Robert Duvall Slams ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ as Overrated and Poorly Acted
Legendary actor Robert Duvall didn’t hold back when sharing his harsh opinion of the classic film Bonnie and Clyde, comparing its performances to a bad Saturday Night Live skit and calling it an insult to the Texas Rangers.
Few actors have had careers as long and storied as Robert Duvall. With decades in the industry and a filmography that includes some of the most celebrated movies ever made, Duvall has worked alongside Hollywood ’s biggest names across generations. From his early days sharing the screen with Gregory Peck, Steve McQueen, and John Wayne, to later roles with Tom Cruise, Robert Downey Jr., and Michael Caine, Duvall’s experience is unmatched. He’s been a part of cinematic milestones like The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, and To Kill a Mockingbird, and at 95, he’s still going strong.
Given his extensive background, Duvall’s opinions on film carry serious weight. He’s never been one to sugarcoat his thoughts, even when it comes to movies that are widely considered untouchable classics. He’s also been open about his distaste for certain directors, notably Stanley Kubrick, whose treatment of actors Duvall has openly criticized. He once blasted the performances in A Clockwork Orange and The Shining, calling them terrible—an opinion that’s sure to spark debate among film buffs.
Not Impressed by a Hollywood Landmark
Despite not always being cast as the leading man like some of his contemporaries—think Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman, or Dustin Hoffman—Duvall was a key player during the transformative ‘New Hollywood’ era. He appeared in several films that helped redefine American cinema in the late 1960s and 1970s. One of the most influential movies from that period is Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde, a crime drama that broke new ground and is often credited with ushering in a bold new direction for the industry.
But for Duvall, the film’s reputation means little. He recently watched a restored version and didn’t mince words about his reaction.
“I saw recently a newly restored version of Bonnie and Clyde. It really sucked.”
When pressed for more details, he doubled down, simply repeating,
“Sucked!”
Harsh Words for a Classic
Duvall eventually explained what bothered him so much about the film.
“The acting ’s horrible,”
he said.
“It’s like a Saturday Night Live sketch. And it’s an insult to the Texas Rangers. You can ask any one of the Rangers in this. I mean, I don’t get… To me, there’s something fraudulent about it.”
His criticism didn’t stop there. He wrapped up his thoughts by saying,
“It doesn’t stand up now, and it didn’t stand up then.”
Despite the film’s box office success, two Academy Awards from ten nominations, and its lasting influence on American cinema, Duvall stands by his opinion. He’s not swayed by accolades or popular opinion, and he’s not afraid to call out what he sees as flaws—even in the most revered of films.