The Way of the Gun (2000)

Director:

Christopher McQuarrie

Writer (WGA):

Christopher McQuarrie (written by)

Release Date:

8 September 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Surrogate Mother | Baby | Kidnapping | Mexico | Ransom

Cast

Ryan Phillippe	...	Mr. Parker
Benicio Del Toro	...	Mr. Longbaugh
Juliette Lewis	...	Robin
Taye Diggs	...	Jeffers
Nicky Katt	...	Obecks
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Abner Mercer
Dylan Kussman	...	Dr. Allen Painter
Scott Wilson	...	Hale Chidduck
Kristin Lehman	...	Francesca Chidduck
James Caan	...	Joe Sarno
Henry Griffin	...	P. Whipped
Armando Guerrero	...	Federale #1 (as Mando Guerrero)
Andres Orozco	...	Federale #2
Jan Hanks	...	Receptionist (as Jan Jensen)
José Pérez	...	? (as Jose Perez)
Neil Pollock	...	Interviewer
Irene Santiago	...	Sloppy Prostitute
Sarah Silverman	...	Raving Bitch
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Coffey	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Mark Ebner	...	Sperm Donor (uncredited)
Paul Angel Flores	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Heidi Van Lier	...	Shop Clerk (uncredited)

Directed by
Christopher McQuarrie

Writing credits (WGA)
Christopher McQuarrie		(written by)

Produced by
Kenneth Kokin	....	producer
Russell D. Markowitz	....	executive producer (as Russ Markowitz)

Original Music by
Joe Kraemer

Cinematography by
Dick Pope

Film Editing by
Stephen Semel

Casting by
Lynn Kressel

Production Design by
Maia Javan

Art Direction by
Tom Meyer		(as Thomas Meyer)

Set Decoration by
Les Boothe

Costume Design by
Heather McQuarrie		(as Heather Neely McQuarrie)
Genevieve Tyrrell

Makeup Department
Gina Homan	....	key makeup artist
Erin Lyons	....	key hair stylist
Stephanie Scott	....	hair stylist
Stephanie Scott	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Bill Block	....	executive in charge of production
Russell D. Markowitz	....	production manager (as Russ Markowitz)
Felicity Nove	....	post-production supervisor
Christine White	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Susie Balaban	....	second second assistant director
William Paul Clark	....	first assistant director
Kenneth Kokin	....	second unit director
Dawn Massaro	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Mark Lambert Bristol	....	storyboard artist (as Mark Bristol)
Steve Broussard	....	construction foreman
David Carvalho	....	painter
Kathy Crandall	....	lead person
Curtis Crowe	....	construction coordinator
Rodney Cuellar	....	swing gang
T. De Luca	....	painter (as Teresa Deluca)
Wray Featherstone	....	swing gang
Jennifer Fegely	....	assistant props
Shane Feulner	....	carpenter
Stephen Ison	....	carpenter
Harmony Lauritzen	....	assistant property master
John Leslie	....	painter
John Lislie	....	painter
Richard Luke	....	carpenter
John Malmborg	....	carpenter
Jason Marty	....	set dresser
Laurel Miller	....	art department coordinator
Rick Nielsen	....	carpenter
Eric Oliphant	....	painter
Heather Olson	....	painter
Joshua Pinkert	....	carpenter
Dwane Platt	....	on-set dresser
Fred Rindlisbacher	....	lead scenic
Ian Roylance	....	property master
Vince Shorter	....	swing gang (as Vincent Shorter)
Linden Snyder	....	set designer
Carol Taylor	....	buyer
Steven Vara	....	carpenter
Arthur Scott Walker	....	carpenter
Michael J. Wheeler	....	carpenter
Mike Bundlie	....	graphic designer (uncredited)
Oliver Dear	....	art illustrator (uncredited)
Angelo Figlio	....	swing (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ulrika Akander	....	lead dialogue editor
George Berndt	....	adr supervisor
David Betancourt	....	foley mixer
Jane Boegel	....	dialogue editor
Barbara J. Boguski	....	dialogue editor (as Barbara Boguski)
Brent Brewington	....	boom operator
Eddie Bydalek	....	sound recordist
Rick Canelli	....	adr recordist
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
Roger Davis	....	production sound mixer
Laverne Dewberry	....	adr recordist
Russell DeWolf	....	dialogue editor (as James Russell Dewolf)
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Dawn Fintor	....	foley artist
Sam Hofstedt	....	second engineer
Scott A. Jennings	....	sound effects editor
Anne Laing	....	assistant sound editor
Diane Lucas	....	adr recordist
Benjamin Martin	....	sound department assistant
Chuck Michael	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chuck Michael	....	supervising sound editor
Nash Michael	....	sound effects editor
Michael A. Morongell	....	sound engineer (as Michael Morongell)
Todd Niesen	....	dialogue editor
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Troy Porter	....	adr mixer
Scott Reed	....	post-production sound manager
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Jonathon 'Earl' Stein	....	production sound mixer (as Earl Stein)
Armin Steiner	....	mixing mixer
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist (as Alicia Irwin)
Jay Wilkinson	....	sound effects editor
Evan T. Chen	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Tamara Carlson	....	suit fabricator: K.N.B Effects Group
Diane Carlucci	....	special effects administrator
John C. Carlucci	....	special effects (as John Carlucci)
Lou Carlucci	....	special effects supervisor
Jason Collins	....	lab and set technician: KNB Effects Group
Barry McQueary	....	special effects (as Barry Mcqueary)
Ric San Nicholas	....	special effects (as Rick San Nicholas)
Steve Sosner	....	special effects
Ken Tarallo	....	special effects
Rick Thompson	....	special effects
Tony Vandenecker	....	special effects (as Tony Vandernecker)

Visual Effects by
Johnathan R. Banta	....	digital artist: Ranchworks Unlimited (as Jonathan Barta)
Casey Cannon	....	visual effects producer
Homer Z. Dodd	....	digital compositor
Lauryl Duplechan	....	visual effects editor
Van Ling	....	visual effects supervisor
David Fred Masselink	....	optical effects line-up
Martha Soehendra	....	digital artist
Christopher Dusendschon	....	in-show optical process and effects compositor: THDX (uncredited)
Christopher Dusendschon	....	optical element Hazeltine colorist: THDX (uncredited)

Stunts
Keith Adams	....	stunts (as Keith W. Adams)
Joshua S. Ashdown	....	stunt driver
Jane Austin	....	stunts
Frank L. Bare II	....	stunts (as Frank Bare)
Skip Carlsen	....	stunts
Bret Davidson	....	stunts (as Brett Davidson)
Bill Hart	....	stunts
Chuck Hicks	....	stunts
Terry James	....	stunts
Brad Jessey	....	stunts
Terri Sue Judkins	....	stunts (as Terri Judkins)
Anthony Kramme	....	stunts
Irving E. Lewis	....	stunts (as Irving Lewis)
Kurt D. Lott	....	stunts (as Kurt Lott)
Russell D. Markowitz	....	stunts (as Russ Markowitz)
Eddie Matthews	....	stunts (as Eddie Mathews)
Bill McIntosh	....	stunts (as Bill Mcintosh)
Doug McQuarrie	....	stunts (as Doug Mcquarrie)
Millie Novak	....	stunts
Gary Paul	....	stunt coordinator
Neil Summers	....	stunts
Jim Wilkey	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Sean Anastasion	....	electrician (as P. Sean Anastasion)
Dean Aoki	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
John Baer	....	still photographer (as J.B. Baer)
Wayne Baxter	....	electrician
Kurtis Burr	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Walter Byrnes	....	grip
John Farr	....	chief lighting technician
Julie Fife	....	best boy grip
Ian Fox	....	camera operator
Jason Jensen	....	camera loader
J.J. Johnson	....	dolly grip
Dennis Jorgenson	....	generator operator
Tracy Keele	....	grip
Mike Lookinland	....	first assistant camera
Sean Martin	....	grip
John Raymer	....	best boy electric
Jesse Rushton	....	electrician
Jason Salonen	....	electrician
Geno Salvatori	....	director of photography: second unit
Gary W. Shaw	....	best boy grip (as Gary Shaw)
Laina Thomas	....	grip
Arly H. Thomsen	....	key grip (as Arly Thomsen)
Jon Tilton	....	electrician
Joey Watts	....	second assistant camera

Casting Department
Terri Douglas	....	adr voice casting
Judi McKee	....	casting assistant
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	adr voice casting (as Caitlin Mckenna)
Cate Praggastis	....	casting: Utah
Carla Woodmansee	....	extras casting coordinator
Brennan Dufresne	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amy Fegely	....	key on-set costumer
Allison Graham	....	on-set costumer
Carmen Nydegger	....	costume assistant
Elizabeth 'Lanny' Sikes	....	costume supervisor (as Lanny Sikes)

Editorial Department
Tim Baldwin	....	post-production assistant
Robert Berman	....	first assistant editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Matthew Glaser	....	post-production assistant
Shaan Kokin	....	post-production assistant
Rob Matheson	....	post-production assistant
Mike Milliken	....	color timer
Suzanne Murarik	....	epk editor
Melissa Remenarich	....	assistant film editor (as Melissa A. Remenarich)
Jacquey Rosati	....	post-production coordinator
John Sellars	....	colorist
Jason Solberg	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Steven Ariscot	....	orchestrator
John Burton	....	music recordist
Mona Butler	....	music librarian
Guillermo Hernández	....	latin music specialist
Leonid Keylin	....	concert master
Joe Kraemer	....	conductor
Robert Puff	....	music preparation
Lise Richardson	....	music editor (as Lisé Richardson)
David Sabee	....	orchestra contractor

Transportation Department
Paul Michael Akers	....	driver
Robert C. Alcott	....	driver
T.W. Boroski	....	driver
Greg Fosse	....	driver
Rhonda Hansen	....	driver
Billy R. Hass	....	driver
Emmanuel Haynes	....	driver
Mark A. James	....	transportation coordinator
Darla Jorgenson	....	driver
Denise Lee	....	driver
David Perelle	....	driver
Art Price	....	driver (as Art Price Jr.)
Lamond Reynolds	....	driver
Mark Russell	....	driver (as Mark A. Russell)
Michael B. Russell	....	transportation captain (as Michael Russell)
Edward 'Smitty' L. Smith	....	driver (as Edward 'Smitty' Smith)

Other crew
Nathan Alexander	....	assistant: Messrs. McQuarrie and Kokin
Suzanne Bingham	....	script supervisor
Dennis Burrell	....	production assistant
Patrick Carnahan	....	fire protection & safety
Cameron Carpenter	....	assistant location manager
Brenton Chu	....	production assistant
Ryan Cooke	....	production coordinator
Michelle A. De Mayo	....	post-production accountant
Michael Dungan	....	location manager
Philip Eichner	....	production assistant
Jason Gardian	....	production assistant
Nicholas Guest	....	adr loop group
Ann Hanlon	....	assistant: Mr. Caan (as Annie Hanlon)
Annie Hanlon	....	assistant: Mr. Caan
Margo Hara	....	adr loop group
Melinda Haynes	....	craft service (as Melinda Clarkson Haynes)
Lydia Hazan	....	medical consultant (as Dr. Lydia Hazan)
Travis Hodges	....	production assistant
Coti Hudgens	....	assistant: Mr. Phillippe
Jen Johnson	....	production assistant
Astrid Kemnitz	....	payroll clerk
Luisa Leschin	....	adr loop group
Mary Litkovich	....	unit publicist
Sal Lopez	....	adr loop group
Jennifer Lyons	....	assistant: Mr. Markowitz
Maeve Mannion	....	production accountant
Dylan McKenna	....	assistant accountant (as Dylan Mckenna)
Doug McQuarrie	....	technical/weapons advisor (as Doug Mcquarrie)
Kevin McQuarrie	....	set massage therapist (as Kevin Mcquarrie)
David Michaels	....	trainer: Mr. Del Toro
Corey D. Miller	....	executive producer assistant
Mike Miner	....	production assistant (as Mike 'Slappy' Miner)
Jonathan Nichols	....	adr loop group
Justin Ogden	....	production assistant
Dyana Ortelli	....	adr loop group
Bonnie Reed	....	studio coordinator
Kent B. Richards	....	production assistant (as Kent Richards)
Audra Rodgers	....	assistant production coordinator (as Audra Cervantes)
Tony Ross	....	trainer: Mr. Phillippe
Alan Shaterian	....	assistant: Mr. Del Toro
Alan Shaterian	....	consultant: Mr. Del Toro
Marc Siegel	....	production assistant
Mike Staheli	....	first aid
Steve Staley	....	adr loop group
Dana Suman	....	assistant: Ms. Juliette Lewis
Marcelo Tubert	....	adr loop group
Benjamin A. van der Veen	....	consultant: Mr. Del Toro (as Benjamin Van Der Veen)
Rorie D. van Klaveren	....	production assistant
Ronald Walkshorse	....	fire protection and safety
Ronald Walkshorse	....	set security
Dennis Williams	....	location consultant
Andrew Golov	....	studio executive (uncredited)
Timothy Scott Ralston	....	studio projectionist (uncredited)
Cathy Ziehl	....	studio coordinator (uncredited)

Thanks
Arly H. Thomsen	....	dedicatee

Production Companies

• Artisan Entertainment (presents)
• Aqaba Productions

Distributors

• Artisan Entertainment (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (2000) (UK) (theatrical)
• SND (2000) (France) (theatrical)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (2001) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Highlight Film (2001) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Líder Films (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2001) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• Aquarius TV (2007) (Greece) (TV)
• Artisan Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Fox Crime (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• Gativideo (200?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Highlight Video (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• Nelonen (2005) (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2001) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (rental)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (retail)
• Yorin (2004) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)

Special Effects

• Banned from the Ranch Entertainment (BFTRE) (digital visual effects)
• F/X Concepts (special effects)
• K.N.B. Effects Group (special makeup effects)

Other Companies

• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Flash Cut Records  soundtrack published by
• Leonetti Company  production equipment
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Loop Troop  adr voice casting
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• Miles O' Fun Sound  sound editing
• Otto Nemenz International  camera equipment provided by
• Studio X  score recording
• Title House  titles
• Wilshire Stages, The  sound mixed at

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence/gore, language and some sexuality

Runtime:

119 min | Spain:120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:C | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | USA:R (certificate #37339) | Netherlands:16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Abandoned Gas Station, Skull Valley, Utah, USA

Company:

Artisan Entertainment

Trivia:

In a scene where Parker jumps into a well to take cover, he lands in a number of glass bottle and cutting his arm. The bottles did have labels which were all approved to be used. When the sponsors saw what was done with the bottles, they asked to have their labels removed because they were not approved as weapons. The filmmakers complied.

Goofs:

Continuity: The amount of sweat on Dr. Painters shirt during the operation in the motel.

Quotes:

Parker:The longest distance between two points is a kidnapper and his money.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Numbered with the Dead (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Fiesta

Yes. Yes yes yes.

Does one usually go into an action film starring Ryan Phillipe expecting to think, expecting to be challenged. I did not, in this case. And so, as I found myself confronted by this extraordinarily cool contemporary crime/western, I was shocked. This has all the makings of a generic film. The philosophical/amoral central team... could've been Pulp Fiction redux. The wise older criminal sharing his wisdom with those below him... If I really went into all the elements of this movie that could've been handled as shameless rip offs of other films, that list alone would take me over 1,000 words.

The brilliance of this film is that MacQuarrie, impressively directing for the first time from his own script, takes familiar elements, tired cliches, and breaths new, inventive life into them. This is a neat hat trick, and not an easy one. Godard did it with HIS first film, Breathless. Tarantino did it with Pulp Fiction. And MacQuarrie does it here. Note that the aforementioned instance is the only place where you will hear a mention of Tarantino similarities in this review. Those who would criticize Way of the Gun as being derivative of Taranton's film are missing the point and not really watching the film.

This film reflects an utter familiarity with the conventions of CINEMA. Of the things that go into a great film. Knowing those thigns so well, as Godard did, allows MacQuarrie to become freed enough to work with them, change them, and make them become something knew. It is quite an achievement, and this is quite an awesome film.