Review of Bonnie and Clyde (1967) by Marilee A — 04 Jun 2011

Personal Score: 10/10.

Before The Godfather, Goodfellas, and other violent gangster films graced the screen, there was Bonnie and Clyde, a cinematic landmark and an all-around masterpiece of a film. It's widely known for its graphic violence, particularly the final scene where the anti-heroes meet their demise, but this film is far greater than amount of blood we see on the screen.

The film opens with the beautiful Bonnie Parker (the sultry siren Faye Dunaway), slinking around her room naked but looking immensely bored. She moves to get dressed but then sees a man outside her window who appears to be trying to steal her mother's car. She comes outside after speaking to him and finds out his name is Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty). He informs her that he just did time for armed robbery, which intrigues her but seems rather unbelievable. Clyde decides to prove it by pulling his gun and robbing a store, and then he takes Bonnie with him as he runs.

This eventful encounter with the young robber ignites a fire in Bonnie. These two young people see something to be gained in being together, not the least of these being their attraction to one another, but also a common restlessness. These two long for adventure and feel entitled to things the rich would take for granted. They stay together and embark on a journey that will make them famous, make them lovers, and ultimately kill them.

As they're on the run, they encounter a young man named C.W. Moss (Michael J. Pollard), who's done a little time and is good with cars, a helpful skill for two people who need to constantly change vehicles. He willingly goes with them. Together they all rob a bank, but things go wrong and a man gets killed by Clyde, so now the trio is on the run for murder, which will bring far more force than robbing banks.

Soon Bonnie, Clyde, and C.W. are joined by Clyde's brother Buck (the always excellent Gene Hackman) and his wife Blanch. It isn't long before the five of them are robbing banks and causing mayhem together as the Barrow Gang.

The group takes money and makes a name for themselves, but inevitably the law and bounty hunters catch up.

Bonnie and Clyde is one of the most beautifully shot films of its time. Even the scenes of violence, especially the final one, are treated like poetry in motion. The young lovers are treated with care and made into likeable, relatable people, but at the same time the facts about their deeds are never glorified. You know all along that these two will pay, and when it happens their is that sad feeling that while justice is necessary, it's often a sad thing. That's not to say this is a sad movie. It's a first rate crime film that's funny, wonderfully acted, and tremendously entertaining. But much like the days of Jesse James, there's a part of you that roots for the two robbers who steal from the filthy rich, perhaps even more so these days, and there's a sadness similar to when James met his fate when Bonnie and Clyde meet theirs.