Bonnie & Clyde Review

Bonnie and Clyde ( Warner Brothers, 1967) directed by Arthur Penn revolves around two partners and their adventures in traveling around central U.S. robbing banks in hopes of becoming rich and famous.  Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) is a young woman who is fed up with her job as a waitress meets Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) who happens to be in the midst of stealing her mother’s car develop a special relationship. When Bonnie meets Clyde she instantly develops an attraction towards him especially for his bold and audacious nature that she soon decides to follow him in hopes of turning her life around to find adventure and true love.

Along their journey the duo hook up with a man by C.W. Moss (Michael J. Pollard) who they encounter at a gas station and later with Clyde’s older brother Buck (Gene Hackman) and his wife, Blanche (Estelle Parsons) who is the daughter of a preacher. Small crimes that Bonnie and Clyde had once committed in stealing from a grocery store have now escalated with the help of more people. The “Barrow Gang” the group would call themselves, in the process of robbing banks has now started to kill anyone who would stand in their way.

The scene in the film where Bonnie reunites with her mother and family is a significant scene in the film because it foreshadows the future for Bonnie as well as the rest of the gang. In this scene the colors of the film becomes misty and dream like as well as the atmosphere among the Barrow Gang and Bonnie’s family. There is this bittersweet feeling that develops in this scene due to multiple takes of long shots as well as its relatively slow paced nature. Bonnie and Clyde’s initial decision to drive down a dangerous and violent road of crime in a time of depression conveys that there will be no happy ending as well as an ultimate road of doom for them both.

There is no denial that the road Bonnie, Clyde and the rest of the gang are going down is unacceptable to society.  It is not only against the law and proves to be dangerous, however, their bold and daring nature to decide to rob banks in a time where there is a depression is not a wise choice. And although we the audience are able to perceive these characters through understanding and accepting eyes we realize that these individuals have committed huge sins. Despite this fact we also continue to sympathize with these characters till the very end and their demise. All in all, this movie will forever go down as a classic that I recommend everyone should watch at least once.