Pretty Good

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

It's 1919 Texas. After three years of incarceration for stealing, Willis Newton (Matthew McConaughey) gets into robbing banks and recruits his brothers Joe (Skeet Ulrich) and Jess (Ethan Hawke) into the business. Joe is reluctant, wanting clean living. Brentwood Glasscock (Dwight Yoakam) is the explosive expert. They are joined by escape convict brother Dock (Vincent D'Onofrio). Willis takes a liking to single mom Louise Brown (Julianna Margulies).Director Richard Linklater is trying his hand at a different genre. He doesn't bring any intensity or edginess. It feels a bit lightweight. He's able to up his visual game but it's not good enough. It's almost a throwback to an earlier film era but it doesn't have the drama. These actors are all individually good. This could be a great movie if Linklater gets a darker edge.

Fans of the Director will probably be disappointed in this rather straight telling of the Real-Life, dirt poor Bank Robbers. There is a colorful often made story of Anti-Heroes waiting to be told here, but for some reason, while engaging and fun this Movie kind of disappoints and at the same time is a somewhat amusing, if not a terribly interesting misfire.Here the talented and usually off-kilter Director has been restrained by the conventions of the Genre. It is all handled with taste and is a tactful representation of likable Criminals who never killed anybody, but they did rob 80 banks. That in itself is a feat worthy of any Comic Book Character.There is a standout cast and the Movie looks great. But in the end it kind of loses momentum, but is never completely unworthy of the gist it created. Not a bad diversion and is Worth a Watch as a rather lightweight entertainment that will let down more viewers than it captures. A bit different and deserves more credit than criticism.

as a western movie fan i have been somewhat disappointed in the low numbers of western films made from the 90's to '06- and surprisingly i just seen "The Newton Boys" for the first time while channel hopping a couple of months ago on HBO- and after seeing the movie i immediately logged onto IMDb.com to get the low- and i just wanted to say the movie in every way is splendid and entertaining throughout. there is comedy touches blazing side by side with drama- and the best part it is based on a true story. and when the movie ends DO NOT TURN THE CHANNEL- the extra/ending credits will fulfill any "junkies" need for a fix as they have interviews with the real newtons- robbers/criminals yes but the movie is done in such a way that you never have any hatred towards them- one hell of a thumbs up for Linklater- one very smooth job- and while i watched the movie 3 times i didn't know it was D Yoakum playing the part of Glass until i read the IMDb reviews and I'm also a yoakum fan as well- so my hats off to the D for one fine acting performance and to all the cast as this is one western that has no boring moments- i just wish we could be rewarded with a movie with this much satisfaction on a monthly basis------Tom

History is history and Hollywood is well...Hollywood. This is a fact-based drama that chronicles the exploits of the bank robbing Newton brothers(Matthew McConaughey, Vincent D'Onofrio, Ethan Hawke and Skeet Ulrich)who robbed over eight banks from Texas to Toronto in the 20's and 30's. Along with them a friend(Dwight Yoakam)who knew his way with nitro.This makes for exciting explosions on screen with clouds of money to go with gunshot blasts and whining getaway cars. The prolonged career in crime is capped off with a three million dollar mail train heist outside Chicago. This finally landed the boys in a court room and behind bars. By all means don't walk out on the closing credits for you get to find out what happened to each of the principle players. Also in the cast are: Julianna Margulies, Charles Gunning, Chloe Webb and Casey McAuliffe. There is the claim that the Newton boys never killed a soul during their robbing the bigger thieves...the banks.