Bonnie and Clyde, is not just any other average movie; it in fact is the first movie to ever have been given the R-rating. In this movie, there are numerous shootouts, which are exemplified by the violent manner in which the movie ends. Bonnie and Clyde, the two main characters, are showered in a hailstorm of bullets in a scene that can be compared to the Vietnam War. In the movie, the anti-social lifestyle of the characters is hailed and characterized by binge drinking and chronic smoking. The movie highlights Bonnie as sexually frustrated with Clyde, who has no clue about sexual intimacy (Ebert, 2016). The overt eroticism covered and the detailed manner in which the two characters and their supporting cast embrace smoking and drinking, alongside the vile manner in which excessive violence is projected in this movie, makes the following review appropriate for an audience of 15+. Furthermore, the movie, in its entirety lacks any positive attributes.
Clyde Barrow, having recently been out of prison, has turned to bank robbery. He and Bonnie meet up when Clyde tries to steal Bonnie’s mother’s car. Bonnie at this time, is a dissatisfied small town girl, who is bored by her job as a waitress and as such, she is immediately impressed with Clyde, deciding to join up with him in his antics of lowlife crime. Their efforts, which could best be described as amateurish, fail to be as lucrative as Bonnie would have wanted (Filmsite.org 2016). Their criminal acts soon shift, taking on high gear as they meet up with C.W. Moss, who is a gas station attendant. After having committed quite a few bloodless crimes together, their turning point comes when they shoot a business man during a heist in his house. Forthwith, their crimes are violent. Soon, they are joined by Clyde’s brother Buck and his wife Blanche, who was a preacher’s daughter. Blanche and Bonnie would soon find themselves in a feud, with Blanche accusing Bonnie of continuing to manipulate her husband and brother-in-law. Conversely, Bonnie calls her a useless high-pitched shrew (Ebert, 2016).
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Bonnie and Clyde turn their attention to major banks, and their travails get even more violent. The group, calling themselves the “Barrow Gang”, are now feared as a danger to everyone. Consequently, they are now hunted by the law enforcement, including Texas Ranger Frank Hamer, who is well known for hunting and gunning down outlaws. Traps are laid down on how to capture this outlaw group and once in a raid, Buck is killed, Bonnie and Clyde are injured, and Blanche is left without sight. While in police custody, Blanche is tricked by Hamer into revealing Moss’s name, and they are tracked into their hiding place at the house of Moss’s father, who has a feeling that Bonnie and Clyde have corrupted his son. He strikes a deal with Hamer in exchange for a lesser sentence for Moss. Bonnie and Clyde are then ambushed on the road near Moss’s house, and their bodies are riddled with bullets in a classic blood birth (Filmsite.org 2016).
There are several scenes that characterize the happenings in this movie. For instance, the scene where Bonnie re-unites with her mother and family is important, as it foretells the imminent future for Bonnie together with the whole of the Barrow Gang. This scene has a misty atmosphere in it, and this reveals exactly the kind of reality that the gang and their families are living through. The relatively slow version in which its highlighted gives us an insight into this dangerous road that Bonnie and Clyde had chosen to take during the depression in the United States, showing that the ending is near and will be quite painful too (Ebert, 2016).
In this scene, there is the swaying and rustling of tree branches around the whole gathering, which shows that disaster is just around the corner for the Barrow Gang. We also see Bonnie and the rest of the gathering going through a family album, where they recollect past memories together. By doing this, the writer shows us that their time could soon be up and so, they are reliving their memories, at least for this one last time. As if in enhancement of the ‘ one last time’ idea in question, we see Bonnie hugging a family member, which is followed by Bonnie and Clyde acting as if they had been caught by the police, with their hands raised and with a gun pointed their way. This scene shows the irony in the whole matter, as they are doing exactly what is going to happen to them in the near future, where they will be gunned down (Ebert, 2016).
With regard to Filmsite.org, this movie was released in theaters on August 13 1967, and became available on DVD on May 5 2008 (2016). It is an action/drama, written by David Newman and Robert Benton, and directed by Arthur Penn. Its cast comprises of Warren Beatty as Clyde Barrow, Faye Dunaway as Bonnie Parker, Gene Hackman as Buck Barrow, Michael j. Pollard as C.W. Cross, Estelle parsons as Blanche, and Denver Pyle as Frank Hamer ( Filmsite.org. 2016). Bonnie and Clyde, apart from retelling the life of a couple who define their life with crime, it is conveying a strong message to its audience that in as much as many would want to view crime as an easier way to making money, the end always comes fast and with a lot of brutality. The movie puts across the moral value of honesty, where one would rather engage in a straightforward activity that’s accepted by the society to make, and truly deserve the fruits of their effort. It’s a no-brainer that I do recommend this movie for the said audience, for apart from the moral cues that are to be learnt as a result, it is a movie that will catch anyone’s attention, and influence their full attention to watch it all to the end without moving even an inch, as the story line is as captivating, in just as much as it is breathtaking.
The reason for picking upon this movie is the simple fact that it portrays a very important life lesson in a rather enjoyable, thrilling and eye-catching manner. Way better than a majority of other boring movies we are used to these days. The movie, though lacking any positive attributes throughout its entirety, is a reflection of the topic where Bonnie and Clyde decide to pursue a treacherous path in order to achieve their unfulfilled dreams. The topic, in the word perilous, is able to reflect the darkness in the choice of their ‘calling’ which in this case is a life of crime. It is a calling because they revert to it as the only means and solution to their shortcomings. The topic roundly culminates Bonnie and Clyde’s short stint at their calling which in the end, determines their path to death.
The movie is a classic act that goes beyond its reach and introduces violence and anti-social life into Hollywood, a thing that is embraced by other directors. In the movie, Beatty and Dunaway go about it in the best way. Beatty makes Clyde likable, with a silly smile forever fixed on his face. This is so even during their raids. Dunaway, perfectly plays her role as a sweet innocent girl who likes the feel of a gun in her hands. This comprised with how she politely asks for money is just out of this world (Filmsite.org 2016). The movie’s direction on the other hand, is just top class. One can feel the flow of the story and actually immerse themselves into the turn of events in the movie. The effects especially when the Barrow gang go to meet Bonnies family puts one in a trance by illuminating the whole purpose of the story.
References
Filmsite.org. (2016). Bonnie and Clyde (1967) . Retrieved 25 November 2016, from http://www.filmsite.org/bonn.html
Ebert, R. (2016). Bonnie and Clyde Movie Review (1967) | Roger Ebert . Rogerebert.com . Retrieved 25 November 2016, from http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bonnie-and-clyde-1967
