Going in Style (1979)

Touches You

best movie i've ever seen.

A lot of fun.

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

This story is about the retirees. First there's Willie played by the legendary acting coach/actor Lee Strasberg. Second there's Al played by Honeymooners Icon Art Carney. Thirdly there's Joe played by George Burns. Joe the leader, the glue that holds the three together who all-share an apartment in Queens, New York. Being retired and the rising cost of living and basically relying on social security checks, the three men seem to get along together. The three forgotten souls spend most of their remaining time sitting on a park bench watching the world go by with nothing to look forward to. We really no nothing about their past lives except for upsetting comments made by Willie about his handling of his Son and his regrettable actions toward the boy. We want to learn more but a composed Joe handles Willie sorrows. I always admired George Burns work on the Screen and television. George always showed a composure and coolness to his role with outstanding results. Never demonstrative or raised his voice. Just an even keel on any situation. He never showed a drop of anxiety ever. Perfectly cast to play the Lord in those G-d movies and why not. Back to our story... Joe decides to rob a bank just to break up the mundane lifestyle the three men of leisure have. Perfectly planned the three seniors travel to their first bank job by way of a cab, (Too old to drive or expire licenses.) Oh yes did I mention their armed? Anyway the three enter the bank donned in Halloween masks as they announce a stick-up. They accidentally fire their weapon to the ceiling and their message was received as everyone hit the floor for safety. The three elders collected what they could in cash and headed out of the bank toward the Subway for home. Deep down Joe felt it was a matter of time that the police would catch them. The Next morning Joe and Al find Willie dead in his bed of natural causes. During Willies funeral you meet Al's extended family. Nephew Pete (Charles Hallahan) and his wife Kathy (Pamela Payton Wright) with their adorable daughter Colleen who's Uncle Al's pride and joy. On a whim Al and Joe fly out to Las Vegas and try to gamble some of the hot money away. The scene at the craps table is my favorite. As Al takes a beginner's guide to craps under the calm direction of Joe. Do they squander it all at the table? Do the Police catch up to them? Believe it or not there more twist and turns to this comedic yet poignant story. George Burns and Art Carney work well together throughout this movie. The kind of movie you'll watch again and again.

The depiction of daily life in an apartment shared by elderly men on Social Security, in a city park filled with children playing on structures covered with graffiti and the streets and subways make this an American classic. Boredom and low expectations had become a part of life in the New York/New Jersey urban area for the characters in the film as well as for the era in the 70's, and this is the background depicted in every scene of "Going in Style." The plot has a couple of minor holes, the only one worth mentioning is that there's really no indication at all as to how the police figured out who to pursue, but the foundation of this film is the absolutely remarkable performance by George Burns, who proved that he was not only a comedian and a beloved personality but a true actor. His performance is deeply emotional and entirely convincing. It really is a masterful performance in every way. He had won an Oscar for the not so good "The Sunshine Boys," so the Academy voters had likely figured that he had already been honored, but surely he should have been handed another Oscar for "Going in Style." This film is a must-see.

A terrific gem of a film.Three elderly men are so bored with their lives that they rob a bank and actually get away with it for a while.The trio are all masterfully played by Art Carney, Lee Strasberg and George Burns.With the robbery behind them, it's time for vacation in flashy Las Vegas. Coming back to face the ultimate music, 2 of our "heroes" pass on and leave the rest of the story and the loot to the survivor.A sad but extremely effective commentary on retirement and old age. If you're contemplating retirement, miss this film until you know how you're going to spend your days.

George Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg play Joe, Al and Willie, who are three septuagenarian guys who decide to live life in the fast lane beginning with a twilight bank robbery one sunny day. They succeed in snagging thirty-five grand in cash, and up the ante in a number of interesting ways. GOING IN STYLE afforded three outstanding actors with a real script, which takes the absurd situation all of we in the U.S. are headed for- an old age in which all one does is viewed as extraneous to "real" life- and turns it a into a bittersweet drama. This is a film about criminals, but the kind of crooks anybody will root for. After all, at the end of the day, we're all hustled one way or another. Sometimes all life is is a choice of poisons, as in "name yours". It's an interesting fantasy to think that, as we approach our inevitable end, we could find one last thrill that jolts the complacency of the comfortable in this culture. This storyline works. And can you follow headliners like Strasberg,Carney and Burns? Like, Forget it. This ninety minutes is tight, tight,tight. Or, as some say, it's the old school, the "old stuff", and in spades. GOING IN STYLE is documented proof that old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill. See it and laugh, and weep.