Going in Style

Going in Style is a 1979 American heist comedy film written and directed by Martin Brest and starring George Burns, Art Carney, Lee Strasberg (in his final film role) and Charles Hallahan. It was Brest's first commercial feature film.

Plot
Joe, Al, and Willie are three senior citizens who share a small apartment in Queens, New York City. Their days are spent on a park bench, and Joe is desperate to break the monotony. One day Joe suggests that they go on a "stick-up". They have no experience as criminals, but after some reluctance, the two others agree.

Al surreptitiously borrows three pistols from the gun collection of his nephew, Pete, who lives with his wife and children a few miles away. The trio, disguised with novelty glasses, pulls off the heist, netting $35,000. The excitement is too much for Willie, who soon suffers a fatal heart attack. Joe and Al give $25,000 to Pete and his family, claiming it is the proceeds from Willie's life insurance policy. They decide to splurge the remaining $10,000 on a trip to Las Vegas. Al and Joe win over $70,000 playing craps, but the trip, which they make right after Willie's funeral, exhausts Al and he dies in his sleep.

Joe informs Pete that his uncle has died, then tells him about the bank heist and the Las Vegas adventure. He gives Pete the remaining bank loot and the Vegas winnings and tells him to store the cash in his safe deposit box and never tell anyone about it. The next day, on his way to Al's funeral, Joe is arrested. He confesses to the robbery but refuses to say what happened to the money.

Pete visits Joe in prison and suggests giving back at least the stolen portion of the money in the hope of a lighter sentence. Joe explains that he is an old man with no family and now, no friends, and is resigned to his fate. He tells Pete to enjoy his "inheritance" before he heads back to his cell.

Cast
 George Burns as Joe
 Art Carney as Al
 Lee Strasberg as Willie
 Charles Hallahan as Pete
 Pamela Payton-Wright as Kathy
 Mark Margolis as Prison Guard	
 Siobhan Keegan as Colleen
 Brian Neville as Kevin

Reception
Critic Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune gave the film three and a half stars, remarking that it "treats old age with a lot of bitterness. And my suspicion is that this picture will be a healthy catharsis for anyone who is old or is thinking about becoming old." Siskel added that "what this remarkable movie is after is duplicating the texture of being old in America. And, as we spend the final days with these three characters, we discover that what growing old is about for so many people is being alone. In one heart-tugging scene after another, we see the maturity it takes to make peace with yourself as you grow old.  We see the strength it takes to be willing to sit quietly."  Siskel offered particular praise for Burns' performance, stating that "Fans of George Burns . . . will be startled by his performance in this film. Burns, who has always seemed so cheerful on film, lets out some of his rage at growing old. He does this in a controlled, quiet way that reveals he is one remarkable actor."

Vincent Canby of The New York Times said that the film "means to be both moving and comic" but "never elicits any emotional response more profound than curiosity."

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an 82% approval rating based on 11 reviews.

Remake

In 2015, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema began production on a remake of Going in Style, directed by Zach Braff, written by Theodore Melfi and starring Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin. The remake was released on April 7, 2017.

See also
Other crime caper films involving older perpetrators include:

 Stand Up Guys
 Tough Guys
 The Old Man & the Gun

References

External links
 
 
 
 

1979 films
1970s crime comedy films
1970s heist films
1970s buddy comedy films
American buddy comedy films
American crime comedy films
American heist films
1970s English-language films
Films about bank robbery
Films about death
Films about old age
Films directed by Martin Brest
Films set in New York City
Films set in the Las Vegas Valley
Films shot in New York City
Films shot in the Las Vegas Valley
Films about gambling
Warner Bros. films
Films scored by Michael Small
1979 comedy films
1979 directorial debut films
1970s American films
Films set in Queens, New York