We begin in 1934, with a bloody bit of foreshadowing. Anyone familiar with the story of Texas outlaws "Bonnie and Clyde" will know how this all ends. After the brief flash-forward, handsome saxophonist Emile Hirsch (as Clyde Barrow) introduced himself as narrator. When he was nine-year-old Gabriel Suttle (as Little Clyde),the future killer was gifted with "second sight" in the guise of a bout with fever. Among other things, this enables the little boy to "see" sexy adult Holliday Grainger (as Bonnie Parker) giving him come hither looks in slow-motion. The pivotal point in Bonnie's past appears to be her dismissal as an actress by Columbia Pictures. She receives a rejection letter and suffers a severely dramatic panic attack, which could have earned her a contract at a bigger studio. As fate dictates, Bonnie and Clyde team-up and paint the town red...

In the second half, we see more of older brother Lane Garrison (as Marvin "Buck" Barrow) and wife Sarah Hyland (as Blanche). The four look good together. Unhappy the Depression-era duo has become as popular as "Garbo and Gable," thickly-accented lawman William Hurt (as Frank Hamer) endeavors to catch them. While unwelcome as a story element, Clyde's "second sight" segments are highlights. Also noteworthy is a brief scene shot like a "hand-colored" postcard. Director Bruce Beresford and his crew artfully handle flying bullets, feathers and snowflakes. This successful TV adaptation was telecast over two evenings, 8 and 9 December 2103, on no less than three US networks - A&E, Lifetime and The History Channel. Airing it on the latter station should have come with a larger than usual disclaimer. Written by John Rice and Joe Batteer, it plays fast and loose with the facts...

The trend toward treating Bonnie as the duo's dominant half is continued. Moreover, she is treated as a feminist heroine. This is cemented in a scene where Ms. Grainger's Bonnie breaks into the home of female reporter Elizabeth Reaser (as Patricia "PJ" Lane). The gun-wielding outlaw praises Amelia Earnhardt and encourages Ms. Reaser to advance equality for female workers. Though highly questionable in accuracy, this sizzling scene one of the more effective in the drama. Conversely, Clyde's "complicated" relationship with another prisoner (reportedly, he beat the other man to death due to repeatedly being raped) is turned into a singular event. Arthur Penn's "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967) made hay (or no hay, actually) out of this in a more creative and open-ended fashion; although the sharing of a fattened bottle, herein, should count for something.

***** Bonnie & Clyde (12/8/13-12/9/13) Bruce Beresford ~ Emile Hirsch, Holliday Grainger, Lane Garrison, Sarah Hyland

Slick and Good Looking TV-Movie that has some Style and Swagger with a Performance by Holiday Grainger as Bonnie with a Doll-Like Look. She Persuasively Captures Her Transformation from Glory Hound to Delusional Psychosis. Emile Hirsch as Clyde is Rather Bland and let's Bonnie Steal the Show.

The Supporting Characters are OK with Holly Hunter and William Hurt doing Yeoman Work. The Romanticism is Relentless with Much Bedroom Bouncing and Pointed Pauses for Hugs and Kisses.

The Movie Decides to Make the Depression-Era Gangsters Appear as Their Perfumed Newspaper Personalities. Going from Folk-Heroes to Cold Blooded Killers with the Public Taking the Cue from the Propagandized and Opportunist Newspaper Reports.

This Accounts for the Inaccuracies in the Film because the Newspaper Accounts were Mostly Inaccurate Exploitations Feeding the Public what They Wanted to Read. Here the Mini-Series Makers are Feeding the Public what They Want to See.

Overall, Mostly Above Average with a bit too Much Uninteresting Filler (premonitions and ballet dancing) that Drags this Down from Anything More Aspirational than Fluff.

Note...The (1967) Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway Movie is a very popular and critically acclaimed Flashpoint Film of its Era.

This is a two part mini-series about the legendary Great Depression young criminals. I was hoping for a gritty realistic portrayal of these two icons. But it got a little too Twilight teen drama. The first part was close to being unwatchable, but the second part was salvaged by William Hurt, more gunplay, and better chemistry in the quartet.

Holliday Grainger is playing a hot Bonnie Parker with her ruby red lips. This is her movie. She's hamming it up. In this version, Bonnie gets tired of being 2nd fiddle, and pushes to get top billing as Bonnie and Clyde. Emile Hirsch doesn't have the energy as Clyde Barrow. He is overshadowed by Holliday. In fact, he's overshadowed by the more charismatic Lane Garrison as Buck Barrow. And William Hurt actually gave a sense of authority and substance in this otherwise romanticized fable. The series picks up in the second part. In that section, the quartet gets formed and they get chased by lawman Frank Hamer (William Hurt). The characters feel like they hit their stride. While the first part feels like a fumbling introduction. It never got to where I'd hope, but the second part salvages something from the mini-series.