Longbaugh and Parker are two criminal drifters who have maimed and murdered their way through existence. Earning money however they can, they learn of a young woman who is being a surrogate mother for a rich businessman. In a violent shootout, they snatch the woman (Robin) from her two bodyguards and escape. When they make their demands though they learn that the father of the baby is a man who handles money and such on behalf of the mobsters and other undesirables. With the pressure on, Longbaugh and Parker find themselves pursued by a variety of men all with different interests and priorities. However it ends, it will not end well.
Having already gotten his Oscar, McQuarrie sets out to make his directing debut with a film that, lets be honest, was never going to stand up to the fame of what had gone before. However what he does deliver is a satisfying story in a world where morals and good people don't really exists and the acceptance of violence is as common as the acceptance of the world being round. In doing this the film doesn't make itself out as a classic or a brilliant film that will win over all audiences but it does produce a good crime story with interesting twists, strong dialogue, a good helping of cool and so on. So far so Tarantino I assumed from the start but, where countless others have rifted on this theme, McQuarrie steps back to something a bit more fundamental and a bit more in (as others have said) Peckinpah territory. I found the lack of pop culture to be quite refreshing particularly after so many ripoffs. This is not to say that the film is akin to the second coming, because it isn't, but it is a very enjoyable genre film in a genre that is easily stuck on "repeat".
McQuarrie's direction is good. Like the overall approach of the film he is professional and steady and touches of style (eg the momentary freeze-frames) are selectively and well used. The cast are roundly good with everyone singing from the same tough song sheet. Del Toro fits the film like a glove and he works well with Ryan helping to cover up for the fact that the latter doesn't totally work as a violent, criminal drifter. Caan is typically a class act who does well even if his character isn't as filled out as I would have liked. I found Lewis a bit grating but that is generally because I'm not a massive fan of her anyway. The support cast has solid enough turns from Diggs, Geoffrey Lewis and a typically foul-mouthed turn from Silverman in the opening scene that perhaps doesn't fit the film but certainly gets your attention.
Overall then a solid genre film that is delivered in a serious and refreshingly old-school manner. Not a brilliant or perfect film, but moaning that it isn't Usual Suspects is unfair and those that meet it on its genre terms will find it steady and entertaining.
