207 replies to this topic

[hardy har]

A promo for this 3 part miniseries played before a movie I saw last night and perhaps I am swayed by the cast and the music in the trailer, but this looks pretty awesome. I've heard the Hatfield and McCoy names, but I know less than nothing about them and their feud.

Here's the teaser I saw

Full length trailer

Official Site

Cast: Kevin Costner, Bill Paxton, Tom Berenger, Matt Barr, Jena Malone, Lindsay Pulsipher, Sarah Parish, Powers Boothe, Noel Fisher, Mare Winningham.

Starts tomorrow on The History Channel at 9pm. Part 2 on Tuesday, Part 3 on Wednesday.

ETA: Apologies of there's already a thread for this. I did a search in the drama and action forums and couldn't find anything.

Edited by hardy har, May 27, 2012 @ 5:32 PM.

[CPP83]

I've heard the Hatfield and McCoy names, but I know less than nothing about them and their feud.

I think you're good, I've not seen one either. But you must, must look up the feud, it is possibly one of the greatest family feuds of all time. Not only were people slaughtered, it's how they were slaughtered, and why, and where, that will leave you speechless.

It's an amazing stretch of American history. And I agree it looks pretty good, and accurate, so I am looking forward to it. Kevin has always fit best, to me, in period or Western pieces so I think he is right in his element with this movie. And apparently, he and his band provide the music for it as well.

[merylinkid]

The music was the coolest thing. I could hardly understand what anyone was saying because of all the mumbling. One character I swear literally did not open his mouth to speak his lines. Thankfully, he was killed off quickly. Didn't matter if I could understand anyway, they would immediately cut to a new scene anyway. It was all a jumble. Not enoough time spent on each thing. Just a quick scene and on to the next event.

Not sure if I will stick through parts 2 and 3.

[ms imaginary]

I got confused. Couldn't even tell who belonged to which family. No establishment of passing time between scenes. The mumbling was terrible. Hubs liked it and will watch the rest, but I'm probably out.

[leela46]

I really enjoyed it. Of course, being from West Virginia I grew up hearing about the feud. I'm looking forward to parts 2 and 3.

[Brattinella]

This show is terrific so far! Hubby knows lots more of this history than I do, so he is invaluable for background stuff. Can't wait for second part.

[AVGS]

This was good but the accents were all over the place. I'm from East KY (about a hundred miles south of the H&M feud so I didn't grow up hearing about this, it was more about how we were all doing fine and then the rich outsiders came and took our livelihoods with broadform deeds and we gave our souls to the company store) so I've always sort of got an ear out for stuff like that. I didn't really expect them to try for Appalachian dialect (especially from that time period because it might've actually sounded like a different language at that point), but I wish they'd have picked Standard American or Southern or Modern Appalachian and stuck with it instead of having something different for each character.

That's pretty much my only complaint. I actually don't mind it wasn't filmed locally because I'm not sure that they would've found enough space to do it without cutting down trees. And even if they did it would've taken them ages to get there to film every day. So I think it worked out.

[portfino]

I don't think they did a good enough job establishing the male McCoys other than Paxton. There were definitely times when I was wondering who was who. And so I wound up not caring. Historically accurate or not, from a dramatic point of view I think they should have done a bit of set up and then jumped right in to Backwoods Romeo and Juliet.

[CPP83]

I totally agree about the accents, I was coming here to say the exact same thing myself. I know it is very hard for many to get a real Southern accent down without sounding like an extra from Heehaw, but those were some truly awful attempts at Kentucky accents, especially considering the time the feud took place. The actors are all doing a fine job with their characters though, at least, so I can bypass the fact that hardly any of them can keep to their chosen accents for longer than two minutes.

The mumbling, I think, may just be a way for them to try and cover up their inability to put on the proper accents. When in doubt, fake it out.

I liked the fast pacing of the scenes, personally, I think it moves the story along well and I haven't had any trouble keeping up with who belongs to which group. I was entertained for the most part so I will be tuning in until the end. Especially since the real blood shed is only just beginning.

[andromeda1277]

I don't think they did a good enough job establishing the male McCoys other than Paxton. There were definitely times when I was wondering who was who.

Me too. I was impressed with boy who still wanted to be with Rosanna after being shot by her brother. I don't know many guys who'd go that far when it comes to love.

[AVGS]

I know it is very hard for many to get a real Southern accent down without sounding like an extra from Heehaw, but those were some truly awful attempts at Kentucky accents, especially considering the time the feud took place.

It's weird because there are a few moments when you can hear the actors give it a real shot (the first scene with Jena Malone and Roseanna, they both do a good job of it) and sometimes they just sort of drop it. And the guy who plays Cap (the guy with one eye) doesn't have many lines, but he's actually from Eastern KY. It's hard to tell if he's speaking with an accent because his lines are so short.

I agree that character kind of makes up for it. I was kind of wishy washy on the first twenty minutes but after that I was back in it and found the whole thing pretty compelling. I'm definitely ready to watch the rest of it tomorrow.

I don't think they did a good enough job establishing the male McCoys other than Paxton.

I agree with this, too. I'll go as far as to say that sometimes I don't know which ones are Hatfields and which ones are McCoys. I can keep some of them apart because I'm familiar with the actors (I actually tend to call them by the actor's name most of the time, except for Roseana and Johnse). And then just say "so and so's brother or cousin" or "Bill Paxton's daughter" or "Kevin Cosnter's cousin".

Also, have the delicious snark of a KY newspaper reviewing the Hatfields and the McCoys. If you wanted to know if they liked it, they call it: 'Hatfields & McCoys' Isn't Fighting For An Emmy. There are probably a few spoilers in here, so beware.

[oceanblue]

I can't tell who's a Hatfield and who's a McCoy unless they are Costner, Paxton, or specifically identified. I agree that the dialogue is unintelligible and I had a hard time following some of the problems between the families. Were they on the same side in the Civil War? For god sake, why didn't Jonesy and Roseanna just get married and move away? Problem solved.

What happened to Jonesy in the end?

[leela46]

What happened to Jonesy in the end?

Spoiler

Johnse dumped Roseanna and married her cousin Nancy. Roseanna had her baby but it later died.

[bulldawgtownie]

Were they on the same side in the Civil War?

According to the mini-series most of them were with the Confederacy but as least one fought for the Union. Which I thought was a good way to show how conflicted and divided people were about the Civil War, especially in the border states like West Virginia.

For god sake, why didn't Jonesy and Roseanna just get married and move away? Problem solved.

How it is today and how it was in that era is totally different. Back then two people running off and getting married without their parents approval is something that a lot of people would never dare to do. Part of that is because it would cause a scandal and embarrasment for their famalies. Another part would be because, like Jonesy and Roseanna, they'd have no where to live and no real way to support themselves without their parents help.

Edited by bulldawgtownie, May 29, 2012 @ 3:31 AM.

[notwisconsin]

The Hatfield/McCoy feud was the stereotype for the area for much of the 20th century. I'm not really sure when it finally faded from the national conciousness, but when I was a kid, the media was still telling jokes about it.

Edited by notwisconsin, May 29, 2012 @ 7:07 AM.

[nymediamaven]

So far, so good. From what I know of the feud, the historical accuracy is correct, which is amazing, considering this is the History Channel, which doesn't show any history any more but does have lots of stupid reality shows and lots and lots of aliens.

I recommend to everyone to see the film Matewan, by John Sayles. One of the best films of the 1980's, set about 30 years after the feud, in Matewan in the heart of the Tug Forks River valley. Great music, great acting, great story, and really good accents.

Edited by nymediamaven, May 29, 2012 @ 7:51 AM.

[Empress1]

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I thought the feud was folklore; I didn't know it was actual history. I grew up in the urban northeast and never studied it in school; Hatfields & McCoys was a thing you said when people had a long-standing beef, like you might say a couple was like Romeo & Juliet. I saw a trailer for this at the movies and I was intrigued.

I agree with those who can't quite tell who is on which side but I'm still interested. Did Jonesy sleep with Roseanna's cousin? (I enjoy Jena Malone.)

[Numb Nut]

I tuned in with mild interest and stayed with it despite the fuzzy timeline and confusion of who's who. It took me a while to realize that Rosanna was the same little girl who cut Paxton's hair! Three eps is plenty of time to establish a more streamlined story. Also, while I can understand how a feud could start after so many incidents, this ep played like no one had any problems with other townfolk; like everybody in town was either a Hatfield or a McCoy. Powers Boothe has been popping up a lot lately. He's always good. I'll probably watch the other eps at some point, but it's not appointment TV.

I recommend to everyone to see the film Matewan, by John Sayles. One of the best films of the 1980's, set about 30 years after the feud, in Matewan in the heart of the Tug Forks River valley. Great music, great acting, great story, and really good accents.

Great movie! Chris Cooper was awesome. I saw it so long ago and I still remember one line: "That's so funny it would make a cat laugh."

[AVGS]

Back then two people running off and getting married without their parents approval is something that a lot of people would never dare to do.

I don't know if it's a cultural thing, but I'm from Appalachia and I honestly don't know that I'd marry someone my parents disapproved of to the extent that they would kick me out of the family. (Knowing my parents they would never kick me out of the family, they're too liberal.) But family is still something here where your fourth and fifth cousins are still your cousins, and aside from the people who live in old coal camps, I still know a lot of people who live on "family land".

Matewan, by John Sayles. One of the best films of the 1980's, set about 30 years after the feud, in Matewan in the heart of the Tug Forks River valley. Great music, great acting, great story, and really good accents.

Oh my god, you weren't kidding about the accents, were you? I'm from KY, and not WV, but the dialect is largely the same. I never quite had the dialect but I do have the accent, but I know a lot of people who had it to varying degrees. My maternal grandmother's was a bit thicker than the one I heard in the trailer, I found, but it sounds good so far.

I agree with those who can't quite tell who is on which side but I'm still interested. Did Jonesy sleep with Roseanna's cousin?

I think he did. They never said specifically but he mentioned she looked like her twice and then they woke up naked next to her. Honestly I think Johnse is a bit of an idiot. I wouldn't mind to see him killed just so I could hear him stop talking. (Not that I don't hope he lived a long happy life in reality.)

[CaPeach]

Add me to the list of those who have problems understanding the mumbling and figuring out who is a Hatfield and who is a McCoy. Too bad they can't wear name tags.

They're also playing a little loose with the historical accuracy. People are dying in the correct order, but the facts are not quite correct. Probably moves the story along better, though.

The Hatfields were Confederates and the McCoys were mostly on the Union side during the Civil War which hasn't really been brought out. And the Keven Costner character, Devil Anse, was hardly the voice of reason KC is portraying him to be.

But I will continue to watch!

[AVGS]

If the History Channel were smart, they'd air a special about the Hatfields and the McCoys after this that talked about what actually happened and then spent a few minutes at the end to mention that the families got along now and officially signed a truce, etc. I think people would watch it if it was fresh on the end of the mini series.

[hardy har]

During the first 20 minutes or so I wasn't sure if I was liking it, but I'm glad I kept with it because it picked up as it went along. I do agree about the mumbling though. Damn. There were whole conversations being had where I thought, "I literally have no idea what any of them just said." The only thing I wasn't all that into was the stuff with Roseanna and Jonesy. I mean, I'm interested to see where it ends up but I found myself looking at the clock when all the lovey-dovey stuff was happening. I looks to me like Jena Malone's character (Nancy?) is up to no good . . . which I'm intrigued about. Up-to-no-good Jena Malone is my favorite kind of Jena Malone.

Anyone have and book recommendations about the feud? I love to read up on it after the series is done.

Edited by hardy har, May 29, 2012 @ 11:48 AM.

[CPP83]

If the History Channel were smart, they'd air a special about the Hatfields and the McCoys after this that talked about what actually happened and then spent a few minutes at the end to mention that the families got along now and officially signed a truce, etc

I agree, that'd be a fitting bookend to the story. They even all got together for a huge family reunion not too long ago. I think the number of attendance was in the thousands.

I believe the younger actors are the ones who struggle most with the accents, though at times I think Bill has a hard time of it. You can also tell they're speaking so slowly so that they remember to talk in that "backward woods" sort of way with mangling words, etc, and they don't end up correcting themselves accidentally.

I also think that plays a lot into all the mumbling, who knows what the heck they are or aren't saying, or what accent they are or aren't using, if you can barely pick out one word you could understand every other sentence.

Anyone have and book recommendations about the feud? I love to read up on it after the series is done

One book I have come across that really laid out nicely what the feud was all about, and also defines which parts are fact and which are fictional folklore, is called "The Hatfields and the McCoys" by Otis Rice.

[OSM Mom]

We had some trouble with the first part, trying to figure out who was Hatfield, and who was McCoy, and some of the mumbling, but then it seemed to smooth out, and we enjoyed it.

[ccridernyc]

I found Mrs. Hatfield's botoxed forehead an annoying distraction for a period piece.

Pretty dreary overall, but it picked up for me with the romance.

[AVGS]

I believe the younger actors are the ones who struggle most with the accents, though at times I think Bill has a hard time of it.

Honestly I'm not sure Bill and Kevin are trying at all. Some of the younger actors are at least trying, which I am grateful for. I think the guy who plays Johnse is from Texas and he's using that one, and a few other people are kind of going generic southern sometimes.. But my guess is that a lot of them have never even heard anyone from the region speak, and it's a hard accent to get exactly right anyway.

If anyone here hasn't heard it, you can probably find a decent sample of it on youtube if you look up "Appalachian dialect". You won't find a lot of them though, because it's hard to hear how everyone thinks your accent sounds really ignorant and horrible and that you pronounce Appalachia wrong.

[cherry malotte]

I think the guy who plays Johnse is from Texas...

That's it! I was listening to him last night and wondering why he sounded familiar, shall we say. I have family down that way, all over the state, Texarkana, Vidor, Brownsville...nope, he ain't hiding that accent. Maybe he just thought that it was southern enough.

I do like Sarah Parish's acting - took me a bit to realize that was the same actress from The Pillars Of The Earth. It was Tom Berenger that Mr Malotte kept saying 'no really, is that him?'

Love Mare Winningham, even if this was lousy, which it really isn't, I'd watch just for her. Her character's disbelief that her husband is back, and then her matter of fact plain speaking, way she carries herself. What a treat she is.

[bigSATCfan]

I was so excited for this but had a lot of trouble figuring out who was who. I wish they had McCoys always wearing black and Hatfields always wearing blue or a little "M" or "H" on their hat so that I could distinguish between characters (not a realistic solution but something that occurred to me as I watched). It was hard to get into it without knowing who people were.

[CPP83]

Bill is the worse of the two, for me. He sounds like himself just with a lower pitch, I can barely even catch a hint of an accent most of the time. Kevin has this stock Southern accent, I call it, that he has used in every single movie that requires him to have one. It sounds exactly the same, no matter where he is supposed to be, so I never expected him to sound very authentic.

For me, the younger actors, I guess, are more obvious in some ways about how hard a time they're having, which is perhaps why I notice them more. But they are good actors so that is why I am willing to overlook the flaws.

For all the darkness in the film, I like that they have infused some humor into it. It was funny how they had Bill, aka Poppy McCoy swinging around his strap at everyone when Roseanna went missing.

[john68]

That was really well done and a very compelling first act, can't wait to see the rest of it. It's nice to see them sticking with the historical facts for the most part too. Sure there's some minor tweaking for the sake of storytelling, but nothing that misrepresents the truth.