The Highwaymen

Name: The Highwaymen
Genre: Biography, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: March 15, 2019
Duration: 132 min
Rating: 58
Cast: Billy Slaughter, David Furr, Dean Denton, Edward Bossert, Emily Brobst

2019

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 105 Ratings

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7.2

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 105 Ratings

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The Highwaymen

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: March 15, 2019 | R

Starring: Billy Slaughter, David Furr, Dean Denton, Edward Bossert, Emily Brobst, Jane McNeill, Jason Davis, Jesse C. Boyd, John Carroll Lynch, Kathy Bates, Kevin Costner, Kim Dickens, Sheenan Cole, Thomas Mann, W. Earl Brown, William Sadler, Woody Harrelson

Summary: The outlaws made headlines. The lawmen made history. The Highwaymen follows the untold true story of the legendary detectives who brought down Bonnie and Clyde. When the full force of the FBI and the latest forensic technology aren't enough to capture the nation's most notorious criminals, two former Texas Rangers (Kevin Costner and WoodyThe outlaws made headlines. The lawmen made history. The Highwaymen follows the untold true story of the legendary detectives who brought down Bonnie and Clyde. When the full force of the FBI and the latest forensic technology aren't enough to capture the nation's most notorious criminals, two former Texas Rangers (Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson) must rely on their gut instincts and old school skills to get the job done.… Expand

Director: John Lee Hancock

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 132 min

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Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper

Mar 21, 2019

Even if you’ve somehow never even heard of the story upon which this film is based, it’s a crackling good lawman tale. Read full review

Chris Nashawaty

Mar 14, 2019

The Highwaymen is a leisurely ride with a pair of actors who know how to do a lot by not doing too much. It won’t reinvent cinema the way that "Bonnie and Clyde" once did. But it’s a ride worth taking nonetheless. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Apr 1, 2019

Although nowhere near as lush, artistic, and downright entertaining as the Warren Beatty/Faye Dunaway interpretation, The Highwaymen hews closer to the historical facts (with the climactic ambush being filmed on-location where it happened). Read full review

Tim Grierson

Mar 13, 2019

A smoothly executed but decidedly drab crime drama. Checking all the necessary narrative boxes for its target audience and asking little of stars Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson other than to bring their well-established onscreen personas to the characters, the latest from director John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side, Saving Mr. Banks) dabbles in familiar dramatic ironies and rather obvious observations about violence, celebrity and ageing. The Highwaymen never puts a foot wrong, but it fails to elicit much passion or fascination. Read full review

Jesse Hassenger

Mar 26, 2019

After noble and varied entries like "Jack Reacher," "Hell Or High Water," and "The Old Man & The Gun," The Highwaymen is a crucial reminder that good Dad Movies aren’t as easy to make as they look. Read full review

Walter Addiego

Mar 14, 2019

Costner’s performance is mostly monotone, but Harrelson has some nice moments portraying Gault as surprisingly reflective. Read full review

The Guardian Charles Bramesco

Mar 12, 2019

Hamer and Gault won the day in a hail of submachine fire, but even their hagiography can’t hide that they’re history’s losers. Read full review

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User Reviews

mciann

Aug 8, 2021

This film is a finely crafted period piece about depression era America. Everything from the setting to the dialogue to the brilliantly executed musical score to the attire pulls you to a different time. The factors the critics tended to pan - the lack of perspective from Bonnie and ClydeThis film is a finely crafted period piece about depression era America. Everything from the setting to the dialogue to the brilliantly executed musical score to the attire pulls you to a different time. The factors the critics tended to pan - the lack of perspective from Bonnie and Clyde themselves, for example, are to my mind deliberately conspicuous in their absence. The film is telling a story about the integrity of social institutions in a time of hardship and change, and in that story, I find the contradictions to be the fundamental flavor of the film rather than an unpleasant aftertaste.

This is one of my favorite movies. I rewatch it frequently. I think it got **** on by the critics because it wasn't the Bonnie and Clyde movie *they* would have liked to see. Perhaps it isn't the best retelling of the story of Bonnie and Clyde, but then again, maybe this movie is trying to tell a different story.

The movie isn't about whether or not Bonnie and Clyde deserve to be depicted in a sympathetic light. It's about the much more challenging and timely question of whether or not America as a civilization deserves to be depicted in a sympathetic light. And in that, I find it to be eminently relevant and meaningful.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jg26xxvi

Mar 29, 2019

I was surprised by how good this movie is. I went in with no real expectations, but found myself captivated by the story. Like Titanic, most people know how the story of Bonnie and Clyde ends, but this was a great piece that shows you the perspective of those who tracked her down. It wasI was surprised by how good this movie is. I went in with no real expectations, but found myself captivated by the story. Like Titanic, most people know how the story of Bonnie and Clyde ends, but this was a great piece that shows you the perspective of those who tracked her down. It was long, but it didn't feel too long to me, though it may to others. It was slow in that there wasn't much real action minus a few scenes that were interspersed well. I think it did a great job of presenting the history of the times expecting that the audience, or at least a portion of it, would recognize that this was the depression/dust bowl era. I think the writers did a good job of characterizing the two main people, despite what I briefly read elsewhere. I also think the writers did a good job of exposition without feeling like it was forced, and had many points at which they opted to let the story speak for itself. I think if you like history movies that don't need to have a lot of action and don't mind sitting for the 2+ hours of the movie, you will be rewarded.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

muldjord

Apr 4, 2019

A bit slow at times, but not boring-slow. More in the way how it suits the age of the characters and the times it portrays. It needs to be slow-moving. It also allows the story to breath and the background stories of the main characters to be fleshed out. I liked that.
Both Harrelson andA bit slow at times, but not boring-slow. More in the way how it suits the age of the characters and the times it portrays. It needs to be slow-moving. It also allows the story to breath and the background stories of the main characters to be fleshed out. I liked that.
Both Harrelson and Costner play their parts well. There's some humor in there too. Underplayed of course - it's not a comedy. But it's ever present in the relationship between the highwaymen. The old-man humor. And it's important in a movie depicting a story as ultimately serious and bizarre as this one.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MeritCoba

May 25, 2019

I liked this movie. I know there are some issues with the way the killing is portrayed. I think the general opinion is that Bonnie did not do what the movie claims she did. But this movie isn't about Bonnie and Clyde and that is why they remain figures in the distance. I sort of can liveI liked this movie. I know there are some issues with the way the killing is portrayed. I think the general opinion is that Bonnie did not do what the movie claims she did. But this movie isn't about Bonnie and Clyde and that is why they remain figures in the distance. I sort of can live with the deviation from history.

The movie is about the two guys arranged the end of Bonnie and Clyde's crimespree. They are played by Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson. To be honest, I liked their acting and the character they played. The movie also avoids some of obvious pitfalls. Harrelson usually plays the buffoon part, but here he doesn't have to be.. even though his character remains a bit awkward.

There is even a bit of a tongue-in-cheek moment when Costner and Harrelson have to ask a group of people about the whereabouts of Bonnie and Clyde and Costner says that he isn't good with people.. and thus Harrelson has to ask.
Harrelson grunts somewhat, and then talks to a kid in a rather unusual way for him. It is nice to see him getting the chance to play such a character.

I like the movie a lot and the way the two acted. I personally think that Coster wasn't the best choice for the role, but he was good enough.

It is a pity that the movie felt as something with a small budget. And perhaps it was. This could perhaps have been a much bigger movie with the right money. The supporting cast could then have had some bigger names. But things are as they are.. and I like the movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GrantD243

May 12, 2019

The Highwaymen is well acted, well directed, and I was satisfied with the conclusion. However, it drags so hard in the second act that I felt like I could have taken a nap. If they had tightened up the runtime, it could have been much better.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

kman5473

Apr 4, 2019

The interesting thing about this film is that it takes very Kevin Costner/early 90's major motion picture storytelling conventions, but puts it in the Netflix format with contemporary technology. I find this very entertaining, and really appreciate it. The performances by Costner andThe interesting thing about this film is that it takes very Kevin Costner/early 90's major motion picture storytelling conventions, but puts it in the Netflix format with contemporary technology. I find this very entertaining, and really appreciate it. The performances by Costner and Harrelson throughout is great, their chemistry really carries the film. I think what newer audiences might find off-putting is the pacing; again, it's very 90's Hollywood.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Trillcosbey

Apr 1, 2019

If your into card board cutouts for characters and black and white bad guy good guy movies were the cops beat poor people up to get information but its for a good cause. Then this is your show other wise its such a waste of great acting talent, other than that I guess the production value isIf your into card board cutouts for characters and black and white bad guy good guy movies were the cops beat poor people up to get information but its for a good cause. Then this is your show other wise its such a waste of great acting talent, other than that I guess the production value is ok , its sort of funny every time the radio gets tuned in the olde timey announcer just so happened to announce an exploit of bnc, in this tepid world I guess its just a slow ride in an ole ford till the end we all know is coming.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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