Hatfields and McCoys
Encore, Saturday, 8.30pm
THEIR names have gone down in history as a synonym for a bitter blood feud.
“Hatfields and McCoys” is the sprawling pay TV tale of the post-Civil War feud that obsessed generations of the two feuding families in West Virginia and Kentucky.
The two family patriarchs are Civil War comrades – played by Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton – who later come into dispute over such trifling matters as the ownership of a hog.
Interestingly, one is deeply religious, while the other is not at all – a sort of microcosm of the United States in general.
Costner in particular lends great gravitas and an everyman feel to the role, and is in top form.
He is joined by the likes of an incredibly crusty Tom Berenger as the obligatory crazy uncle, and Powers Boothe as the judge (related, of course) who keeps order in the courtroom by threatening to gut-shoot those who displease him.
The beautiful, unspoilt American pioneer countryside is as much a feature of the show as the acting.
The whole production is richly atmospheric, and even the minor roles in this epic are well played.
It aired to rave reviews, and strong ratings and interest in the US last year – as you’d expect.
But even in Australia, we can marvel at the darkness in the hearts of men, and the foolishness that takes them to the limits of their sanity in pursuit of a prize never worth the price.
– Jason Beck
