Rent Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: William Goldman
Directed by: George Roy Hill
Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross
Rated: PG
Watch the trailer
Plot
In 1890s Wyoming, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid lead a band of outlaws. When a train robbery goes wrong, they find themselves on the run with a posse hard on their heels.
Verdict
With Newman and Redford, the charisma is off the charts as they banter like old friends. This was a different kind of western, and that would have been more prominent when released. Westerns were the laconic Clint Eastwood who shot first and asked questions later. This is more of a buddy comedy, at its best when they're on the run. It hits a lull in the second half while they struggle to find direction. The conclusion makes up for that. It's not typical, with the pair relegating themselves to their fate. It's a good movie but more important for what this did and didn't do in the genre.
Watch it.
Review
This is worth watching just for Newman and Redford together on screen. They play Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid respectively. A disclaimer or possibly a warning precedes the movie stating "most of what follows is true."
This opens like a typical western with Sundance playing cards and accused of cheating. His reputation precedes him when they find out who he is, apologizing for even accusing him. He's asked how good of a shot he is. He shoots a man's gun belt off, then shoots the fallen pistol several times, sending it skidding across the floor.
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| Robert Redford plays the Sundance Kid |
Butch and Sundance make their way back to their gang, but due to Butch's frequent absences his gang has elected a new leader. To regain control he has to fight for it. He tries to argue his point, but ultimately resorts to fighting the new leader with a bit of deception. Butch proposes they rob a train and then another. That leads to a posse chasing them. The gang breaks up with Butch and Sundance trying to hide in a brothel. They're soon found and scurry away. Riding across the frontier, they can't get away as the posse continues following them.
Sundance is the practical one with Butch more apathetic. He's quick to think they've escaped only to discover the pursuit is ongoing. Down to one horse from two and soon on foot, the pair are cornered on a cliff. Sundance proposes they fight despite the odds. Butch, always quick to avoid a fight, argues that if' they'll die in a gunfight or jumping off the cliff into the river they might as well jump.
The railroad hired the posse to take them out. Butch proposes they run to Bolivia. He's talked it up as the next California gold rush. It's not quite what they expected. The place isn't even industrialized. Sundance isn't happy at all while Butch tries to play it off. They soon acclimate and get back to doing what they do best, robbing banks. The problem is complicated due to the language barrier. Based on legendary outlaws, they seem to stumble through each endeavor.
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| Robert Redford, Paul Newman plays the Sundance Kid, Butch Cassidy |
The driving force is this posse that's after them. Even in another country, they're still looking over their shoulders. Most westerns have the protagonist confront any obstacle and almost always end up on top. This pair is just trying to survive. They try legal work but that isn't much safer. They're hijacked and end up in a shootout.
Their latest heist goes sideways. It's not a surprise. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid end up pinned down, facing long odds. They morbidly joke about the predicament, down to their last bullets. With no other choice, they reload and charge out the door. I love the ending. We can accurately guess what happenes, but this refuses to confirm it. The scene has to be a nod to typical westerns where the protagonists charge head first into battle. In any other movie we'd assume they'll somehow survive. With this movie, this is the first time they've confronted an obstacle and it seems insurmountable.
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