2019 | R | 2 Hr 12 Min | Crime | Universal
Director: John Lee Hancock
Writer: John Fusco
Stars:
Kevin Costner
Woody Harrelson
Kathy Bates
Synopsis:
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.
Fire-up the crock pot once again for this Costner, Harrelson trip down memory lane that is a slow burner The Highwaymen. This incredibly slow flick stands tall at 2 Hours and 12 long minutes. And sadly at times, you feel all of it sitting on your shoulders as you learn the back story of these two men.
I love period pieces like this the early 30s and 40s fascinate me so when the trailer dropped for The Highwaymen on Netflix I was super excited. All though Bonnie and Clyde are the backdrops, how can things go wrong? For starters the lackluster storyline, Costner and Harrelson make a good team but the story is very drawn out. Now part of me feels that the plan was to go slow as it was a slow process tracking down the famous gangsters. But did we the viewer need to feel all of it? Most Bonne and Clyde flicks are pretty actioned packed so maybe this was by design.
The look and feel draw you into a time period of simple and peaceful times achieving an authentic time frame. Regrettably, in maintaining that accuracy, there's not a lot of surprise for the viewers. Hamer and Gault's schemes of traversing Texas and venturing across its borders to focus on the villains' natural predilection for "going home" is smart but not always dramatic. Still, it's a commendable movie that gives a very honest look at the flip side of a legendary historical event.
Although this is a lukewarm movie that runs a little long The Highwaymen is worth a visit especially if you're a fan of its stars or its storied subjects. In the end, I really enjoyed the trip even if it took to long to get there. I love being transported back in time when the story is worth hearing.
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| 3 Out of 4 Stars |
