Crime used to be easier, huh? Well, lemme preface that; some crime used to be easier. I can’t make a blanket statement of all crime until I see some punishment for Donald Trump; accountability in this country depends a great deal more on demographics and politics than it ought to. Some crime, however, used to be easier. Bonnie and Clyde robbed and murdered for years in the open without being caught. Can you imagine those two today dusting an officer and fleeing by car safely for more than a day or two? I cannot.
Speaking of things I have no trouble imagining, The Highwaymen is about two officers completely above the law. Frank Hamer (Kevin Costner) and Maney Gault (Woody Harrelson) were legendary Texas Rangers given enforcement tools many modern officers do not have. The Rangers were dissolved in 1933 which the movie claims was due to lack of lawfulness, but wiki says it was political. Both reasons seem believable. Their strongest opponent, Governor Ma Ferguson (Kathy Bates), resurrected the institution in 1934 to put away Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, who at the time had been enjoying almost two full years of crime and lack-of-punishment. Part of this is due to the lack of crime-solving tools at the time, and a significant part is middle-America saw Bonnie & Clyde as heroes – geez, Loo-eeze, exactly how long has red America revered criminals? Cuz it sure isn’t coming to an end any time soon.
The Highwaymen is distinctly about the officers, not their quarry. The film is about Hamer, who was 50 at the time but Costner plays him as 60 minimum and Gault (possibly 50, possibly 60, possibly 90). Until this point, this review hasn’t been much more than history lesson and I apologize for it.
Here’s what you have to know: we’re following the law here, not the bad guys. The Highwaymen are so much the subject that the film deliberately obscures the faces of Parker and Barrow; it has no intention of humanizing them for the audience – if you want that, there’s already been a pretty good Bonnie & Clyde film out for some time now. Another possible reason the film chose not to face its enemy is that Frank Hamer wasn’t exactly a “to the letter” guy, either. Hamer deliberately steps outside his jurisdiction to track down the outlaws. The film seems to think this is perfectly reasonable as: 1) He’s old … he needs all the breaks he can get, right? 2) The FBI seems
both corrupt and incompetent, not unlike the Trump Presidency and 3) The ends justify the means. I’m not wild about any of these excuses. They speak to an audience who believe that blue lives are far more important than other lives.
Nevertheless, it is truly cringe-worthy watching Hamer and Gault treat crime scenes as my cat treats a fresh spread of kitty litter.
Now, how could I like this film? How could you like this film? Partially because of the chase and only the chase. Can two couch has-beens bring justice to the greatest criminals of the era? And –God help me- I still want to see Kevin Costner succeed on film. If it isn’t Costner and Harrelson, I cannot guarantee I’ll like this film at all. But Kevin Costner is the kind of actor who fully accepts that a younger version of himself would be better at the task at hand, yet the task at hand has not been given to a younger version of himself. There’s something romantic and uplifting and humble in that and The Highwaymen captures it well. This is not a film about Chris Hemsworth battling for the security of Valhalla. It’s a film about Odin realizing he has to pee 11 times a day, but he still has a job to do. I can appreciate The Highwaymen on that score; I fully realize that might not be what you’re looking for.
A lawman comes off the couch to face danger
To the game, he’s now a years-removed stranger
But he’ll get ‘em, dang it all
After downing Geritol
Make sure to use your walker, Texas Ranger
Rated R, 132 Minutes
Director: John Lee Hancock
Writer: John Fusco
Genre: Yet another police shooting
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: People nostalgic for an era of police unaccountability
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Fans of Bonnie & Clyde
