Val (Al Pacino) gets out of prison after 28 years, his old friend Doc (Christopher Walken) waiting for him. Doc takes Val around to enjoy his first taste of freedom in years, but it's a condemned man's last meal. Eventually they pick up the wheelman from their crew (Alan Arkin) out of a rest home to include in the fun.
Val could have shortened his sentence if he rolled on the other two, but he didn't. It wasn't his fault that job went wrong in the first place, but again, he took the rap for it. Even when the father of the one who is responsible wants Val to pay even more, he's willing to go along with it, because it'll help Doc.
Movies about how criminals were different in the old days, and they had a code and rules can get kind of tedious. Because it's obvious that it's bullcrap most of the time. Thankfully, this movie isn't about that so much as it just these three guys do have rules, and try to follow them best they can. Even when they're having fun, they're mostly respectful. There is one poor convenience store clerk who gets punched out, but for the most part, it's relegated to people who are already being jerks.
It's a funny movie, plays up the idea of these guys being older and the issues that come with that. Val and Doc robbing a pharmacy to help Val get some blue pills, and Doc helping himself to stuff he needs for hypertension and ulcers. Then Val crushing those up and snorting them later. Val complaining that Doc's apartment is worse than his cell was. He got Showtime and HBO in prison! Walken has to play the straight man for Pacino, and to a lesser extent Arkin. Mostly looking on in exasperation or confusion at his friend, but he gets some good lines.
And it's also touching at times, because they are older, so they know time is short. They have regrets, friends and family either dead or just no longer in touch. Fewer and fewer people know or care they exist, which is not a great feeling to have.
No comments:
Post a Comment