The Old Way (2023)
3/10
A Missed Opportunity for Nicolas Cage to Show Off His Western Skills
6 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
"The Old Way" is a Western movie starring Nicolas Cage as Colton Briggs, a cold-blooded gunslinger who is forced to confront his past when his wife is brutally murdered and he sets out on a mission of revenge. Along the way, he takes his young daughter Brooke (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) with him, teaching her how to shoot and defend herself. The movie's plot is a blend of elements from other Westerns, including "True Grit" and "Unforgiven," and features themes of grief, revenge, and the processing of emotions.

Cage delivers a solid performance as Colton, fully embracing the tough, no-nonsense persona of his character. However, the script by Carl W. Lucas is heavy on dialogue and lacks the subtlety and nuance needed to fully flesh out the characters and their motivations. The direction by Brett Donowho is competent, but fails to elevate the material. The cinematography and production design are serviceable, but the pacing is slow and the movie feels longer than its runtime.

Overall, "The Old Way" is a forgettable addition to the Western genre. While Cage's performance is worth noting, the movie is bogged down by a script that lacks depth and fails to fully engage the audience.
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