening to The Next Picture Show talk about it made me give it a try.

It is leisurely and character driven — which seems funny for a movie about a detective and bank robber playing cat and mouse, but there you go — and that's where the interest comes in. When you consider the other two main characters and their lives in contrast to Tucker, then you find the movie's substance.

Also it is only an hour-and-a-half. Like one of Tucker's robberies, you're in and out before you know what hit you ... and you're smiling at the end.