Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Senteur As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

Sanjeev Waters A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Gary The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

blanche-2 Three elderly roommates on Social Security decide to rob a bank in "Going in Style," a 1979 film directed by Martin Brest. It stars three great masters: George Burns, Art Carney, and Lee Strasberg, who is probably more famous as an acting teacher.These three spend their final years sitting in the park, watching children play, the birds, and occasionally talking. Joe (Burns) comes up with the idea, and the other two go along. Wearing Grouch Marx disguises, they walk into the bank with guns and tell everyone to hit the floor. The bank manager thinks they're joking until Joe shoots the clock.The big problem the guys have is, what are they going to do with all the money? They don't really need it for anything.The performances in this film are marvelous, particularly from Burns, who has the largest role. He can make you laugh and break your heart. In one scene, when Al's (Art Carney) nephew and his family take Al to their place for a few days, Joe sits alone and looks at his old photos. A very touching scene.All of these men demonstrate the emptiness of old age when one feels he is no longer useful, when most friends and family are gone, when you're not sick but not well either. Life becomes a series of endless days. On the other hand, they take each day as it comes and something like a bank robbery doesn't intimidate them too much. They've seen it all; there aren't too many surprises left.There actually is quite an age difference among these three men. Burns was 83 at the time of the film's release; Carney was actually 22 years younger, and Strasberg was four years younger than Burns. Strasberg is obviously the most frail. He died three years after this film was released.Sweet film, showing again that old age isn't for sissies.

ShadeGrenade At the end of 1979, the movie-world's attention was focused on the sci-fi blockbusters 'The Black Hole' and 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture'. Slipping out virtually unnoticed was this delightful movie, proving yet again that big budget does not always mean better entertainment.'Going In Style' starred George Burns, Art Carney, and Lee Strasberg as three pensioners whose lives consist of feeding ducks in parks, watching television, and reminiscing about the past. Joe ( Burns ) is thoroughly bored by this, and comes up with a plan to generate some excitement - namely rob a bank. He is dead serious, and talks the other two into going along with him.They pull the job ( wearing old suits and joke-shop masks ) but the excitement proves too much for Willie ( Strasberg ) - he dies of a heart attack.Joe and Al ( Carney ) fly to Las Vegas to splash their loot in an orgy of non-stop gambling. To their astonishment, they nearly clean the place out. When Al dies after the trip, Joe decides to give himself up...Burns had not acted in years when in 1975 producer Ray Stark cast him as one of Neil Simon's 'The Sunshine Boys' ( Walter Matthau being the other ). Burns' quiet, dignified performance contrasted greatly with the more flamboyant Matthau's, and he won an Oscar for 'Best Supporting Actor'. Other movie roles came his way, such as the title role in Larry Gelbart's wonderful 'Oh God!'. 'Going In Style' featured him along with two other Hollywood greats, and all worked together superbly. From the hilarious opening scene in the park, where an obnoxious little boy fixes Joe with a look of dumb insolence, and he says the boy's head 'looks like a china p### pot' you cannot help but love the guy. The excitement the men feel as they prepare for the robbery is infectious; at last they have something interesting to do with what is left of their lives. You root for them every step of the way.This was the first film from Martin Brest, who later made Eddie Murphy's 'Beverly Hills Cop' and the disastrous 'Gigli'. It is a shame he did not do more like this.'Style' is by turns funny and sad. A better movie on the subject of old age I have yet to see.

Camera Obscura Martin Brest is best known for his popular successes BEVERLY HILLS COP, MIDNIGHT RUN and SCENT OF A WOMAN, but more recently his career made a bit of a tumble with the disastrous GIGLI (2003), starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez and snoozefest (and trying so hard to be 'profound') MEET JOE BLACK (1998), but this little gem is how he got noticed (and might even be his best effort yet).The story is simple: three kindly old men (George Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg), indistinguishable from the half-forgotten ranks of senior citizens you might pass on any city park bench in warm weather, decide to light up their lives by sticking up a Manhattan bank in broad daylight.Don't be put off by the idea of 'three old guys robbing a bank.' This film is a delight in a very New York and very low-key fashion with hardly any grand scenes or set-ups, but with great writing, sharp dialog and the three leads giving their very best. Although the film was marketed as a comedy, it's above all a heartfelt drama and a truly moving portrayal of old age. One of the highlights: when the three seniors are on a little trip to Manhattan and Art Carney starts dancing to the rhythms some Caribbean Street musicians. It's such a marvel to see 80-year old George Burns clapping and smiling and genuinely having fun at this improvised street scene. It's a shame this film is practically forgotten. A heartfelt, funny, and ultimately a very moving picture. Don't miss this one.Camera Obscura --- 9/10

pamsfriend That is the quality imbued in this film by Brest, through the writing and direction. It would have been so easy to make a caper film, or a male-bonding buddy picture, but Brest does it the hard way so that we care about the characters and not the story. He fills each role with actors who look real, not pretty, like Charles Hallahan as Pete. He looks like someone who's worked all his life, not a person sent down by central casting.And he is unafraid to let silence play a roll. How many directors would find 'suitable' music to waft in and out of the soundtrack as the three amigos occupy their bench? Here they sit in blessed silence until we wonder who will speak next, since Willie does not seem to want to open his mouth. When they get to Vegas, it would be so easy to do quick cuts of their winning streak with appropriate music blasting, but Brest stretches the scene so that we are not sure if they will keep their gains.Any sentiment comes hard earned, like watching Joe stumbling around the apartment after the death of Willie, finding his own album of photographs and reflecting, only to have nature spoil the mood.