The Baytown Outlaws
2012
Lleju Productions / State Street Pictures : Phase 4 Films / Universal Pictures
7.25 / 10
This movie just goes to prove that even if you have a fantastic and talented cast you still may only come out with a mediocre product. I did say product as this feels as though the director Barry Battles was aiming to create a cult film. When will they learn, cult films aren't created... they are born...
It's this feeling that Battles was trying so hard to create something visually stunning, fashionable, and iconic that deprives the film of atmosphere and emotion.
The story that Battles and his writing partner, Griffin Hood, come up with is a classic damsel in distress, with a few action-packed twists. The three outlaw brothers, Brick, McQueen, and Lincoln Oodie (portrayed brilliantly by Clayne Crawford, Travis Fimmell, and Daniel Cudmore respectively) are just on the wrong side of the law. However, their felonious escapades usually end up helping to deminish the criminal element in town so Sheriff Millard (played stoically by Andre Braugher), turns a blind eye... it also helps that they sometimes work for him. Then one day they meet Celeste (Eva Longoria) who hires them to go and get her son Rob away from Carlos (Billy Bob Thornton), who is holding him captive.
Unbeknown to them, Carlos is a major drug dealer, so when they rescue Rob from him they are instantly on his hit list. Carlos proceeds to send out gang after gang of murderous cutthroats to kill the brothers and bring the boy back to him.
With a cast this good and a story so strong this should have been a magnificently enjoyable action-packed romp. However, it falls flat and I can only believe it's down to the direction of Battles as well as his desire to create something different. As I stated previously, all this leaves the film lacking ambiance and leaves it wanting.
The cast and the story do carry the film and keep it from falling too far into banality. If it's bad outside or your off work ill then this is a decent way to waste a few minutes of your time.
It's this feeling that Battles was trying so hard to create something visually stunning, fashionable, and iconic that deprives the film of atmosphere and emotion.
The story that Battles and his writing partner, Griffin Hood, come up with is a classic damsel in distress, with a few action-packed twists. The three outlaw brothers, Brick, McQueen, and Lincoln Oodie (portrayed brilliantly by Clayne Crawford, Travis Fimmell, and Daniel Cudmore respectively) are just on the wrong side of the law. However, their felonious escapades usually end up helping to deminish the criminal element in town so Sheriff Millard (played stoically by Andre Braugher), turns a blind eye... it also helps that they sometimes work for him. Then one day they meet Celeste (Eva Longoria) who hires them to go and get her son Rob away from Carlos (Billy Bob Thornton), who is holding him captive.
Unbeknown to them, Carlos is a major drug dealer, so when they rescue Rob from him they are instantly on his hit list. Carlos proceeds to send out gang after gang of murderous cutthroats to kill the brothers and bring the boy back to him.
With a cast this good and a story so strong this should have been a magnificently enjoyable action-packed romp. However, it falls flat and I can only believe it's down to the direction of Battles as well as his desire to create something different. As I stated previously, all this leaves the film lacking ambiance and leaves it wanting.
The cast and the story do carry the film and keep it from falling too far into banality. If it's bad outside or your off work ill then this is a decent way to waste a few minutes of your time.
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