This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes revisit "The Way of the Gun", Christopher McQuarrie’s sharp, character-driven crime thriller and directorial debut.

Both Mike Butler and Mike Field really enjoy this one. The performances are firing on all cylinders, with the legendary James Caan bringing gravitas and menace to every scene he’s in. Benicio Del Toro and Ryan Phillippe anchor the film as two genuinely bad men, not misunderstood antiheroes, but criminals who are unapologetically who they are. That commitment to morally compromised characters gives the film a harder edge than most crime thrillers of its era.

McQuarrie’s first outing behind the camera shows remarkable confidence, with tight dialogue, grounded action, and characters who always feel true to themselves. Butler suspects younger him would have absolutely loved this film, while Field appreciates it even more now, finding its maturity and restraint more compelling with age.

Dark, deliberate, and unapologetically adult, "The Way of the Gun" stands as one of the stronger crime films of the early 2000s and a reminder of how effective simple, character-focused storytelling can be.

What's your favorite film about a bad guy(s) where they are the lead and actually ARE the bad guy? Let us know in the comments!

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more Forgotten Cinema content!

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

✨ Support us on Patreon for exclusive content: www.patreon.com/forgottencinema

🛍️ Grab some Forgotten Cinema merch: www.etsy.com/shop/ForgottenCinemaShop

Check out our website: https://www.forgottencinemapodcast.com

0:00 - Introduction

3:21 - Film Facts

9:26 - Film Discussion

29:58 - Reviews

37:25 - Who Would You Recommend This To?

42:59 - Why Is This Forgotten?

44:22 - Plugs

#ForgottenCinema #TheWayOfTheGun #ChristopherMcQuarrie #BeniciDelToror #RyanPhillippe #JamesCann #CrimeFilm #Thriller #00s #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms