Baytown Outlaws

The Baytown Outlaws is one of those films that come trailing the epithet "Tarantino-esque." The common denominator here is a cast of lowlifes waving their guns and talking trash. Throw in some over-the-top bad guys, some fancy camera moves and garish filters and, voila, we have Tarantino-esque. Or rather, we don't. What is ignored by these comparisons is that Tarantino always ensures he has rock solid foundations for his more outlandish flourishes.

So, if you're going to conjure up a gang of crazy-biker-chick-assassins dressed like Christina Aguilera circa-Dirrty, or dreadlocked road pirates driving a truck with a crow's nest, or Native American bikers who use bows-and-arrows and scalp their victims (did someone miss their cultural sensitivity training?), then at least make sure that their scenes are not a complete anti-climax. And don't rely on Billy Bob Thornton to save the picture with a performance that he quite literally phones in on his mobile.