Since Quentin Tarantino has disappeared from the moviemaking landscape without a trace, evidently it's become fashionable — or at least safer — to start making crime thrillers again.

Just a couple of years ago, a film like "The Way of the Gun," an almost cartoonish thriller from writer/director Christopher McQuarrie (the Oscar-winning scriptor of 1995's "The Usual Suspects"), would have been been lumped in with all the other Tarantino wannabes.

Nowadays, it can be taken for what it really is, an erratically entertaining piece that both parodies and pays tribute to McQuarrie's obvious influences, including classic Westerns — with specific nods to "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and even ultraviolent director Sam Peckinpah.

And ultraviolent is one thing this over-the-top film definitely is, not to mention to mention downright profane. (Audiences should be warned that the movie is not for the squeamish, with a surprising amount of graphic gore.)

Those fans anticipating McQuarrie's trademark smart dialogue may be at least a little disappointed. Though there is quite a bit of that type of wordplay at the start, the film gradually focuses on violent gunplay and action instead — particularly toward the end.

Perhaps that's why it's so surprising (if not somewhat amusing) to see customarily genteel actor Ryan Phillippe so scruffed up, as he is here.

Phillippe stars as Parker, a career criminal desperate to get cash. Things have gotten so bad that he and his more experienced partner-in-crime, Longbaugh (Benicio Del Toro), settle on a unique kidnapping plan — they'll grab a surrogate mother for a rich family and hold her for ransom.

The two find what they think is the perfect target in Robin (Juliette Lewis), who's carrying a child for a wealthy New Mexico couple. And all seems to go well when they manage to nab her and elude her bodyguards (Taye Diggs and Nicky Katt).

But there are a couple of fairly important factors that they hadn't counted on. For one thing, the adoptive father-to-be (Scott Wilson) has mob connections and no intention of paying the ransom. Also, Robin has grown attached to the child in her womb and is having second thoughts about giving it up.

If that isn't bad enough, the bodyguards are still on their tails, as well as experienced "bag man" Joe Sarno (James Caan), who seems to have ulterior motives for getting involved in the situation.

As a filmmaker, McQuarrie has trouble with his pacing. At times the film is fascinating, funny and horrifying, but it's also sometimes a patience-testing bore with scenes that drag on much longer than they should.

Fortunately, almost every time that happens, it's a signal that you can expect another shoot-out scene. For those, McQuarrie and cinematographer Dick Pope make good use of Utah locations (which sub for New Mexico), especially during an amusing slow-speed car chase.

They also make good use of the cast, which is pretty effective. And even though Phillippe, Del Toro and Lewis are supposed to be the stars, it's Caan, in a supporting role, who makes the strongest impression.

"The Way of the Gun" is rated R for over-the-top violence (mostly gunplay), rapid-fire strong profanity, graphic gore, use of crude sexual slang terms and cruel humor, a scene of torture and brief male nudity, as well as glimpses of nude photos. Running time: 119 minutes.

---

E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com