What Is the Story About?
Outlaws is about a teenage boy Ignacio Canas (Marcos Ruiz), getting attracted to the wrong side of the law, courtesy of his attraction to a young girl Tere (Begona Vargas).
The story tracks the journey of Canas, aka Gafitas (Marcos Ruiz), from being a bullied young boy, from a respectable family to a confident, manly youngster cum criminal as he comes of age. How the crime saga ends is the movie’s overall plot.
Performances?
Marcos Ruiz is a good casting choice. Half of the battle is won by his body language change from a meek, submissive guy to a confident young one. The surface-level changes using spectacles are old fashioned, though. There are not enough dramatic moments to explore his range, but the subtle variation via physicality is enough to understand the part.
Analysis
Daniel Monzon directs Outlaws. It is based on a Spanish novel which also happens to be the movie’s title in Spanish. It is a coming of age story of a boy set in a criminal background. The events depicted in the film take place in the summer of 1978 in Spain.
The background setting and the general style of the period and music make for a visually appealing narrative for Outlaws. However, beyond the visual panache, it does follow a formulaic approach as far as storytelling is considered.
The character intro of Ignacio is on expected lines. The bullying and the attraction to the wrong people, as a result, are all on predictable lines. What works is the casting and small exchanges between the various actors.
Soon, the criminal activities take place where the level of crime is increased one after another. It starts with burglary, and then there are robberies and so on. They are all done neatly and generate interest in what is in store next. The background score and the simple and clean execution work well for the narrative.
The inter-personal relationships, especially the increasing jealousy and growing distance between the family members of Ignacio, are all covered well. They add layers to what could be a predictable run of the mill crime drama.
However, post a dramatic twist halfway through the narrative, Outlaws takes a downward slide slowly. There is no high in the last half an hour especially. The story is dull, with a focus on predictable emotions and investigation.
The final with a twist and drama feels so out of place after all that has happened. The good part is the undercurrent bond that has developed between Nacho and Tere. There is a genuine emotion among them, which holds things together for the most part.
Overall, Outlaws has style in abundance but doesn’t have the content to match. It has intermittently engaging portions and a decent hormone-filled teen romance with a smoking hot explicit lovemaking scene. Give it a try if you like crime dramas with youth, sex and drugs but have the expectations in check.
Other Artists?
Begona Vargas as Tere and Chechu Salgado as Zarco are the three primary pillars of Outlaws. The entire story revolves around these characters and the world they inhabit.
Begona Vargas plays a strong independent girl who chooses to be on the wrong side on her own. She has a great personality and is confident, which makes her attractive. Vargas has done her part well and made a good impression. Chechu Salgado has an influential, mentor-like role. He does it with ease. There is an emotional twist at the end, which is also done nicely.
Apart from them, the two police officers and a couple of guys from the criminal gang register. They are all adequate even though they don’t have much to do. The rest in small bits and pieces role, which includes the family members of Nacho and the Arcade owner, is okay.
Music and Other Departments?
The background score of the film is electric, with the usage of retro songs and music. The cinematography by Carles Gusi is fine. The summer vibe of Spain and dark underbelly are deftly and beautifully captured. The editing is neat and smooth. The writing is good, on the whole, barring some filler parts.
Highlights?
Lead Pair
Chemistry Crime Sequences
BGM
Drawbacks?
Formulaic Narrative
Needless Emotional Twist
Routine Crime Drama Beats
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, In Parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But With Reservations
Out Laws Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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