It was a great idea to make a modern day mini series about this famous feud because enough time has past to approach it with the reality the true story deserves and also the longer running time can explore the complexities. It seems a combination of things led to the murderous feud - strong family links, post-war instability, warped notions of honour, a feuding culture (presumably imported from the old country), ineffective law and order, but most of all good old fashioned money and power.
Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton are both excellent as the leads - Costner surly and regal, determined to execute what he considers is fair justice; Paxton slightly more honourable, but bad to his daughter, paranoid, a poor politician. As often seems to happen in these feuds, the two leads ended up surviving and the innocent suffered, particularly poor old Paxton's daughter. The character of Costner's son is a bit too pretty and modern with his gym body - he feels like he stuck out.
Ronan Vibert is terrific as a slippery lawyer and Tom Berenger perfect as a fanatical foot soldier. It looks and smells like post Civil War America - ironic, considering it was shot in Romania. Kevin Reynolds isn't that great a visual director though. And often the story gets repetitive - shooting, revenge, shooting. Which I guess is what happened but it does drag at times.
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