by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
Welcome to Cross-Platform Partners! In honor of a new movie release, I have selected a TV show to watch to pair with the movie. Think of it as a way to get hyped for the new movie, a preview of things to come, a means to tide you over if the movie won’t be released where you live for a little while, or a change of pace if you’ve run out of related movies or sequels.
For June, I picked Hatfields and McCoys to pair with Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1!
Kevin Costner made a name for himself playing cowboys or soldiers from the frontier of American history. With a two-part movie coming out this year with him playing a cowboy, Costner continues to redefine the character and the genre. Starting with his earliest Western role of Silverado, Costner has played these roles throughout his career. With entries like Wyatt Earp, Dances with Wolves, The Postman, and Open Range (the latter three of which he also directed, like he did Horizon), Costner has more than proven his Western/cowboy chops. Even in TV,Costner transcends the cowboy character by taking a more modern approach with TV’s powerhouse show, Yellowstone. Before there was Yellowstone, though, there was Hatfields & McCoys.
I had read about the legendary feud between the two families in history class, even though our teacher didn’t want to spend much time on them. She felt it was counter-productive to talk about two families feuding in two bordering states after the destruction of the U.S. Civil War. Yet their feud is now infamous for the way that bitter hatred turned people against one another for the most trivial of reasons. In this History Channel original, Costner plays “Devil Anse” Hatfield and Bill Paxton plays Randall McCoy. We see the origins and the aftermath of their battles.
For an original History Channel show, Hatfields & McCoys is exceedingly violent. The miniseries pulls no punches when it comes to showcasing the brutality between these two families. The irony is that this feud starts with a Civil War battle where both Devil Anse and Randall make a decision that forever alters their lives. No one is safe in this battle, and although history can tell us who survived, it doesn’t make the violence any easier to watch. I probably should have expected this, since Vikings is on par with the violence. Thankfully, the gore is toned down enough for the violence not to be completely over the top. While the choice regarding violence was intentional, it also showcases how destructive these warring families became with one another. Culminating with a battle on New Year’s Day at Grapevine, we see just how deadly this feud would become.
For a show set in the post-Civil War southern states, I have to give credit to the creative team behind Hatfields and McCoys for making it feel as authentic as possible. Everything about the show is beautifully done, including the costumes, props. Even the hair and makeup are outstanding. In particular, the set design is gorgeous, with everything from salons, cabins in the wood, and jail cells looking as authentic as possible.
Two other technical pieces worth mentioning are the cinematography and the music. The cinematography in particular takes full advantage of the mountain ranges of West Virginia and Kentucky. Nature is truly on full display with all the amazing hills, trees, and rivers that are showcased throughout the series. Regarding the music, it’s hauntingly beautiful and feels like it was written during the late 1800s. From the theme music, songs, and credit sequence, the Hatfields & McCoys soundtrack is among the best television has to offer.
Costner and Paxton are excellent in their roles. The characters come from different backgrounds, with religion being one of the main differences between them. McCoy is a devout Christian who actively prays, whereas Devil Anse has seen enough of the horrors of war to no longer believe in God. The religious parallels of this story are plentiful, with betrayals all around. Being willing to die for what you think is a strong message of the series. Paxton plays his role with such zeal, as you see how the Civil War and family feud take a toll on his faith and his family. He’s a man of conviction, but he’s pushed to the edge because of all the death surrounding him. It’s not until it’s too late that Randall finally sees that he can’t be a pacifist for much longer.
Costner, on the other hand, is a strong-mannered born leader of this group. He’s a man of action and is unrelenting in his belief that the Hatfields will prevail in this conflict. Episode Two is where he shines the most. With the Hatfields on the offensive, Devil Anse makes some strong choices about his family’s welfare that lead to grave consequences. Then there’s a scene in the final episode that shows just how far Devil Anse is willing to go to protect his family, even if that means sacrificing his blood.
Even though this is Costner and Paxton’s series, there are outstanding supporting performances. Starting with Tom Berenger’s Jim Vance, he’s a loyal member of the Hatfield clan. Jim is a natural leader, a skilled fighter, and a ruthless hunter of the McCoy clan. Staying in the Hatfield group, Powers Boothe plays Judge Wall Hatfield, Devil Anse’s big brother. As a judge, he knows that the legal ramifications of the feud are murky at best. Unfortunately, he also knows that his family will stop at nothing to eradicate the McCoys. He’s the rare voice of reason advocating for peace. For the McCoys, Bad Frank (Andrew Howard) is the strongest character and a testament to why you can’t judge a book by its cover. Howard does a fantastic job of showing how a man without honor can find his way.
Two other performances that should be recognized are the wives of Randall and Devil Anse. During this time period, women were treated like second-class citizens. Sally McCoy (Mare Winningham) and Levicy Hatfield (Sarah Parish) lose the most. They see their families decimated by this feud, but handle their situation with grace and love for their family. Both women give stunning performances and reveal how powerless they are to stop the actions of their husbands and the men who follow them.
Hatfields and McCoys is an amazing miniseries that captures the destructiveness of hate. Everything about this series is stunning, from the writing, to the performances, to the technical aspects. Costner in particular is the star of this series, and he proves that there is no one better when it comes to the Western genre.
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