Review of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) by Paul B — 11 Apr 2013
Things definitely got to a point in the 60's where no one could make a traditional Western anymore. The genre hasn't recovered since, but what smart filmmakers did in those early years was to take the dying genre and make movies about the death of the West itself.
George Roy Hill, of course, takes an extremely different approach to this than Peckinpah or Leone, by making a comedy. As a result, the film is great fun to watch. Newman and Redford were a terrific team, serving up two of the most likable characters in the genre's history, if not movies in general.
They're smart, funny people--not really violent, although they can shoot if they have to. The film's humor is often unique, featuring the funniest explosion I've ever seen, the funniest knife fight, etc.
The movie is also fortunate enough that, due to the ever-increasing speed of technological improvement, the theme will only become more relevant as more and more of us become obsolete. That those involved with the film can put a smile on that fact makes the film perpetually worthwhile.
This review of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) was written by Paul B on 11 Apr 2013.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid has generally received very positive reviews.
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