The Newton Boys: 8 BEERS (Major problems)

The Newton Boys are the best bank robbers you've never heard of, probably because they were nice country boys that never killed anyone. Willis Newton (Matthew McConaughey) gets out of prison in the early 1920's and is soon involved in an unsuccessful bank robbery. It's through this botched job that he meets Brentwood Glasscock (Dwight Yoakam), a nitroglycerine expert. Willis soon recruits his brothers Jess (Ethan Hawke) and Joe (Skeet Ulrich) to join him and Glasscock is a series of night bank robberies. The crew is soon united with the fourth Newton brother Dock (Vincent D'Onofrio). During all of this Willis meets Louise Brown (Julianna Margulies), who works at a newspaper stand, and the two hit it off. Since the boys are spending as much as they steal they decide to go for one final big score, a train in Illinois.

You'd think that a movie about 1920's bank robbers would have some action and excitement but you would be wrong. The Newton Boys is a boring movie. There are about 30 minutes of action and robberies, the rest is a pointless waste consisting mainly of the relationship between Willis and Louis. The rest of the group spend their time drinking. There isn't even any character developement in the wasted 90 minutes, beyond that they are all nice guys who won't kill or rat anyone out. McConaughey gives a good performance as the ringleader, but that is all for naught because the rest of the movie is so unproductive. The best part of the movie is during the closing credits when Johhny Carson interviews one of the real Newton's. If you're seeking a film capable of entertainment, look else where because The Newton Boys does not have it.

Official Newton Boys Page

Photo from Fox