The Highwaymen (Netflix) - 3/5

This movie is a solid entry in the dustbowl crime documentary genre, but nothing more. The central performances from Kevin Costner, Woody Harrelson, and the legendary Kathy Bates are wonderful, of course, but the plot is more informative than it is interesting. It has an older style of pacing which works well with the subject matter and setting, and will likely play better with older audiences than the younger, more mentally kinetic crowd. The violence is kept to a minimum, with the act always off-screen or in the distance and the emphasis lingering instead on nearby characters’ reactions. If you like the story, setting, or even just the actors it’s worth a watch, but it’s not likely to be anyone’s favorite movie.

Closest comparison: It’s like a pared-down roadshow Untouchables.

Setting > Mystery > Detective
Plot > Adventure > Buddy Cop
Tone > Drama > Biography

Wyatt Earp (1994) - 2/5

This movie is disappointing to say the least. With writer/director Lawrence Kasdan (of Empire Strikes Back fame) and Kevin Costner in the title role, this should have been great. Unfortunately, it’s just a longer version of Tombstone, which came out the year before. Clocking in at over three and a half hours, there’s no excuse for it to be as boring as it is. For it being essentially the same story it’s a shame that everything is better in Tombstone, from the casting of Wyatt Earp to Doc Holliday, from the pacing to Kevin Costner’s own performance in both films. It’s not terrible, it’s just not worth watching.

Hidden Figures (2017) - 4/5

This is a heartwarming family-based movie about three black women overcoming racism and sexism at NASA in the 1960's. The mathy-parts are stylized so anyone watching who doesn't understand the higher math being used won't be lost. Unfortunately, there's not enough of that math on-screen for those who do understand it, and the little they reference directly is hit-or-miss for accuracy. It will likely appeal more to fans of NASA, anti-racism, and John Glenn than fans of mathematics. The story is well told and the actors have some really good chemistry. It's a really good version of what you would expect to get from the trailers.