American Outlaws (2001) (PG-13) ★½
In what proves to be another clichéd Western about a bunch of good-looking young guns, American Outlaws gives its own rendition of the story of the legendary Jesse James.
Story
Jesse James (Colin Farrell), his brother Frank (Gabriel Macht) and his cousins Bob (Will McCormack) and Cole Younger (Scott Caan) come back to their farms in Missouri after fighting for the South in the Civil War. Yet, when they return, they find a corrupt railroad baron, Thaddeus Rains (Harris Yulin), has captured the deeds to their homes to build his railroad. When Rains uses unnecessary force to get them off the land, James and his comrades set out to ruin Rains and his plans and seek the ultimate revenge. They become the infamous James-Younger gang, led by the charismatic James, who rob banks and blow up railways. As Rains and his henchman Pinkerton (Timothy Dalton) launch the biggest manhunt of the Old West, James starts to lose interest in the gang's activities as a rivalry between he and Cole springs up and as he falls in love with the beautiful Zee Mimms (Ali Larter). But can James escape justice?
Acting
Irish-born Farrell has certainly been making a name for himself especially with his buzzed-about performance in last year's indie fave Tigerland. Unfortunately, he chose to make this film rather than something a little more challenging. He does a nice job playing the legendary outlaw--and he looks pretty damn good doing it--but the part doesn't require much. However, all the boys, including Macht as Frank James, Caan as Cole Younger and McCormack as Bob Younger actually join Farrell in trying to flesh out real characters rather than cardboard cutouts--and nearly succeed. The camaraderie between them may have been carried off-screen as well. However, the rest of the cast doesn't necessarily follow suit. Dalton is dull as Pinkerton, with an unrecognizable accent, and Larter really doesn't have a clue what she's doing, although next to Farrell she looks fetching. Anyone would.
Direction
The main problem with the film, once again, didn't have much to do with the acting--but everything to do with the terribly clichéd script. All the great acting in the world can't help trite dialogue and predictable plot lines. And these young actors certainly can't rise above the material. When Mama James (played by the completely wasted Kathy Bates) prays, her son comments, "her talking to the Lord is not what worries me, it's that He talks back." Clever, very clever. Face it, the western genre is a dying breed. Anyone remember the really bad 1990 Young Guns? The Academy Award-winning Unforgiven may have been the last great and original Western to come out of Hollywood. Or maybe they finally need to put the Jesse James story to rest. Sure, the infamous character makes a compelling antihero, but it's been given the big-screen treatment too many times to count. It's time to give it up.
Bottom Line
We are giving one star for this uninspiring western about a popular outlaw we are really tired of hearing about but we are giving a ½ star to actor Farrell, who manages to come out of the film smelling sweet.
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