American Outlaws/Young Guns 2

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Candidates for rope neckties thats what railroad barons think of Jesse James and his gang. But to folks in Liberty, Missouri, these hard-riding youths are something far different. Theyre heroes who save Liberty from a railroads land-grab scheme. Colin Farrell (as Jesse) and Scott Caan are ready for dust-and-thunder action in the revisionist Western American Outlaws (Side A). A legend is forged in a blaze of glory when Billy the Kid (Emilio Estevez) and his outlaw pals (Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Christian Slater) strap on sidearms for Young Guns II (Side B). Billy figures Mexico offers the haven he seeks. But wherever the Kid goes, a fateful shadow follows. Sheriff Pat Garrett (William Petersen), who once rode with Billy, is on his trail.

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Features:
  • cc
  • American Outlaws: Commentary by director Les Mayfield, co-writer John Rogers and editor Michael Tronick
  • Additional scenes
  • 4 making-of featurettes
  • Storyboards, production stills, artwork and publicity galleries
  • Cast & crew biographies and film highlights
  • DVD-ROM PC enhanced features: Screenplay viewer with storyboards, original website and weblinks
  • Young Guns II: Making-of featurette
  • Theatrical trailer

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Nominated Best Song - 1990 (Jon Bon Jovi)

• Hollywood Foreign Press Association

•     Won Best Original Song - 1990 (Jon Bon Jovi)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Colin Farrell - Jesse James
       Kiefer Sutherland - Doc Scurlock
       Ali Larter - Zee Mimms
       Christian Slater - Arkansas Dave Rudabaugh
       Gregory Smith - Jim Younger
       Alan Ruck - Hendry French
       R.D. Call - D.A. Ryerson
       Kathy Bates - Ma James
       Balthazar Getty - Tom O'Folliard
       Jack Kehoe - Ashmun Upson
       Terry O'Quinn - Rollin Parker
       Nathaniel Arcand - Comanche Tom
       Adam Taylor - Bounty Hunter

• Director:

  Les Mayfield, Geoff Murphy

• Producer:

  James G. Robinson, Bill Gerber, Gary Barber, David Nicksay

• Screenwriter:

  Roderick Taylor, John Rogers, John Fusco

• Cinematographer:

  Russell Boyd, Dean Semler

• Composer (Music Score):

  Trevor Rabin

• Songwriter:

  Jon Bon Jovi

• Composer (Music Score):

  Alan Silvestri

• Editor:

  Michael Tronick, Bruce Green

• Production Designer:

  Cary White, Gene Rudolf

• Art Director:

  Christa Munro

• Co-producer:

  David C. Robinson, Paul Schiff, Irby Smith

• Associate Producer:

  Dixie J. Capp

• Executive Producer:

  Jonathan A. Zimbert, John Fusco, James G. Robinson, Joe Roth

• Set Designer:

  Andrew Bernard

• Costume Designer:

  Luke Reichle, Judy Ruskin

• Makeup:

  Jeanne Van Phue

• Special Effects:

  Peter M. Chesney, Image Engineering, David Anderson

• Stunts:

  James M. Halty, Mickey Gilbert

• Casting:

  Michael Chinich

REVIEW:

• Quite the cheery revisionist history of the life of Jesse James, the delayed release American Outlaws doubles as a Young Guns for the next generation, both in its righteous-outlaw structure and matinee-idol function. Whether the moviegoing public needs either project is doubtful. After a brief revival in the 1990s, westerns had again become a yawn by the early 21st century, especially those featuring a cast of poor man's alternatives to charismatic stars. Director Les Mayfield treats every robbery, shootout or narrow escape from the gallows as a chance for the actors to crack jokes and peddle their charm. This framework prevents the movie from developing a sense of weight or momentum, which might be okay if it were funny enough. It also entirely recasts James as an essential pacifist and darn fine gentleman to boot, a decision designed to propel Colin Farrell toward maximum heroic stardom. But Mayfield's dishonest interpretation of the character panders to the audience, undercutting Farrell and doing little for the other small-timers (Ali Larter and Scott Caan) trying to leapfrog to the next level. As the action goes, only one clever stunt along the outside of a train stakes claim to original choreography. American Outlaws was pushed back from a spring 2001 release to the dumping grounds of late August to avoid competition with Texas Rangers -- a worse disaster of a movie that ended up getting shelved for more than a year anyway. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi