IR Film Review: THE OLD WAY [Saban]
The mythology of the Westerns relies in certain standards and pacing. Nicolas Cage's previous western ("Butcher's Crossing" -- which played at TIFF 22) was a different animal of sorts that was more existential though much slower. His new entry "The Old Way" is more classic but more dynamic with a much more edged performance in a way and better pacing and accessibility. There is a little more Lon Chaney/mime texture to Cage's performance which, when the time jumps, is undeniably effective though stylized still. This is helped in the co-star who plays his 11 year old daughter (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), who had moments as the lead of Firestarter earlier this year, but works here as she is not afraid to do some toe-to-toe character work with Cage (which he likely relished in a way). Her competence and details make his performance even better. Briggs (Cage's character) makes no qualms about who he is and his matter-of-fact delivery and visage as well as a coming-to-terms moment in front of the fire really paints the right picture.
While not as intense and transformative as last year's "Old Henry", "The Old Way" is a great throwback in many ways with odes to "Wyatt Earp" and "Tombstone" for sure. This is also anchored by the band of bad guys with a reason led by Noah Le Gros (who disappears from the kid we saw in "The Beach House" last year) as James McCallister, who has a method to his madness but also a grudge worth picking. Populating his boys with character actors we've seen before (a jittery, fully-bearded Civil War vet in Clint Howard as well as Abraham Benrubi -- who we have seen in many large scale films with one line textures like "Twister" --as Big Mike) really adds a great feeling as far as build especially when you can tell the town is a set. That said, the film is shot in Paradise Valley, Montana which really adds to the flavor. Even the Marshall: Jarett (Nick Searcy) adds a bit of gruffnuss and knowing to the proceedings. "The Old Way" is smart enough to realize its strength but not hit far beyond its potential, delivering a taut, slightly predicatable but satisfying and effective tome. B
By Tim Wassberg
