Going In Style

Going in Style (1979)

Runtime: 97 minutes

Directed by: Martin Brest

Starring: George Burns, Art Carney, Lee Strasberg, Charles Hallahan, Pamela Payton-Wright

From: Warner Brothers

Here's a random film I heard about recently and it just happened to be on TCM last night. This was a sadly forgotten about film worth seeing. The Letterboxd review is below:

This was another film I found out about in a messageboard thread; the person who brought this up (just recently, by coincidence) said that this was one of his favorites and he's sad that it on DVD has been long out of print . Sure, it can be purchased for streaming online via Amazon but it was easiest for me to watch it last night on TCM when it was part of their block of programming centered around New York City of the 1970's.

The plot sounds simple enough: A trio of retirees in New York City sit on a park bench all day and don't do much else than that. Joe (George Burns) suggests to his pals Willie (Lee Strasberg) and Al (Art Carney) that they should rob a bank in order to add excitement to their lives and to get some cash to supplement their Social Security income. Willie is indecisive to do it but eventually is convinced to do so. I mean, as Joe explains, even if they do get caught and go to jail, they get free room & board and if they get out, they have a pile of Social Security checks to cash.

However, after the act things become more complicated and while the general conceit sounds silly, the movie is more amusing than laugh out loud funny and there are dramatic and somber moments also. It should not be a surprise that "death" and the fear of it is a common thought among the trio.

I won't spoil what the sad moments were but at times the trio is melancholy over things and they wish in the twilight of their lives that some events from decades ago would have gone differently. I'd say this was as much a drama as a comedy. The supporting cast does a nice job but it's the three leads who carry the picture and considering that Burns and Carney performed in some aspect for decades and Strasberg was an acting coach for years, it should not be a surprise they deliver quality performances, especially from Burns as the lead.

It's a shame that this is one of those films that fell through the cracks and isn't better known. It's also a shame that the infamous Gigli was such a toxic bomb, director Martin Brest left Hollywood and I understand even now he's a recluse and almost impossible to track down. A shame for someone who directed films like this, Beverly Hills Cop and Scent of a Woman.