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Bonnie and Clyde 1967 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Arthur Penn
R, 111 min. (strong violence, language) |
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Starring: Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Michael J. Pollard, Gene Hackman, Estelle Parsons
Producer: Warren Beatty
Screenplay: Robert Benton, David Newman III
Cinematography: Burnett Guffey
Distributor: Warner Brothers
Released: 8.13.67 |
Rating:
 (out of ) |
Many critics feel that Bonnie and Clyde was the defining movie of the 1960s. It shocked audiences and introduced violence
in a way never before seen on the big screen. It also dealt with topics that had been taboo until that point - sexual dysfunction,
characterization of a gangster as a hero. There is no denying that this movie changed film making forever. Just as movies such
as Pulp Fiction or Fargo changed movies in recent years, Bonnie and Clyde was bold and unwavering in its presentation of
violence mixed with comedy. How director Arthur Penn manipulates the audience into siding with gangsters over the law
by the end of film is nothing short of brilliant; only a well-crafted picture can make an audience truly care about its heroes, good
or evil.
Even the beginning of the film was somewhat schocking; Bonnie (Faye Dunaway) is seen putting on makeup and standing in
front of a mirror naked (cleverly not actually shown), observing herself in her own misery. She sees a man, Clyde (Warren Beatty),
about to stealing her mother's car and yells at him from her window (still naked). A conversation ensues, where Bonnie quickly
decides that Clyde is more interesting than anything or anyone around her and proceeds to help him steal the car. They embark
on their first robbery (Clyde robs a convenience store to prove his nerve to Bonnie) and soon realize how easy it is to steal and
run for a living. After a few more robberies they team up with a gas station attendant named C.W. Moss (Michael Pollard), who
voluteers to be their driver. Later, the trio meets up with Clyde's brother Buck (Gene Hackman) and his wife Blanche (Estelle Parsons),
and continue their rampage through the midwest robbing banks. Constantly on the run, they are eventually tracked down by
a Texas ranger, who at one time they had caught and then released, who plans an ambush to take them out.
There are so many different areas of the film to analyze that there simply isn't time to do it here, but I'll take a look at a few
defining moments. There's a scene where Bonnie is running away from the gang through some wheat fields, knowing that she
is trapped in a life of crime and craves for a return to her mother. Clyde runs after her and agrees to go and see her mother.
At that moment they (and the audience) realize the impending doom of the gang - they can't run forever. They embrace each
other in more than just a sensual way, they also embrace the fact that they will meet their end together. The most talked about
scene of the movie occurs at the end of the film when Bonnie and Clyde are ambushed. The violence that is depicted is brutal,
and the picture ends with the Texas ranger standing over their dead bodies. The impact of that scene, which was shot in slow motion,
is stunning. There is no pretty wrap-up or feel-good ending - the movie just bluntly ends because there is nothing more to tell.
Bonnie and Clyde have met their fate together.
Of course, the movie would not have been nearly as good without the brilliant performances of nearly the entire cast. It launched the
careers of Faye Dunaway and Gene Hackman, while Estelle Parsons won a best supporting actress Oscar. There was much
controversy over the casting for the film and even the film itself before it ever began filming, but 10 Oscar nominations later
it was hailed as a classic. Ironically, major film critics at the time gave the movie poor reveiws at the time of its release, only to
later rescind many of their negative reviews once they had analyzed it a bit more.
There is no questioning the fact that Bonnie and Clyde was a groundbreaking film, and, for the most part, can be considered
a classic in many ways. However, there are parts of this film that are disturbing in many ways, particularly glorifying violence
and sympathizing with evil. But it's difficult to ignore the genius of the directing and the brilliant cinematography (which also
won an Oscar) that is incorporated into this film. Bonnie and Clyde is a good example of how powerful a motion
picture can be.
© 2001 Jonathan Cornwell
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 |
 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
 | Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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