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Movies / On DVD / American Outlaws
American Outlaws

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American Outlaws (2001)

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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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41 - 60 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Lazy storytelling at its worst, so disposable it is likely to be forgotten before it even reaches the end.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
08/17/01
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

It makes a viewer feel like an investor in one of the banks Jesse James hit.

Full Review Source: Lawrence Journal-World | comment Comment
08/17/01
Dan Lybarger
Dan Lybarger
Lawrence Journal-World

The latest retelling of their saga is a lot like many other movies. A lot.

Full Review Source: Nitrate Online | comment Comment
08/17/01
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
Nitrate Online

I'm not sure how dumb it was supposed to be, but laughing at it -- if not with it -- is a good enough way to spend 94 minutes.

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
08/17/01
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

Just never quickens your pulse.

Full Review Source: Eclipse Magazine | comment Comment
08/17/01
Sean O'Connell
Sean O'Connell
Eclipse Magazine

There's no escaping the hackneyed plot or Mayfield's conventional hand.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
08/17/01
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post

So brainless it's a wonder it can find its own ending.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
08/17/01
Stephen Hunter
Stephen Hunter
Washington Post

A weak whinny of a horse opera tailor-made for those who can't quite locate Young Guns or The Long Riders in their video store.

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
08/17/01
Susan Wloszczyna
Susan Wloszczyna
USA Today

Ol' Jesse James has sure seemed a lot of things in a lot of movies: crazy, heroic, desperate, psychotic, villain and victim. But dadburnit if he's ever been this cute.

Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
08/17/01
Geoff Pevere
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star

A guilty romp that doesn't take itself seriously.

Full Review Source: Seattle Times | comment Comment
08/17/01
Melanie McFarland
Melanie McFarland
Seattle Times

The movie has a certain faith in itself and lack of pretension that gradually wins you over.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
08/17/01
William Arnold
William Arnold
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

This film won't play far beyond the target audience.

Full Review Source: Screen It! | comment Comment
08/17/01
Jim Judy
Jim Judy
Screen It!

This plot leaves ample room for viewers to sweat the small stuff, like whether Trevor Nunn's score is more Marines ad or deodorant commercial.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
08/17/01
Wesley Morris
Wesley Morris
San Francisco Chronicle

The script is juvenile and the interplay between the cast members is stale.

Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | comment Comment
08/17/01
Jessica Yadegaran
Jessica Yadegaran
San Diego Union-Tribune

A youth-oriented action romp with minimal interest in the classic myth or real-life history.

Full Review Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | comment Comment
08/17/01
Jack Garner
Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Entertains the way a summer matinee movie should, with an agreeable blend of romance, action, humor, and a likeable cast.

Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment Comment
08/17/01
Mary Kalin-Casey
Mary Kalin-Casey
Reel.com

As a western, American Outlaws is an utter failure. As the basis of a Mad TV parody, it is an unintentional hoot.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer | comment Comment
08/17/01
Carrie Rickey
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer

A Jesse James bio so gloriously dumb, so vapidly MTV that when its gunslingers die, they probably go to Bootylicious Hill.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Daily News | comment Comment
08/17/01
Gary Thompson
Gary Thompson
Philadelphia Daily News

Silly, insipid and, most tragically, dishonest and revisionist.

Full Review Source: Ottawa Citizen | comment Comment
08/17/01
Paul Gessell
Paul Gessell
Ottawa Citizen

Aspires to be a Young Guns for the Eminem generation. They deserve better.

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
08/17/01
Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
 
 
41 - 60 (sorted by date; 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...

See All

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