In 1934, Frank Hamer and Manny Gault, two former Texas Rangers, are commissioned to put an end to the wave of vicious crimes perpetrated by Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, a notorious duo of infamous robbers and cold-blooded killers who nevertheless are worshiped by the public.
Expectations: To see a period piece centered around the take down of Bonnie and Clyde and all the events that led up to it.
What happened: Exactly that. This movie isn't for everyone, but if you are hoping to see a good period piece with realistic action and events. You'll love this film.
***Tracking down Bonnie & Clyde***
Based on the real story, two renowned retired Texas Rangers (Kevin Costner & Woody Harrelson) are commissioned to track down and execute Bonnie & Clyde in 1934 after other authorities have failed.
“The Highwaymen” (1983) is a great counterbalance to the 1967 movie with Beatty & Dunaway, which painted the thugs more sympathetically, as well as the excellent “Bonnie & Clyde: The True Story” (1992).
The filmmakers shoot for realism rather than the thrills of, say, James Bond or Batman. And by "realism" I don't mean exact historical accuracy; movies never are for many reasons. For instance, Frank Hamer never approached Bonnie & Clyde from the front of their vehicle. Hamer & co. just blew them to smithereens as soon as it was determined it was the rogue couple.
The picture is a reverent period piece about life in the Great Depression and the pursuit & execution of the infamous duo by a couple of aged, but experienced men. The film has the confidence to take its time, unlike say "Aquaman,” which anxiously jumped to a wild action scene just when a dramatic part was getting interesting. If "The Highwaymen" is sometimes slow & boring it's because the actual pursuit was also slow and often boring. This is not a flick for people with ADHD who demand an explosion every 5-7 minutes. It's for people who favor period pieces like "The Whole Wide World," "Cross Creek," "Of Mice and Men," “The Cider House Rules,” "The Green Mile" and "Water for Elephants."
The movie runs 2 hours, 12 minutes.
GRADE: B+/A-
Every time I'm about to give up on Netflix in frustration over horrible remakes and bad stand up specials, they come around a release a flick like this.
It has a low budget, but it has a low budget that is very well and very very well disguised in a way that can best be described as pro-talent. It looks good, it looks like the 30s.
It's also expertly acted and skillfully walks the line between funny and deadly serious as you get to watch the two old Texas Rangers walk through a world that has drastically changed.
In other words, it's an absolute pleasure to watch.