Review of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) by Daniel P — 04 Jan 2010

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is that rare Hollywood film that manages to at once be entertaining and a piece of art... that "Art House" is a genre in itself should tell us just how rare this is.

The Western meets the buddy comedy meets the biopic in this one, and George Roy Hill's sepia-toned stills combined with a touching soundtrack come to life like no other film. Every shot is beautiful, every colour magnificent, and every line a good one: even the ones that are deliberately hokey.

Paul Newman is good, sure, but Robert Redford steals the show in arguably his best performance. The supporting cast holds its own, and the result is one of the greatest films you will ever see. It's sharp, but it's accessible: well-plotted, believable, and yet completely enchanting as well. It's a fine line to walk, and Butch does it better than 99.9% of films ever made. Simply amazing. Watch this movie as soon as you can.