The Newton Boys (1998)

Like all period pieces, the most important thing about "The Newton Boys" is the way it looks. That is: Does it look like the 1920's? To me it did, enough to not distract me, anyway. Of course, this is truly subjective. It depends on what your idea of 1920 is. The cars look real, the buildings look real and the clothes look right. Even a matte shot to make the Chicago skyline seem like 1920's looked pretty good. But what really would have made the film work is if Director Richard Linklater would have shot it in black and white. To understand what I mean, one only needs to watch the opening credits, where Linklater emulates a 1920's era black and white film by actually using black and white. This is what the next 2 hours should look like. Still, one can understand why black and white wasn't chosen; I'm sure the studio pretty much insisted on a color film.

This ensemble film about the titular notorious bank robbing clan from Texas may only scratch the surface of the story, but it's still good entertainment. In the tradition of all the films which have the 1920's as their setting, Linklater's film is about the outsider looking in. The main character here is played by Matthew McConaughey and he pretty much is forced to carry the film. McConaughey grins and smirks and charms his way through the film in a performance that beguiles us as much as it does co-star Julianna Margulies. He is only upstaged occassionally by Ethan Hawke as his little brother. McConaughey is a poor boy whose been sent to prison on a bum rap. Or at least he always says it was that. Further incidents make us unsure of this. And that is part of the problem with the film. It doesn't delve deep enough. But, regardless, McConaughey plays the character like an outsider. He is that little boy, perpetually looking into the candy store window.

Then again all the brothers have a role to play and while McConaughey is the schemer and Hawke the cut-up, Skeet Ulrich plays innocent of the bunch and Vincent D'Onofrio plays the older brother, the loser. Meanwhile Dwight Yoakam is added to the mix as a nitroglycerin expert who never really fits in. And Chloe Webb, who is given almost nothing to do as his wife, still manages to charm us and make us wish she had more to do in the film.

Linklater's direction is nothing fancy but he does manage to convey the story in simplistic and interesting terms. His film looks authentic and his characters are enjoyable even if the film never really digs very deep into any particular subject matter. There is no real discussion of the class system or economics of the time, no real look into what motivates any one character except for McConaughey. The film is more glossy tabloidesque expose as opposed to factual biopic. Linklater is able to throw in moments of interest however, including a wonderful montage of floating money and exploding bank vaults. And there are moments of humor too, many of them inspired by Hawke but the most rollicking of these if a prop gag involving a safe door exploding off with aplomb.

"The Newton Boys" wont win any awards. It is a good film that should be more involved, more penetrating. These are interesting characters with an interesting story that isn't allowed to develop fully here. The proof of this, sadly, is given to us by Linklater himself. Surely the most intriguing part of the film is the end credits, which feature clips of the aged Joe Newton himself, from a documentary made in the 80's about the gang. This is intercut with Joe, again, being interviewed by Johnny Carson in the 80's as well. As we watch these clips we want to see more of this material. The film seems like inconsequential Hollywood pulp comparatively. A documentary would be much more satisfying. Note: Screenplay by Claude Stanush, Linklater, and Clark Lee Walker based on Stanush's book "The Newton Boys: Portrait of an Outlaw Gang." Walker is a Co-Producer.

Music by Edward D. Barnes and the Bad Livers. One song is written by John Sayles. Songs are also performed by Floyd Domino and Jim Cullum Jazz Band. Patty Griffin sings a song with the Bad Livers. Abra Moore has a cameo singing a song in the Argosy Ballroom. The commercials for the film strangely yet, somehow wisely, used modern pop to acentuate the 20's action images. It was a strange choice that actually worked.

Contains a scene from 1925's "Greed."

Shot entirely in Texas

Review written in 1998

Report Card

Script: C

Acting: B+

Cinematography\Lighting: C-

Special Effects\Make Up: B+

Music: A

Final Grade: B-