To Cross the River (The Way of the Gun)

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Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
2000
Original Running Time:
119
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
105
Time Cut:
14
Subtitles Available?
Available in HD?
Brief Synopsis:
This is a streamlined version of Christopher McQuarrie's directorial debut, "The Way of the Gun". A story of Ronin, Samurai, and the desire to "cross the river" and enter Heaven with a clear conscious...
Intention:
McQuarrie did stellar work on this film, though by his account, aside from all of the performers and other professionals involved, it was a failure. I completely disagree. This is the director of Mission: Impossible - Fallout (and Rogue Nation, and Jack Reacher) finding his footing and creating something singular in a landscape of clones. Having said that, there are a few too many plodding layers to unpeel here, and I felt it could use a bit of trimming.
Special Thanks:
ArtisDead, as always, for giving me that extra push.

Dwight Fry for presence in my ITW thread.
Release Information:
Digital
Editing Details:
* Remove the opening scene. Why: It's homophobic, serves very little purpose, was based on a story McQuarrie heard about an altercation at a dog park, and was basically shoe-horned in. Its only value is the closing shot that foreshadows the end of the movie.
* Remove the Jeffers/Francesca sub-sub-plot. Why: There are just two many layers to the plot, and they all keep us away from P/L/R at the motel. By removing this one specifically, we move the story along faster. Also, this way I don't have to hear Francesca eating shrimp.
* Remove Francesca listening in on all the conversations. Why? It goes nowhere. Just a distraction, best I can tell.
* Remove the closing shot of Francesca announcing she's pregnant. Why? As a layers-within-layers thing it's interesting, but for me it just ilicits a groan. I'd rather close out the story with P&L.
* Just generally get things moving a bit faster. Why? It's a two hour movie that feels like it's two hours.
Cuts and Additions:
* Removed opening "raving bitch" scene at the bar.
* ???
* Moved the beginning of Parker's monologue...
* Shortened opening credits substantially (removed costume designer, etc.)
* Removed interview scene at the sperm bank.
* Removed Chidduck telling Robin what women want in life.
* Subtle score enhancement while Robin talks about the baby.
* Shortened early scene with Chidduck on the phone, in the hallway, to hide Francesca.
* Different music as P/L/R drive to Mexico.
* Removed scene with Jeffers and Franscesca (secret affair stuff).
* Removed Francesca from the scene were Jeffers and Obecks are discussing their plan in the kitchen.
* Removed scene with Painter and Sarno in the hallway. The scenes with Painter and Chidduck tell us what we need.
* Removed scene with truck being loaded with money; instead we stay with P/L/R at the motel.
* Removed scene with Robin stumbling through the hall and getting dragged back to her room.
* Shortened Abner's death scene slightly (Note: If I make it shorter the joke doesn't work, and if I cut entirely we miss critical information, so I * went for balance).
* Removed L slapping the woman's ass.
* Subtle score enhancement when Robin is in distress (placental abruption).
* During the c-section scene, after Jeffers is killed, substantially shortened the exquisitely long shot of Del Toro thinking in the chair.
* Removed the final scene with Francesca saying she's pregnant.
* Changed music for closing credits.
* Movie also features a slight regrade throughout to liven it up a little bit.
Final Teaser

User reviews

3 reviews
Overall rating
 
9.9
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0(3)
Audio Editing
 
10.0(3)
Visual Editing
 
10.0(3)
Narrative
 
10.0(3)
Enjoyment
 
9.7(3)
Overall rating
 
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
This edit was the first time I've seen this movie in probably 15-20 years, so I remembered almost nothing about the original movie other than it was felt like it was "trying really hard to be Reservoir Dogs" and "this was a little confusing but the action scenes were really good." You did a fantastic job of trimming the fat. I'm sure the cut-14-minutes doesn't feel like that much in the long run but when each scene drags a little too long, it makes the whole movie feel slow. This edit chops that 14 mins in a way that felt natural, didn't impede the story at all, still left room for character development, and tightened up the pace. The audio was great, the gun battles were loud and crisp, and I never struggled to hear the dialogue.

I WAS hoping you would have fixed something, though: when Benicio calls the Doctor with the ransom information ("come to Salsipuedes at the Nacio Madre Hotel"), he hangs up and James Caan is already behind him. How did he even find them!? Did I miss something?

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
Owner's reply September 13, 2023

Caan's character is the ultimate "button man'. Always one step ahead. Plus, he's had a careful eye on...that person. :)

Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 0
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
I went into this Edit almost blind as I haven't watched this for 20+ years and have only hazy memories of the story.
So I ordered a used Blu-ray and watched the Edit first.
Well I think this edit flows much better than the original and those scenes that are taken out is not missed at all, especially the parking lot scene that shouldn't be in the film in the first place.

I loved the new intro with Parker and Longbaugh on the ground.
It's a perfect start to kick off this film.

Visual and Audio is top notch and there's nothing to complain about at all.

Loved the added music as well, especially the humling river was very suitable for the end credits.

I can highly recommend this Edit!

Great work futon88!
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 2 0
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
I ran across The Way of the Gun in a Hollywood Video in the early 2000s, rerented it multiple times, and didn’t understand why it took 12 years to get a follow up from this writer-director. While not a perfect movie, it’s one that holds a special spot in my collection. So I was curious to see that futon88 had released an edit of it, and delighted after watching it. They used a deft touch in making edits, the biggest being a complete cut of the opening sequence which always seemed out of place from the rest of the movie, smoothing out some of the rougher edges of this post-Tarantino noir. I would definitely recommend checking this one out.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 2 0