Friday, March 27, 1998 | 9:32 a.m.
* Grades: Jeff, B; Dave, B.
* Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke, Skeet Ulrich, Vincent D'Onofrio, Julianna Margulies, Dwight Yokam and Bo Hopkins.
* Screenplay: Richard Linklater, Claude Stanush and Clark Lee Walker.
* Director: Richard Linklater.
* Rated: PG-13 for adult situations, violence and profanity.
* Running time: 120 minutes.
* Playing at: ACT III Texas Station, ACT III Sunset Station, ACT III Village Square, UA Rainbow Promenade, UA Showcase mall, Cinedome 12 Las Vegas, Century Desert 16, Cinedome 12 Henderson.
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Synopsis: "The Newton Boys" is the true story of America's most successful bank robbers. From 1919 to 1924, they robbed more than 80 banks from Texas to Canada, capping their careers with America's largest train robbery, a $3 million mail train heist outside of Chicago.
Dave: Here is a dream cast of hot talent, good looks and charisma in McConaughey, Hawke, Ulrich, and D'Onofrio. In addition, who better to direct all these gentlemen in a period piece set in the good 'ol U. S. of A.? Why Gen-X writer/director Richard Linklater, that's who. He helped apply the term Generation X to movies with such films as "Slacker," "Dazed and Confused" and "Before Sunrise." Now, in his latest effort, Linklater has produced a very different kind of film, in terms of budget (higher), subject matter and style of direction.
Jeff: Always looking for unique ideas for films, this time around Linklater has turned toward history to draw upon the true story of the Newton Boys. This is an exciting blend of western and gangster movies about a group of cowboys who consider themselves not criminals, but a warped band of "businessmen."
Linklater has created an alluring movie about an era in America that was rapidly changing from an agricultural system into an industrial giant. Linklater's attention to the Roaring '20s -- the sets, the slang and historical references, the ragtime music of Jellyroll Morton -- is meticulous. You believe your are back in 1923, robbing banks with the Newton boys. Linklater sets the mood with the opening credits as if we were watching a newsreel of the boys in the early '20s.
Dave: Linklater captures the aura of such films as "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "Bonnie and Clyde," an impressive accomplishment that proves his maturation as a filmmaker. One could argue, however, that you do not care about the characters in the film. But one must keep in mind that the characters did not care about anything other than their health, wealth and each other. They were all just good 'ol boys with no desires, other than getting money. What may be considered shallow and one-dimensional are really the characters themselves, and the situations they choose to be in.
Jeff: I wouldn't consider the characters shallow, but each had a distinct personality. Willis (McConaughey) is the ambitious brother; Jess (Hawke) is the fun one; Joe (Ulrich) is the guilt-ridden, honest one; and Dock (D'onofrio) is the strong, silent type. The strong friendship between the brothers and the sense of family is clear. The Newton brothers came from a poor family and set out to make sure that all future Newton boys would grow up in a home that wasn't rooted in poverty.
Dave: The remaining cast is suitable in their roles, except for the miscast Julianna Margulies of TV's "ER" as McConaughey's love interest, Louise Brown. She seemed out of place for the era and conveyed little passion for her co-star. Country artist Yoakam, fresh from "Slingblade," continues to show off his ability as a serious actor. The standout performance comes from Hopkins as the investigative federal agent hot on the trail of the Newton gang. The veteran actor is in prime form.
Jeff: It's good to see Hopkins back on the big screen. "The Newton Boys" is an unconventional twist on the Robin Hood legend, this time the poor being themselves. So, 80 banks and a few trains later, the Newton boys didn't gain national attention like Jesse James or John Dillinger because they never hurt or killed anyone. They carefully planned and executed each robbery in the middle of the night, with a calm precision. "The Newton Boys" captures the romance and excitement of the wanted outlaw and is a roaring, gun-fighting, safe-cracking, whiskey-swigging good time.
NEW ON VIDEO
"Mr. Bean"(Polygram Home Video; Rated PG-13; VHS/DVD/Laserdisc; Grade, D): England's national treasure comes to America! Rowan Atkinson is Mr. Bean, a lovable, accident prone dolt who gets into trouble when he's just trying to help. Mr. Bean is a security guard in an art museum when he is suddenly chosen to represent the institution in America for the unveiling of its newest acquisition, "Whistler's Mother."
Bean is mistaken for an art professor and must somehow deliver a speech on dedication day. That's kind of hard when Mr. Bean barley says two words the entire time he's there. He does get help from an American family he is staying with, but in the end they just want him out of their house before he runs it into the ground.
A tremendous hit in Europe, already grossing more than $150 million, Mr. Bean brings a unique type of humor to America, using a combination of slapstick, situational humor and a touch of heart that works well on his British television show -- but not in his movie. Just rent the videos instead.
"I Know What You Did Last Summer"(Columbia TriStar; Rated R; VHS /DVD/Laserdisc; Grade, B-): Riding the coattails of the hit teen-slasher flick "Scream," this horror film offers nothing more than a bloodbath for teen-agers. "Party of Five's" Jennifer Love Hewitt and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer's" Sarah Michelle Gellar team up with their boyfriends against a mysterious slicker-wearing killer who carries a hook.
Granted, the dialogue is nowhere near the degree of cleverness utilized by screenwriter Kevin Williamson, who is responsible for revitalizing the horror genre with "Scream" and "Scream 2." However, there are memorable deaths with originality and gruesome thrills that would delight any true horror fan. You have to take the movie for what it is, and that is a simple slasher flick. Just have a good time!
VIEWPOINT
The Movie Guys have finally started to arrive ... sort of. A few weeks ago, the movie theater exhibiters trade show, ShoWest, made its annual appearance in Las Vegas. This is the opportunity for the big Hollywood studios to unveil their lineup of movies for the coming year to theater owners nationwide. Of course the public isn't allowed to attend the show, only industry folk.
So, you can imagine our surprise when we received a call from Dreamworks SKG. You remember Dreamworks, the motion picture studio launched a few years back by Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenburg (hence, SKG)? Dreamworks wanted us to come down to the Showcase United Artists Theaters to preview their reel of upcoming films for the year. After checking our busy schedule ... we found an opening. (that's a joke).
It was a sight to behold. The theater was closed to the public and transformed into a Dreamworks SKG shrine. The lobby was filled with banners and props from upcoming Dreamworks films such as "Small Soldiers," an action-adventure by director Joe Dante, in which action figures come to life. Also on display were clay models from Dreamworks' first animated feature, "Prince of Egypt." We also had a peek at "Antz," a computer-generated animated film that stars the voice of Woody Allen as a neurotic ant named Z in New York's Central Park.
It was an exciting evening -- but that was just the beginning. After the presentation, we strolled over to Gameworks, where the post-screening party was just warming up. It was an evening to remember. As for Dreamworks SKG, from what we observed that evening, the creativity, imagination and inspiration that was the Golden Age of Hollywood has returned.
NAME THAT FLICK
"Fill your hands, you son-of-a-b----!" Dennis Mewshaw filled his hands -- and quick. He was the first to call and identify last week's quote, spoken by John Wayne in his Oscar-winning performance as the one-eyed, patch-wearing marshal in "True Grit." Some callers thought it was from "Rooster Cogburn." You were close, pilgrim, but no cigar. Way to go, Dennis! Now that the Oscars are over and "Titanic" has sailed away with 11 Academy Awards, we can get things back to normal around here.
This week's quote? Who said this and in what film: "Sorry folks, the park is closed. The moose outside should've told ya."? Have you heard it before? If you have, call us at 225-9026 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Be sure to spell your name and leave a daytime phone number, and if you're the first correct caller/e-mailer, we will print your name right here in our column.
Would we lie to you? Don't answer that.
THE MOVIE GUYS, starring Jeff Howard and Dave Neil, appears every Friday in the SUN (additional material provided by Thomas Feeney). You can also read their capsule reviews of movies in Scope magazine; listen to their reviews and commentary every Friday at 7 p.m. on their radio show "Quiet on the Set" on KVBC 105.1-FM; and watch their reviews every Friday on Channel 3's 11 p.m. newscast. Plus, check them out online at: www.lasvegassun.com/sun/sunlife/ movies.
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