A familiar caper returns with Morgan Freeman at the helm, but this time it lands quietly on Netflix.
The 2017 remake of Going in Style reimagines the tale of three retirees who decide to rob a bank to salvage their pensions. Freeman is joined by Michael Caine and Alan Arkin, and the film leans into a polished Brooklyn setting rather than the rougher textures of the original.
Old and new perspectives on a timeless caper
Martin Brest’s 1979 Going in Style framed the caper as a character study. Three aging friends pull off a heist, with one death lingering as the story moves toward a bittersweet outcome. The humor stays grounded, allowing the mood to linger rather than sprint for big laughs.
The Zach Braff-directed remake shifts the tone toward a brighter, more TV-adjacent vibe. The protagonists feel less nimble and more sitcom‑friendly, and a medical twist—Freeman’s character facing a kidney failure—adds melodrama rather than genuine danger. It earned commercial success in theaters but drew mixed to negative reviews, a fate not shared by Brest’s film in many fans’ eyes.
For fans of the original, Brest’s version remains the go-to, celebrated for its texture and warmth. The 2017 remake sits on Netflix, while Brest’s film is reportedly available to rent on Prime Video and Apple TV. If you crave the older vibe, seek out the 1979 movie; if you want a modern gloss, Braff’s take offers a different flavor.
Source: https://www.slashfilm.com/2138800/morgan-freeman-heist-movie-going-in-style-streaming-netflix/
Source: Original article
