Gangster tale told from the viewpoint of the bad guys. Lots of charm spewing from the screen as BONNIE AND CLYDE captures Depression-era America, its people and country. The more time you spend watching from the view of the bad guy the more you feel for them: movies seem to work like that as it always seems to go that way if you tell the story from the good guy perspective. Kewl scene when Bonnie meets Clyde, Clyde almost seems as if he'll rob a store just to get a girl. But I won't overpraise the film as it does depart from the facts from time to time and the director can be accused of glorifying villainry. What makes the film work best is the type of people it treats: we are drawn in when someone defies the law as if something deep within us wanted to experience ourselves doing that while the other part of us will not allow it. We are really looking at and probing ourselves when we delight in the criminal nature of Bonnie and Clyde. Ending leaves you speechless. [4.6 stars]
I agree with your assessment. There really is something compelling about the film's point of view and its ability to tap into an authentic spirit of rebelliousness in all of us. And I like your taking note of the "courtship" scene between Bonnie and Clyde wherein Clyde views petty theft as being an appropriate way to woo a girl.
ReplyDeleteAdored readers can see more of Ken's reviews at lecinema blog
Delete