In the tradition of such as the James, Daltons, and Doolins of the previous century, the Newton Brothers who hailed from Uvalde, Texas were more in that tradition as they robbed banks and such throughout the middle part of the USA in the post World War I years. The Newtons are played by Matthew McConaughey, Skeet Ulrich, Ethan Hawke, and Vincent D'Onofrio. Watching them on the screen I kept thinking of that theme from the Dukes Of Hazard, "just some good old boys, meaning no harm".

Especially McConaughey who is the leader and brains of the outfit. He just oozes country boy charm. It serves him in very good stead when the Newtons are standing before the bar of justice. It also serves him well in courting Julianna Margulies who in that other country tradition stands by her man though she has to do some thinking on it.

Like the other family outlaw gangs of the west, the Newtons had their associates, though for them none like Bob Ford. Like the James Brothers they tried to switch to trains. It was that switch to trains that led to their downfall and a close call for one of the brothers. For the Newtons that train robbery was the equivalent of what happened to the James gang after the Northfield, Minnesota bank job. One of them nearly doesn't make it.

No one was ever killed during a Newton caper a fact that stood them in good stead at trial. The sentencing hearing with McConaughey is also outstanding.

I liked Vincent D'Onofio who is the most rebellious of the brothers. He'd be going the outlaw way even without family support.

The Newton Boys does very well in depicting post World War I in rural America. American agriculture after the boom of World War prices for food abroad and for the troops never shared in the Roaring Twenties boom for the city folk. This film depicts that fact very well.

The four players who depict the Newtons and the rest of the cast are set perfectly in their roles. One thing about the Newtons I have to say is that the film is done with style in the way they did their crimes.

The story of the Newton gang, the most successful bank robbers in history, thanks to their good planning and minimal violence.

Although I am more well-versed than the average person on organized crime and the gangster era, I confess I had not heard of the Newton Gang prior to watching this film. This may be because they were from Texas, which falls outside of traditional history... but either way, this is a hole that needs rectifying.

The film is excellent. Apparently reviews were mixed and it did not do very well, today considered one of Richard Linklater's failures. That is a shame, because it has a solid cast (even a rarely-seen Skeet Ulrich) and a fun, adventurous plot. Hopefully following the Oscar buzz with "Boyhood" (2014),people will go back and revisit some of Linklarer's work. It is not all amazing, but most of it is worth checking out.

It's 1919 Texas. After three years of incarceration for stealing, Willis Newton (Matthew McConaughey) gets into robbing banks and recruits his brothers Joe (Skeet Ulrich) and Jess (Ethan Hawke) into the business. Joe is reluctant, wanting clean living. Brentwood Glasscock (Dwight Yoakam) is the explosive expert. They are joined by escape convict brother Dock (Vincent D'Onofrio). Willis takes a liking to single mom Louise Brown (Julianna Margulies).

Director Richard Linklater is trying his hand at a different genre. He doesn't bring any intensity or edginess. It feels a bit lightweight. He's able to up his visual game but it's not good enough. It's almost a throwback to an earlier film era but it doesn't have the drama. These actors are all individually good. This could be a great movie if Linklater gets a darker edge.