Movie Description
Texas filmmaker Richard Linklater's lighthearted Western tells the true story of the Newton brothers, who are regarded as the most successful bank robbers in the history of the United States. The time is the early 1920s and the place is Texas. When Willis Newton (Matthew McConaughey) returns from a four-year stint in prison, he quickly falls into a life of bank robbing. Excited by the prospects of stealing even more money, he recruits his three brothers--the charming Jess (Ethan Hawke), the sensitive Joe (Skeet Ulrich), and the brutish Dock (Vincent D'Onofrio)--and ace safecracker Brentwood Glasscock (Dwight Yoakam) to help him ravage the country's banks, as long as no one gets hurt. Along the way, Willis meets and falls in love with Louise Brown (Julianna Margulies), a single mother living in Omaha. Eventually, greed gets the better of the gang and they set their sights on a federal train that is transporting three million dollars in cash and bonds. Unfortunately, the heist goes awry and the boys are threatened with jail time. Linklater's film is an affable and sweet affair, with a goodnatured tone that greatly mimics the Newton brothers themselves. Linklater alumni McConaughey and Hawke headline the all-star cast, while music by the Bad Livers keeps the atmosphere breezy throughout.
| Credits | | Producer: | Anne Walker-McBay | | Cast: | A.G. Zeke Mills, Abra Moore, Blue McDonnell, Bo Franks, Boots Southerland, Brad Arrington, Chamblee Ferguson, Daniel Tucker Kamin, David Jensen, Eduardo Cavazos Garza, F.W. Post, Grant James, J.P. Schwan, Jennifer Miriam, Ken Farmer, Lew Temple, Luke Askew, Mark Fickert, Randy Stripling, Robert Iannaccone, Ron de Roxtra, Rooster McConaughey, Ross Sears, Scott Roland, Skeet Ulrich, Tommy Townsend |
Notes
Theatrical release: March 27, 1998.
Shot on location in Texas.
The film's dedication reads: "In memory of DENISE MONTGOMERY."
An excerpt from Erich von Stroheim's classic silent film GREED appears in the movie house scene.
Editorial Reviews
"...[The] production design is wonderfully evocative..."
Clark
"...[Linklater has a] consistent ability to give depth and definition to life in the margins..."
Premiere - Christine Spines (04/01/1998)
| See an error? Submit a change request |
All rights reserved.
