Sometimes on paper things sound a lot better than they actually are, and in the case of Colin Barnicle’s newest documentary that is unfortunately true. For a story about Carol and Johnny Williams, who have been notoriously dubbed as a modern day Bonnie and Clyde, the documentary certainly focuses on some of the interesting things at hand, but more about their love and their relationship. While this can be a compelling story, the way it is told lacks conviction and the far more interesting story of their bank robbing days is what is the point of interest in this story overall.
The biggest issue with Carol and Johnny is that the story is told by Johnny and Carol themselves. So what they’re telling is also possibly fabricated or at least bent to some extent which also takes away from the overall excitement and intrigue of the documentary. While giving the benefit of the doubt into this relationship and their accuracy of telling what actually has happened is plausible, focusing a documentary on two subjects who were wanted and served their time about their love versus their crimes is certainly a perspective that misses the mark. As well their ability to tell a story and captivate an audience is lacking which unfortunately hinders the audience experience as well.
Carol and Johnny could’ve been a much more interesting documentary than it was, if it focused on the crimes more than the love and had different people tell their stories. The possibilities of their stories being fabricated and less truthful takes away from the enjoyment of the documentary as a whole.
