A few months ago Robert Redford announced that he would be retiring. His last film as an actor would be "The old man & the gun", in which the 82-year-old actor plays the true story of bank robber Forrest Tucker.
The role of Tucker, who lived a lifetime of crimes and escaped from 17 prisons until his death in 2004, is the swan song of an actor who has always been known for his class and haughtiness combined with the well-known blue eyes that stamped the screens of cinemas for more than five decades.
"The old man & the gun" is a delightful accompanying and tailor made film for Redford to shine. Director David Lowery takes advantage of all the subtleties, minimalism and half-smile of Redford to tell an incredible story with a classic style of film that emulates the great films of the 70's.
Redford is impeccable and deserved an Oscar nomination, award, incidentally, that he only won once as director for "Ordinary people" (1980). He was also nominated as an actor for "The Sting" (1974), and as director and for the film "Quiz Show" (1994).
Tucker's story is so unlikely that it's even hard to believe it was real. He stole more than a hundred banks in his crime career. All without a single shot - some say that he even fired his gun - and always using the same approach. Being gentleman and smiling and calming the impassive victims before his old features and his term impeccably cut.
Redford brilliantly embodies this seductive type who uses so well the few words he utters in the same way that he has an irresistible art for robbing banks. The life of crime was the greatest pleasure for Tucker, who apparently only felt free in the eternal cat-and-mouse fight with the police. So much so that he could not settle down in the quiet life with his third wife, Jewel (Sissy Spacek).
Lowery also enjoys the film to pay homage to Redford. In illustrating Tucker's different escape scenes, the director uses scenes from the actor's old movies in a brilliant move, as well as a handsome research piece.
The success of the film, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for actor, may have made Redford rethink his retirement. At least that's what the director says. But if this was even his last work as an actor, what a beautiful final chapter had his biopic.
The role of Tucker, who lived a lifetime of crimes and escaped from 17 prisons until his death in 2004, is the swan song of an actor who has always been known for his class and haughtiness combined with the well-known blue eyes that stamped the screens of cinemas for more than five decades.
"The old man & the gun" is a delightful accompanying and tailor made film for Redford to shine. Director David Lowery takes advantage of all the subtleties, minimalism and half-smile of Redford to tell an incredible story with a classic style of film that emulates the great films of the 70's.
Redford is impeccable and deserved an Oscar nomination, award, incidentally, that he only won once as director for "Ordinary people" (1980). He was also nominated as an actor for "The Sting" (1974), and as director and for the film "Quiz Show" (1994).
Tucker's story is so unlikely that it's even hard to believe it was real. He stole more than a hundred banks in his crime career. All without a single shot - some say that he even fired his gun - and always using the same approach. Being gentleman and smiling and calming the impassive victims before his old features and his term impeccably cut.
Redford brilliantly embodies this seductive type who uses so well the few words he utters in the same way that he has an irresistible art for robbing banks. The life of crime was the greatest pleasure for Tucker, who apparently only felt free in the eternal cat-and-mouse fight with the police. So much so that he could not settle down in the quiet life with his third wife, Jewel (Sissy Spacek).
Lowery also enjoys the film to pay homage to Redford. In illustrating Tucker's different escape scenes, the director uses scenes from the actor's old movies in a brilliant move, as well as a handsome research piece.
The success of the film, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for actor, may have made Redford rethink his retirement. At least that's what the director says. But if this was even his last work as an actor, what a beautiful final chapter had his biopic.