Just tell us you want us to stay and we’ll go
Butch and Sundance are beginning to be past their prime. Their gang is turning on them. Their night-to-night lives are wearing thin on them. They are heavily thinking about retiring. The only problem, you ask? All debts haven’t been repaid yet. Followed by a band of bounty hunters, hired by a financier who they robbed twice, they are forced to leave the country and head to Bolivia. For robbers who’s names have gotten bigger than their egos, regardless of where they are they are hunted by everyone.
What a classic film. My mother-in-law worships this film, as told to me by my wife. I could probably give you two good reasons why this is, and I’ll give you a hint… it’s not the plot points. Robert Redford and Paul Newman really defined themselves as the ultimate pair of actors. Comedic and serious, Newman and Redford, they brought both legendary figures out perfectly. Their back and forth banter really sets the tone for the film and it starts and ends with the film itself. They made this movie work, not that it couldn’t have on its own, but quite frankly I couldn’t imagine another pair of actors who could have played the roles so naturally.
With that said, the storyline couldn’t have been much tighter. Kind of in the fashion of The Wild Bunch, Butch and Sundance are two characters who have clearly gone beyond their youthfulness. They’re now in a world where they don’t rule the roost and must accept that fact. From seeing the end of their careers at the beginning of the movie to their ultimate standoff at the end, it’s a beautifully crafted story of how eventually you need to step down and how you have to rectify and pay for your past deeds. It’s quite amazing and there isn’t a single dead point in the film, which is rare for that day and age (1969). This film truly began the great age of epics, which were a plenty in the 70s (see The Godfather for details). The best part of this film is the ending. Much debate has been over the end of this film, and no one really has given an explanation if they… well… I won’t give it away.
In the end, you have one of the best films in modern cinema. It truly seemed to be the transition from typical, cheesy acting (see Ben Hur) for details and more like professional acting that we see nowadays. These roles were made for Redford and Newman, and it shows. Gorgeously acted, incredible pacing, excellent cinematography and a very well directed film. You couldn’t ask for more. If you haven’t seen this classic, this is the best way to do it.
Don’t feel Blu, experience it
I’m not really sure if 20th Century Fox updated the sound effects in the film, but I’m assuming they have. The gunshots are loud, the audio sounds crisp and clean. The only thing more impressive than the audio is the video, which is beautifully presented in Blu-ray format. The HD experience seems to be getting better and better with older films, though there was once or twice where graininess briefly reared its head. Other than that, a great experience for the senses.
As for the extras, here’s what you’re getting:
– Audio Commentary by Director George Roy Hill, Lyricist Hal David, Associate Producer Robert Crawford
and Cinematographer Conrad Hall
– Commentary by Screenwriter William Goldman
– Documentary – ALL OF WHAT FOLLOWS IS TRUE: The Making of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
– Featurette – The Wild Bunch: The True Tale of Butch & Sundance
– Deleted Scenes
– Theatrical Trailers
Featurettes that are good and informative? Studios are starting to catch on! Why put a movie out on Blu-ray that isn’t going to include special features that look and sound just as good as the HD film? Fox has truly treated this classic film like it deserves to be treated. An excellent set of features, you won’t be disappointed.
You need this on your shelf
It is a classic, by all definitions. It looks HD by all definitions (did you like that play on words?) and it has been spruced up with features to make it even better (the commentary alone is worth the price of admission).
Check your guns at the door, sit down and enjoy the experience of what could be the best version of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid for home entertainment.
