Review of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) by Simeon D — 12 Apr 2010

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid is a wonderfully entertaining western with beautiful cinematography, a great performance from Robert Redford, and an incredibly abrupt story. Two outlaws, Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and The Sundance Kid (Robert Redford), discover that all the local towns have been securing their banks.

Instead of banks, the duo lead their team of outlaws too rob trains. After a robbery goes horribly wrong, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid have to run from a supergroup of the greatest trackers in America.

To escape, they grab their love interest (Katharine Ross) and head to Bolivia. George Roy Hill's direction benefits the action sequences and adds visionary landscapes and brown-toned visuals which are both beautiful and random.

At times the movie gave off a very contemporary feel, and this contrasted with the time period it was set in. Each piece of dialogue is very witty and the overall plot is spontaneous at times, which adds an element of surprise that at times can be somewhat obnoxious.

Robert Redford is extraordinary as a silent sharpshooter and Katharine Ross shines, but Paul Newman was completely out of place. I understand that in the 70s, Redford and Newman were a 2 in 1 package, but the wit and artistic images that glazed over this film were constantly penetrated by Newman's smart-aleck performance.

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid is not a masterpiece, but gets as close as possible through stunning visuals and miraculous entertainment. 82/100.