Stars: Colin Farrell, Scott Caan, Ali Larter, Gabriel Macht, Kathy Bates, Timothy Dalton

Director: Les Mayfield

Summary: A group of young ranchers join forces when a corrupt baron gets hold of the deeds of their homes. The legend of their leader, Jesse James, is about to begin...

Director Les Mayfield (BLUE STREAK) attempts to revamp the Western genre with yet another telling of the Jesse James story. This time around, James (Colin Farrell), older brother Frank (Gabriel Macht), and companion Cole Younger (Scott Caan) have returned from the frontlines of the Civil War. Their peaceful Missouri existence is crudely shattered by the arrival of Thaddeus Rains (Harris Yulin), a railroad tycoon who demands that they give up their land for the railroad's benefit. When the boys refuse to cooperate, Rains turns Allan Pinkerton (Timothy Dalton) on them, resulting in a family tragedy that sparks a rebellion. It isn't long before Jessie, Frank, and Cole are off and running, robbing banks throughout the state in order to cut off the railroad's funding, and using their stolen money to feed the poor. In the meantime, Jessie remains intimate with his one true love, Zee Mimms (Ali Larter), hoping for an end to the madness that surrounds him. Mayfield's film balances comedy and action in equal measure, making for a lighthearted affair, even as the bodies continue to pile. Hollywood newcomer Farrell slips into the role--and accent--of the misunderstood legend with ease, delivering another highly engaging performance.

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At least the 20th screen version of the criminal career of Jesse James, American Outlaws, is also perhaps the least historically accurate, which wouldn't matter as much if it were more spirited and distinctive. Taking its cues from the Young Gunsfilms rather than, say, the more realistic The Long Ridersor Ride with the Devil, the movie presents pretty boy stars as larger-than-life, good-hearted outlaws and races through a lot of storyline without making much of an impression.

Colin Farrell, liable to be a huge star in the next five years, is a handsome, devil-may-care Jesse, taking the reins between his teeth and firing with both hands, but he has little material to work with, while Timothy Dalton does a very strange Scotch accent as Allen Pinkerton, the security expert hired by the evil railroad to bring in the James-Younger gang. It has the full complement of brawls, robberies, escapes, battles, train wrecks, explosions and barroom roistering--including the riding-a-horse-through-a-window bit featured in all earlier Jesse James movies--but feels like a cramped TV movie rather than an epic biopic. Attempting to be a crowd-pleaser, it goes for a happy ending rather than the tragic shot-in-the-back finish, but that just means that its high spirits feel forced and unconvincing.

On the DVD:American Outlawshas a nice range of extras for such a minor film, including two deleted scenes, five behind the scenes "featurettes" (one not-very-hidden "hidden feature") and a commentary track by director Les Mayfield, writer John Rogers and editor Michael Tronick that may be a bit too pleased with itself, but offers a lively and entertaining account of the making of the film. --Kim Newman

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Audio Commentary, Featurettes - 1. BEHIND THE SCENES, 2. CREATING THE OLD WEST, 3. HOW TO BE AN OUTLAW, 4. COSTUMING THE COWBOYS, Deleted Scenes, Trailer, Easter Egg
Year:	2001
Release Date:	June 24, 2002
Runtime:	93 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	D 022343
Keywords:	American, Outlaws, Westerns
Genre:	Westerns