Frankly, there have been better films made about this controversial outlaw. Shelley Winters is great as is everyone else, which is kind of sad, as to what inadequate material they're given, Dern and Stroud, acting highlights, Dern, who attaches himself to Barker and her boys. A much younger and handsome devil, is Deniro (six years before his Taxi Driver days) who fares pretty well, as one of Ma Barker's more meeker sons, and is definitely memorable, especially in one scene with a bathing beauty, rising out of the glistenng waters. A few shoot outs, the film only getting bloody in it's last five minutes, one frank CU shot in particular. The film is very well made, by a B movie legend, and the performances make it, but it's kind of rush rush, where we really don't get enough time, to really get under the characters, or for the story to really take shape. It needed better plotting, and meat to it's story, and this is where the movie, ultimately fails. Like Ma Barker, planning her next move, at a loss, metaphorically speaks, as to where the story should head next. Not without merit though.
Review of Bloody Mama
