Netflix Original
Academy
Award Winner Kevin Costner and Academy Award Nominated Woody Harrelson star in
the NETFLIX Original
film called ‘The Highwaymen”; a crime film directed by John Lee Hancock (The
Blind Side) and written by John Fusco. The film follows Frank Hamer and Maney
Gault (Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson), two Texas Rangers who attempt to
track down and apprehend notorious criminals Bonnie and Clyde in the 1930s.
When
the full force of the FBI and their latest forensic technology aren't enough to
capture the nation's most notorious criminals, these two Rangers rely on their
gut instincts and old school skills to get the job done. Kathy Bates, John
Carroll Lynch, Kim Dickens, Thomas Mann and William Sadler also star.
REVIEW: If
you have seen the 1967 film “Bonnie and Clyde” starring Warren Beatty and Faye
Dunaway which received nine Oscar nominations including “Best Picture”, than
the general story of ‘The Highwaymen” is pretty easy to follow including its
eventual outcome for these two national most wanted criminals – celebrities -
cult figures. The significant difference in this effort is we get to see the
entire story of the Bonnie & Clyde exploits uniquely from the two Texas
Rangers perspective. Singularly, you never actually see Bonnie Parker or Clyde
Barrow until the very end of the 2 hour running time. Exclusively Director
Hancock focuses on Rangers Frank Hamer and Maney Gault tireless and focus pursuit
of the young outlaw couple.
Stylistically,
this NETFLIX effort has the look and emotional
feel of Tom Hanks “Road to Perdition”. Substantively it has the same chrarcter
comradery of the two Rangers in “Hell or High Water” played by Jeff Bridges and
Gil Birmingham. And while this story has some dialogue kinks in it and other moments
of slow and seemingly needless long winded banter of this factual story, it
does have some clever dabs of light humorous relief delivered mostly by Harrelson.
But unmistakenly the reason to see this film is Costner and Harrelson dynamic as
they re-create this story with loads of authentic in the moment seriousness
that makes the entire effort a highly respectful classic tale of right verses
wrong.
There
is no real high octane moments as one might expect about a tale of gangsters.
But I was fine with that as the opposite case held my attention quite well
watching the two Rangers move meticulously in their investigation with sober
focus without any use of technology all the while being candid and decent to
people they interact with. At the same time they were quick to respond to having
no tolerance for those who were disrespectful either.
There
are three moments in the film that are memorable. One is early on when Hamer team
up with Gault after years of the Texas Rangers being disbanded in front of a gun
store. The second is Frank Hamer meeting with Clyde’s Barrow’s father where they
have a heartfelt conversation about destiny in life. And finally the final 15
minutes as we watch the tension build as we see Hamer and Gault wait in the
weeds to ambush the two gangsters loves on the side of the road.
There
no mistaking this films overall strength in telling the many times uniquely told
the American story book tale of how good men, with straightforward depiction, who
work in law enforcement go about doing the right thing to bring criminals to
justice. But it also subtly reminds us that being in a profession where taking someone’s
life as a necessary component to doing that job can be for some of the most harden
professionals the single hardest and devastating thing to deal with in the moment
and even decades later. As was the case in the Clint Eastwood film “Unforgiven” we
saw his “William Munny” say after a ferocious shootout …………. “It's a hell of a thing, ain't it, killing' a
man....you take everything' he's got... and'
everything' he's ever going to have”............ Rangers Frank Hamer and Maney Gault knew
that, respected that and lived with that.
“The
Highwaymen”, is my kind of film. It’s a very well-acted old fashion entertaining narrative
about justice.
3.25
Stars
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