THE NEWTON BOYS 1998
A film review by Timothy Voon
Copyright 1998 Timothy Voon
1 :-) for Hillbilly bank robbers
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Skeet Ulrich, Dwight Yoakam, Julianna Margulies, Chloe Webb, Charles Gunning Director: RichardLinklater Producer: Anne Walker-McBay Screenplay: Claude Stanush, Clark McBay, Richard Linklater
What could possibly go wrong if your simplest philosophies in life were - don't kill anyone and its okay to rob banks because they steal from farmers? If you're wandering who I am referring to, its none other than the infamous Newton brothers, those Yankee thieves who got away with emptying the vaults of more than 60 banks across the nation, plus pocketing more than 3 million big ones in their finale of a mail train heist.
But to be honest, I had never heard of the NEWTON BOYS until today.
However, this does not pose as a problem, because when you realise that this unique story is based on fact and not merely fictional, it makes it all the more amazing. These boys on first appearances are genuine, regular decent looking lads, who you would probably trust with looking after your house if on holiday.
The cast is impressive. Matthew McConaughey heads this cast of young popular Hollywood actors to hit the screen. He is Willis Newton, the mastermind and motivator of the brothers. Ethan Hawke plays Jess Newton, the carefree, less responsible brother with a sense of humour who carries the same vein of womanising, heavy drunkeness of older, irresponsible brother Doc Newton, played by Vincent D'Onofrio. Finally, there is the sweet, good-natured Joe Newton played by Skeet Ulrich, who is more even tempered here than when last seen in SCREAM.
Overall, an interesting historical dramatisation, for anyone interested in a piece of American Hill Billy pop culture.
Timothy Voon
e-mail: stirling@netlink.com.au
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