Plot
When a Midwest town learns that a corrupt railroad baron has captured the deeds to their homesteads without their knowledge...
Release Year: 2001
Rating: 5.7/10 (8,594 voted)
Critic's Score: 25/100
Director:
Les Mayfield
Stars: Colin Farrell, Scott Caan, Ali Larter
Storyline When a Midwest town learns that a corrupt railroad baron has captured the deeds to their homesteads without their knowledge, a group of young ranchers join forces to take back what is rightfully theirs. In the course of their vendetta, they will become the object of the biggest manhunt in the history of the Old West and, as their fame grows, so will the legend of their leader, a young outlaw by the name of Jesse James.
Writers: Roderick Taylor, Roderick Taylor
Cast: Colin Farrell
-
Jesse James
Scott Caan
-
Cole Younger
Ali Larter
-
Zerelda 'Zee' Mimms
Gabriel Macht
-
Frank James
Gregory Smith
-
Jim Younger
Harris Yulin
-
Thaddeus Rains, President Rock Northern Rail Road
Kathy Bates
-
Ma James
Timothy Dalton
-
Allan Pinkerton
Will McCormack
-
Bob Younger
Ronny Cox
-
Doc Mimms, Zee's Dad
Terry O'Quinn
-
Rollin H. Parker - Rains' Gopher
Nathaniel Arcand
-
Comanche Tom
Ty O'Neal
-
Clell Miller
Joe Stevens
-
Loni Packwood
Barry Tubb
-
Captain Malcolm
Taglines:
Sometimes the wrong side of the law is the right place to be.
Opening Weekend: $4,855,475
(USA)
(19 August 2001)
(2348 Screens)
Gross: $13,601,109
(Worldwide)
(2001)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia: Colin Farrell and the other cast members had to spend six weeks at a ranch, hanging out with cowboys and learning how to ride horses before filming began. Farrell rode a horse named Milagro while learning how to ride, and used that horse while shooting the film.
Goofs:
Anachronisms:
Throughout the film, Frank James is seen carrying out impressive long-range trick-shots with his Henry rifle. In actuality, one of the downsides of the Henry rifle was its dismal accuracy, as well as its short range compared to the more widely available rifle-muskets. Even modern reproductions are not recommended for hitting man-sized targets past 200 yards.
Quotes:
[first lines]
Cole:
Gatling! They got a Gatling gun! Bob:
Goddamn it Cole, this stopped bein' fun about two years ago!
User Review
Been there, done that...but never quite as bad.
Rating: 1/10
This film was held up for release more than once and now it's apparent why.
Dreck!!! This dressed up "B" oater is a sobering reminder of how really
well
done films used to be. Even the bad ones were better than this. While it
aspires to something profound and "hip", the overwrought and corny
dialogue,
the bombardment of cliches, and the horrid soundtrack and use of current
music (Moby in 1865? Puh-lease!!!) make it anything but. The script
smacks
of something that might have been written for Audie Murphy or Jeffrey
Hunter
in 1964 and soundly rejected. By comparison "Young Guns" looks like "The
Wild Bunch" (Yikes!!!). The filmmakers were apparently trying the "outlaw
as rock star" motif but Peckinpah's "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid" set a
high
water mark that handily drowns these guys. But, like "Billy" in the
earlier
work, everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, loves Jesse. It's sometimes hard to
tell who wants to sleep with him more; his brother Frank, partner Cole
Younger, or Zee Mimms, the purty gal he aims tuh marry. But fear not,
bible
thumpers, ain't no sinnin' goin' on here. Just good old-fashion killin'.
The only people sleeping together would be the audience. The bad guys love
him, too. They must, because whether it be at point blank range with a
pistol, or with a Gatling gun during a Civil War battle , they just can
seem
to want to hurt this guy. Either that, or they're close to being the worst
shots in film history. And woe be to those that do shoot at him 'cause all
Jesses's got to do is smile. See him smile and it's a guarantee that these
hombres ain't long for this world, by cracky. Remember the smile, folks,
it's integral to our hero's save-the-day and "this one's fer Ma" antics.
Les is a usually competent director and a nice guy to boot (old classmate
o'
mine). I hope he can recover from the savaging that the paid critics will
give him. If you want to see the James gang saga told in a good movie save
your money, stay at home, and checkout "The Great Northfield Minnesota
Raid"
or "The Long Riders".
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