Top 25 Countdown — No. 13


Today I continue my countdown of my favorite movies with one that didn't get a lot of viewers when it was released in 2000.

No. 13 — Way of the Gun (2000)
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Benico Del Toro, Juliette Lewis, Taye Diggs, James Caan, and Nicky Katt
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Quote: "There is a natural order. The way things are meant to be. An order that says that the good guys always win. That you die when it's your time, or you have it coming. That the ending is always happy, if only for someone else. Now at some point it became clear to us that our path had been chosen and we had nothing to offer the world. Our options narrowing down to petty crime or minimum wage. So, we stepped off the path, and went looking for the fortune that we knew was looking for us." — Parker
About: Did I lose you with this one? That's OK. There's not a ton of people that saw "Way of the Gun" when it was released in 2000. In fact, I almost didn't see it. But one night while I was in my first year in college wandering the video store, I saw the cover for the movie. It looked like it might be entertaining so my roommate and I popped it in. What we saw became and instant classic to us. The film was written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. He is also the writer of "The Usual Suspects," and of late he's been doing time on Mission Impossible movies. But "Way of the Gun" was his follow up to "Usual Suspects" and his directorial debut. And it was largely give a shoulder shrug by critics. I can sort of understand that. I love the movie, but I'm not sure I could totally explain the plot to someone. It's a weird little movie. It has some fascinating dialogue, some fascinating characters, and some of the best action sequences I've ever seen. The final shoot out is one of my all time favorites. And I love the characters and the flow of the movie. But it's atypical. And it has a somewhat abrupt ending. None of that deters me. There are some movies that you just love, and you can't always explain why. "Way of the Gun," since the moment I saw the somewhat iconic, definitely dirty opening sequence, has been one of those movies for me.
Rating: R for strong violence/gore, language and some sexuality.

Top 25 Countdown:
14. Heat (1995)
15. The Paper (1994)
16. Watchmen (2009)
17. LA Confidential (1997)
18. Serenity (2005)
19. Children of Men (2006)
20. Miller's Crossing (1990)
21. About Schmidt (2002)
22. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
23. The Matrix (1999)
24. Independence Day (1996)
25. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

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