Movie: Bonnie & Clyde
My Rating: 4 stars
I’ve really been enjoying following along with the Unspooled podcast. I’ve been watching all these classy films, and feeling really cultured because of it. Plus, I’ve come to discover that a lot of these snooty, old-timey movies that I assumed would be so boring, are actually pretty great. And, that’s always a fun surprise. I’m sure we’re all vaguely aware of what this movie’s about. This is America’s famous bank-robbing duo. But, I really only knew about this story by reputation and wasn’t completely sure how the tale would unfold. Of course, I was familiar with how attractive Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway looked while playing the parts. Those are two good-looking people, and their costumes are the absolute coolest. But, I went into this movie pretty blind.
I’m not sure what I was expecting from this movie. I guess I was expecting something about a couple of lovers with terrible home-lives going on bank-robbing, murder spree to fund their fancy habits. But, almost none of that is true. These two aren’t lovers. Well, Bonnie is feeling Clyde’s vibe, but Clyde seems to be absolutely terrified of his partner, and never even wants to be left alone in a room with her. And in fact, this really isn’t a criminal duo. Clyde starts adding gang members just as fast as he can just to create a buffer between him and that lusty lass. First, he adds a random gas-station attendant to the posse. Then he gets his brother and sister-in-law involved. And, nothing kills the mood faster than family. The group seems to be engaging in a life of crime not because they need the cash, but really out of pure boredom (or maybe to impress each other). I supposed it’s really a cry for attention and strangely, for approval. The movie was completely different from what I was expecting. It’s the kind of movie that really gets one contemplating people’s motives and human nature. And, being a drama, it also makes you a little sad too.
This classic movie is really more about its very flawed protagonists than it is a story about crime. And, I guess that’s why the story ages so well. I had a great time getting to know the characters and drooling over their wardrobes. The story was almost an afterthought. And honestly, it seems like the action is almost an afterthought for the characters themselves. But, this is a classic film, and I think it deserves its reputation. So, I wholeheartedly recommend this movie to a wide audience.