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American Outlaws

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American Outlaws (2001)

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13 %
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Reviews Counted:100

Fresh:13

Rotten:87

Average Rating:3.6/10

Consensus: With corny dialogue, revisionist history, anachronistic music, and a generically attractive cast, American Outlaws is a sanitized, teenybopper version of Jesse James.

Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins

Genre: Westerns

Synopsis: Director Les Mayfield (BLUE STREAK) attempts to revamp the Western genre with yet another telling of the Jesse James story. This time around, James (Colin Farrell), older brother Frank (Gabriel... Director Les Mayfield (BLUE STREAK) attempts to revamp the Western genre with yet another telling of the Jesse James story. This time around, James (Colin Farrell), older brother Frank (Gabriel Macht), and companion Cole Younger (Scott Caan) have returned from the frontlines of the Civil War. Their peaceful Missouri existence is crudely shattered by the arrival of Thaddeus Rains (Harris Yulin), a railroad tycoon who demands that they give up their land for the railroad's benefit. When the boys refuse to cooperate, Rains turns Allan Pinkerton (Timothy Dalton) on them, resulting in a family tragedy that sparks a rebellion. It isn't long before Jessie, Frank, and Cole are off and running, robbing banks throughout the state in order to cut off the railroad's funding, and using their stolen money to feed the poor. In the meantime, Jessie remains intimate with his one true love, Zee Mimms (Ali Larter), hoping for an end to the madness that surrounds him. Mayfield's film balances comedy and action in equal measure, making for a lighthearted affair, even as the bodies continue to pile. Hollywood newcomer Farrell slips into the role--and accent--of the misunderstood legend with ease, delivering another highly engaging performance. [More]

Starring: Colin Farrell, Scott Caan, Ali Larter, Gabriel Macht

Starring: Colin Farrell, Scott Caan, Ali Larter, Gabriel Macht, Timothy Dalton, Will McCormack, Kathy Bates, Harris Yulin

Director: Les Mayfield

Director: Les Mayfield
Screenwriter: John W. Rogers, Roderick Taylor
Producer: James G. Robinson, Bill Gerber
Composer: Trevor Rabin
Studio: Warner Bros.

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Reviews for American Outlaws

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1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

The kind of film that will have you throwing your popcorn at the screen in disgust.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
12/17/01
Jamie Russell
Jamie Russell
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
01/06/02
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
12/13/01
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
12/15/03
Alexander Walker
Alexander Walker
This is London
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Provides a strong argument for the been-there, done-that Western genre to again sink back into obscurity.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
08/16/01
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide

One of those not-bad-not-good pictures.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
08/16/01
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Truly, those who do not remember Young Guns are condemned to remake it.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
08/20/01
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle

I'd rather suck the poison out of a rattlesnake fang than submit anyone to this drawn-out drawl fest.

Full Review Source: BeatBoxBetty.com | comment Comment
08/16/01
BeatBoxBetty.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A slick but mindless throwback to the kind of Western that reminds you what revisionist Westerns revised.

comment Comment
08/17/01
Jay Carr
Jay Carr
Boston Globe

So devoid of a narrative, it plays like a prolonged version of the Wild West stunt show at Knott's Berry Farm.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
08/20/01
Paul Clinton (Boxoffice)
Paul Clinton (Boxoffice)
Boxoffice Magazine

It has as little regard for truth as a truck driver does for gnats in his way on the interstate.

Full Review Source: Charlotte Observer | comment Comment
08/17/01
Lawrence Toppman
Lawrence Toppman
Charlotte Observer

When did cowboys become teen pop idols?

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
08/17/01
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The filmmakers have created a dull, one-dimensional pop icon out of James' complex character and legend.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
08/16/01
Robert K. Elder
Robert K. Elder
Chicago Tribune
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | comment Comment
10/15/02
Margaret A. McGurk
Margaret A. McGurk
Cincinnati Enquirer

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Signals | comment Comment
11/27/01
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

A Western for teens who've never seen one, made by people who've only ever seen Young Guns.

Full Review Source: Citysearch | comment Comment
08/17/01
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Citysearch

A good-natured western for people who don't particularly like westerns.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
08/14/01
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

The corny script ... intersects only tangentially with history.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
08/16/01
Jane Sumner
Jane Sumner
Dallas Morning News

For a period piece, this film is horrifyingly anachronistic.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
08/17/01
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
all

Latest News for American Outlaws

June 05, 2001: Another example of the 'old story, young cast' formula that has been more and more common in recent years. Opens in new window
More...

June 05, 2001: Working in the studio's favor is the casting of Farrell -- who went from zero to must have hot young thing in 2.7 seconds after starring in last year's Vietnam era drama Tigerland. Opens in new window
More...

June 05, 2001: Red-hot Irishman Farrell stars as the young Jesse James, who leads his pretty-boy posse against a scheming railroad baron. Opens in new window
More...

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