There are tons of good films and there are also numerous great films, but there are relatively few motion pictures that are truly brilliant from start to finish. 1967's BONNIE AND CLYDE is so enriched into the collective conscious of American films that it is easy to take it for granted. An absolutely pitch-perfect combination of thrills, violence, and social commentary, the film is also surprisingly heartfelt and full of unexpected humor. Extremely daring for the time, not only for it's unrelenting nature of it's graphic violence, but also for it's progressively unbiased slant - Penn and Beatty ignore the dichotomous nature of most Hollywood films - they never judge nor condone the behavior of their subjects, but simply examine them as three-dimensional human beings.
The casting is flawless. This will sound like a silly statement from a publicist, but Beatty and Faye Dunaway are so much more than just beautiful individuals - they are true artists whom throw themselves into their work with reckless abandon. The Oscar-nominated star duo portrays the titular characters with such genuineness and authority that they have actually become Bonnie and Clyde to many film-goers around the world. And the supporting cast is equally top-notch, including first-rate work from Michael J. Pollard, Gene Hackman, Estelle Parsons (who won an Oscar for her hilariously shrill performance), and even a young Gene Wilder in a brief comedic bit.
The film was nominated for 10 Oscars in categories across the board, and won two. Although critical reaction was initially mixed upon the film's original release, the film is now highly regarded as a bonafide American film classic. Audiences responded immediately to the film, and the picture became the fourth highest-grosser of 1967. This film almost single-handedly (along with THE GRADUATE) revolutionized Hollywood and ushered in a whole new era of film-making. Its importance and influence cannot be underestimated.
The casting is flawless. This will sound like a silly statement from a publicist, but Beatty and Faye Dunaway are so much more than just beautiful individuals - they are true artists whom throw themselves into their work with reckless abandon. The Oscar-nominated star duo portrays the titular characters with such genuineness and authority that they have actually become Bonnie and Clyde to many film-goers around the world. And the supporting cast is equally top-notch, including first-rate work from Michael J. Pollard, Gene Hackman, Estelle Parsons (who won an Oscar for her hilariously shrill performance), and even a young Gene Wilder in a brief comedic bit.
The film was nominated for 10 Oscars in categories across the board, and won two. Although critical reaction was initially mixed upon the film's original release, the film is now highly regarded as a bonafide American film classic. Audiences responded immediately to the film, and the picture became the fourth highest-grosser of 1967. This film almost single-handedly (along with THE GRADUATE) revolutionized Hollywood and ushered in a whole new era of film-making. Its importance and influence cannot be underestimated.