10 Awesome Movie Gunfights You've Probably Never Seen

2 . The Brothel Shootout (The Way Of The Gun)

Jack Reacher director Christopher McQuarrie made his directorial debut with this crime thriller from 2000. Benicio del Toro and Ryan Phillippe star as two loser criminals who kidnap the surrogate mother of a crime boss and hold her to ransom. Things get ever more complicated and twisty as the film goes on, climaxing in a battle between the two men and a gang of professional killers in a rundown Mexican brothel. It's the inventive little touches that turn this scene from a good one into a classic. In addition to the smooth camera work and editing that lets you clearly understand the geography of the fight at all times, the filmmakers pay close attention to often overlooked details such as the amount of shots fired and realistic weapon handling. This results in a character reloading his gun about 10 times with empty magazines comically piling up at his feet. Or there's the moment when Phillippe dives into what he assumes will be the safety of a fountain, only to land on a pile of broken glass that he then has to painfully remove from his arm. Or there's James Caan's enforcer playing the cinematic version of whack-a-mole, as he pops out of slatted windows to take potshots at the two thieves when they least expect it. It's a showdown that manages to be both thrilling and blackly comic at the same time, and it's more proof that Benicio del Toro is one of the coolest actors alive. As if more proof was required.