'The Newton Boys' has a compelling, fact-based story at its core about America's most successful and non-violent bank robbers, but its impact is curtailed by an uneven tone.
The music is the main culprit here, often jovial during the action and clearly intending the experience to be a light and entertaining crime caper with comic elements thrown in; it doesn't want a heavy atmosphere rife with jeopardy for its audacious young cowboy protagonists - it wants to be a good old-fashioned yarn.
But then this clashes with some serious scenes and conversations: a supporting character, for example, might be in tears as they express fear over the future and regret for they're complicity, but it never rings true for us as the audience because of the tonal inconsistencies. The film's pivotal moments - though watchable - are diluted as a result.
Overall, if 'The Newton Boys' had delivered a serious treatment of the real-life story, then this could have been a powerful period drama about greed. As it is, it's a passable diversion in the company of Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke, Skeet Ulrich, and Vincent D'Onofrio.
6/10.
The music is the main culprit here, often jovial during the action and clearly intending the experience to be a light and entertaining crime caper with comic elements thrown in; it doesn't want a heavy atmosphere rife with jeopardy for its audacious young cowboy protagonists - it wants to be a good old-fashioned yarn.
But then this clashes with some serious scenes and conversations: a supporting character, for example, might be in tears as they express fear over the future and regret for they're complicity, but it never rings true for us as the audience because of the tonal inconsistencies. The film's pivotal moments - though watchable - are diluted as a result.
Overall, if 'The Newton Boys' had delivered a serious treatment of the real-life story, then this could have been a powerful period drama about greed. As it is, it's a passable diversion in the company of Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke, Skeet Ulrich, and Vincent D'Onofrio.
6/10.