History Channel's Hatfields and McCoys

With an emotionally gripping storyline, tremendous acting and character development, and brilliant cinematography, Hatfields and McCoys is the best mini series I've seen since Band of Brothers.

This 3 night epic event, directed by Kevin Reynolds, demonstrates such quality filmmaking that viewers are left with a deeper understanding of the complexity of human nature. Set in post Civil War Kentucky and West Virginia, the film documents the blood feud between the families of Devil Anse Hatfield (Kevin Costner) and Randall McCoy (Bill Paxton), and how this conflict became one of the greatest rivalries in American History. What started with Hatfield's Uncle Jim Vance (Tom Berenger) murdering McCoy's brother after the man had publicly insulted him, developed into a pure and chaotic massacre of vengeance and despair. Screenwriters Ted Mann and Bill Kerby did an excellent job of documenting the sequence of events in a clear and precise manner. Other sparks that ignited the tensions between the two families included disputes over their land and timber, as well as a love affair between Hatfield's son Johnse (Matt Barr) and McCoy's daughter Roseanna (Lindsay Pulsipher). As soon as she gets pregnant, all hell breaks loose. The film's climax depicts the Battle of Grapevine in 1888 where both sides clash.

What really stood out to me about this picture was the themes it explored and how effectively they are presented. Audiences are able to witness an examination of humanity's spirit of vengeance, lust, love, betrayal, loyalty, and ultimately an example of redemption in it's purest form. Watching it, I was not only compelled by the story and cinematic techniques used, but I also thought to myself that this really wasn't all that long ago. What's more frightening is that there's nothing stopping it from happening again. This is a film many new age philosophers need to watch so they can see how misguided they are. I think humanistic psychology is a bunch of bogus. How are we good by nature when history reveals the pure evils that we are capable of? The great thing about this film is that it brings to light disturbing truths about us as humans. Furthermore, it provides a great depiction of reconciliation at its conclusion. As a Christian, I wholeheartedly believe in redemption with God, but it requires faith and for us to admit that we are sinful by nature. The Biblical themes explored in this film and the way they're presented through the characters make the story all the more compelling. Hence, I recommend this to any history buff, as well as to those simply wanting to learn more about this story. On that note, the film is set to release on DVD and Blu-Ray on July 31st.