Review: Hatfields And McCoys Is The Western Equivalent Of Lord Of The Rings.
- Apr 8, 2017
- 2 min read
Inspired by true events that nearly sparked a war between Kentucky and West Virginia, Hatfields And McCoys is not only the greatest work Kevin Costner has ever done but also one of the greatest westerns ever put to screen.
Anse Hatfield (Kevin Costner) and Randall McCoy (Bill Paxton) have gone their separate ways at the end of the Civil War, though not on friendly terms. Following a drawn out battle, Anse deserted, preferring to spend whatever days he had left with his family rather than waiting for what seemed like an inevitable death. Randall however, stayed and fought, spending the last days of the war alone and in prison. When a small issue opens a chasms between the two families who once were friends the problems continue to grow until all out war is on the horizon.
Hatfields And McCoys is a true western epic. At almost 5 hours long, spread over three episodes, it covers almost every aspect you see in the movies. Romance, law, shootouts, gunslingers, feuding and frontier justice are all on display as is some excellent acting from the leads.
Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton shine here. Both give stellar performances with Costner winning multiple awards for his performance. He has a screen presence that is on par with Clint Eastwood's Man With No Name and gives a truly memorable performance. Paxton on the other hand, portrays a character that shifts throughout the series, displaying a range not often seen. The length of the series allows each character to be fully developed, something most movies don't have. They play off each so well that it pulls you in and doesn't let you go. Tom Berenger, Powers Boothe, Boyd Holbrook, Ronan Vibert and Andrew Howard round out the majority of the supporting cast with varied rogues and scoundrels, each of which are thoroughly entertaining.
It's the only series in which Iboth loved and hated every character, no one is wholly good or evil and it works incredibly well. People make choices that at the time seem obvious but later on have disastrous results. Characters die, bonds are broken and battles are fought and it's very well done indeed. There's a strong focus on the law, not the law of the gun and the gunslinger but due process, courtrooms and judges, juries and, where necessary, the executioner. It's something that isn't often seen but helps to flesh out the world and brings another level to the series.
Hatfields And McCoys is epic in scale and in quality. As a miniseries it's excellently well done, as an adaptation of a true story, it's incredible. I wholeheartedly recommend it, without a doubt.
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