Bonnie and Clyde

Within the first five minutes of Bonnie and Clyde, Clyde Barrow has met Bonnie Parker, they’ve robbed a shop, stolen a car and run away together. Nice. Pretty soon, they pick up a getaway driver, and not long after they hitch up with Clyde’s brother and his wailing wife. Together, the Barrow Gang go racing across the dustbowl of 1930’s Midwest, shooting stuff, attempting to rob banks and generally having a laugh to a bluegrass soundtrack. Of course, it all has to go horribly wrong. But until it does... it looks good, in that gauzy 60’s way. Faye Dunaway’s Bonnie could out-pout Bardot, and Warren Beatty makes a charming multiple murderer. However, the violence that was considered so shocking in 1967 seems very tame and bloodless in 2008, and the film is therefore unfortunately missing one of the driving forces it needs to keep a modern audience in its thrall. [Cara McGuigan]