The Highwaymen (2019)

A pair of Texas Rangers come out of retirement to catch the infamous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde. (IMDb)

Old-timey feeling, and in a good way (aside from being a little long..in the tooth), with aging protagonists (with great chemistry) appreciably not dressed up as action stars (see their post-chase wheezing), a gorgeous folksy soundtrack + Americana landscapes cinematic combo, and a tried and true buddy cop plot. Hints at deeper themes (criminals’ humanity–see Hamer with Clyde’s dad–and police violence: see Maney’s mesmerizing story around the card table) are unfortunately never followed up upon.

7/10 (Good)

 

The Untouchables (1987)

Federal Agent Eliot Ness sets out to stop Al Capone; because of rampant corruption, he assembles a small, hand-picked team. (IMDb)

Aside from an excellent jazzy score and a great looking 1940s set, this film is largely underwhelming: Its compelling cop vs. Capone true tale is lost amidst a script that breezes through simple plot points with little development or character study, and a notable cast gives middling performances (apart from an underused DeNiro) thanks in part to often unmemorable dialogue. The dashes of bloody violence (“TOUCHABLE”) grab you but they don’t make up for the mostly weak writing here.

6.5/10 (Alright)

Draft Day (2014)

At the NFL Draft, general manager Sonny Weaver has the opportunity to rebuild his team when he trades for the number one pick. He must decide what he’s willing to sacrifice on a life-changing day for a few hundred young men with NFL dreams. (IMDb)

An insightful glimpse into the scouting and management of an NFL team leading up to “draft day”, with Costner and the rest of the charismatic men in suits driving forward a briskly paced screenplay spiced with split screen phone calls and unique NFL city title screens, and given depth by brief glimpses into the lives of potential draftees. GM Sonny’s irrelevant and unnecessary personal side plot is the only thing that mars this otherwise concise and engaging sports business drama.

6.5/10 (Alright)