The tale of Bonnie and Clyde’s real-life saga has been told many times over the years, with films, books, and television series. While these usually focus on the lovers turn robbers, Netflix’s The Highwaymen looks to show a different side of things, from the standpoint of two Texas Rangers who helped take them down.
The film follows officers Frank Hamer (Kevin Costner) and Maney Gault (Woody Harrelson) who come out of retirement at the request of the Texas governor, Ma Ferguson (Kathy Bates), to try and track down the notorious robbers, Bonnie (Emily Brobst) and Clyde (Edward Bossert). One thing going against the officers, aside from tracking them down, is the public perception that they are modern-day Robin Hoods. They want to do whatever it takes to stop their wave of crime, and realize that bringing the couple in alive isn’t an option. They will become Bonnie and Clyde’s executioners.
One interesting thing to note about The Highwaymen is that, although this is technically a film about Bonnie and Clyde, the two only make brief appearances. They actually have more screen time dead than alive. This story is truly about those in law enforcement, and perhaps writer John Fusco and director John Lee Hancock knew that showing them too often would distract from this. The Highwaymen focuses on the true account of these real life Texas Rangers first, and a Bonnie and Clyde film second.
The film features an all-star cast, with Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson having great chemistry as partners. They played off each other very well, with Costner taking the lead within their dynamic. Seeing the determination they showed throughout the entire film shift into somber and introspective once Bonnie and Clyde are dead is emotional and makes the characters more real. Kathy Bates was phenomenal in her role as governor, and the actress has a proven knack for playing a hard-edged southern woman to perfection. The Highwaymen is no exception.
The Highwaymen is a well-done period piece and stands out as an original Bonnie and Clyde themed tale. The film had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) on March 10th and is now available on the Netflix streaming service.
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