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The Newton Boys Details

1997 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 505 members

Texas filmmaker Richard Linklater's lighthearted Western tells the true story of the Newton brothers, who are regarded as the most successful bank robbers in the history of the United States. The time is the early 1920s and the place is Texas. When Willis Newton (Matthew McConaughey) returns from a four-year stint in prison, he .. Read more

Starring Skeet Ulrich, Ethan Hawke, Matthew McConaughey, Vincent D'Onofrio
Director Richard Linklater
Genres Action/Adventure, Drama

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The Newton Boys

Texas filmmaker Richard Linklater's lighthearted Western tells the true story of the Newton brothers, who are regarded as the most successful bank robbers in the history of the United States. The time is the early 1920s and the place is Texas. When Willis Newton (Matthew McConaughey) returns from a four-year stint in prison, he quickly falls into a life of bank robbing. Excited by the prospects of stealing even more money, he recruits his three brothers--the charming Jess (Ethan Hawke), the sensitive Joe (Skeet Ulrich), and the brutish Dock (Vincent D'Onofrio)--and ace safecracker Brentwood Glasscock (Dwight Yoakam) to help him ravage the country's banks, as long as no one gets hurt. Along the way, Willis meets and falls in love with Louise Brown (Julianna Margulies), a single mother living in Omaha. Eventually, greed gets the better of the gang and they set their sights on a federal train that is transporting three million dollars in cash and bonds. Linklater's film is an affable and sweet affair, with a good-natured tone that greatly mimics the Newton brothers themselves. Linklater alumni McConaughey and Hawke headline the all-star cast, while music by the Bad Livers keeps the atmosphere breezy throughout.

Starring Skeet Ulrich, Ethan Hawke, Matthew McConaughey, Vincent D'Onofrio, Dwight Yoakam, Miriam Margolyes
Director Richard Linklater
Studio 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 57 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Action/Adventure, Drama
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 19 Jul 2004
Production year: 1997
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (3) of The Newton Boys

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    In the early 1920s, the four Texan-born Newton brothers were the most successful bank robbers in history. Slacker director Richard Linklater gives this little-known piece of Americana a very pumped-up modern spin and crafts a well constructed, highly entertaining romantic adventure. Matthew McConaughey, Skeet Ulrich, Ethan Hawke and Vincent D'Onofrio make the boys a personable bunch with their differing traits, and Dwight Yoakam's portrayal of a nervous explosives expert is a blast. The end credits feature actual clips of the Newtons.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • After the 'day in the life' indie quartet (Slacker, Dazed and Confused, Before Sunrise, SubUrbia) this was supposed to... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • Most helpful member's review of The Newton Boys

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  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Good fun

    This is a well made and enjoyable Western, with a really good cast. The characters are all believable and charming in their own ways, which is probably Linklater's forte. You're actually on their side all the way, despite the fact that they're motivated by greed..

    It's kind of hard to criticise what's there, as I think it's really more a case of what isn't. While it's certainly enjoyable throughout, it lacks a certain kind of fizz or electricity and there aren't really many moments that are genuinely exciting. Maybe it's affected somewhat by being based on real events, as it feels at times like it's just showing you what happened rather than embellishing on it a bit more. I also find that the end footage of one of the real life Newton's kind of belies the charm of the original character, and was maybe a mis-step on Linklater's part. Overall though it's an enjoyable tale, and well told.. just don't expect fireworks.

    • FutureMan
      • FutureMan from London
      • Posted 31 May 2008 17:04

  • Most recent members' review of The Newton Boys

    View all
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Good fun

    This is a well made and enjoyable Western, with a really good cast. The characters are all believable and charming in their own ways, which is probably Linklater's forte. You're actually on their side all the way, despite the fact that they're motivated by greed..

    It's kind of hard to criticise what's there, as I think it's really more a case of what isn't. While it's certainly enjoyable throughout, it lacks a certain kind of fizz or electricity and there aren't really many moments that are genuinely exciting. Maybe it's affected somewhat by being based on real events, as it feels at times like it's just showing you what happened rather than embellishing on it a bit more. I also find that the end footage of one of the real life Newton's kind of belies the charm of the original character, and was maybe a mis-step on Linklater's part. Overall though it's an enjoyable tale, and well told.. just don't expect fireworks.

    • FutureMan
      • FutureMan from London
      • Posted 31 May 2008 17:04

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Rating breakdown

505 Member ratings
  • 100
19
  • 90
22
  • 80
42
  • 70
63
  • 60
123
  • 50
84
  • 40
64
  • 30
44
  • 20
29
  • 10
15

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      • Texas filmmaker Richard Linklater's lighthearted Western tells the true story of the Newton brothers, who are regarded as the most successful bank robbers in the history of the United States. The ...