As Far As Westerns Go, This One Probably Tops Them All

Rating: 8/10 (9 October 2006)

Two outlaws rob banks and trains until the heat becomes a little too hot, and they flee to Bolivia where the bank robbing starts all over again.
When you're dealing with the team of Paul Newman and Robert Redford, you can pretty much guarantee yourself a quality film. As of this review, the movie was sitting as the #135th of all time. I rated it a little lower than many people, but I don't deny the film's power. Redford and Newman are the Damon and Affleck of their generation.
If nothing else, the movie is great because it is now iconic and to really understand many modern films you have to appreciate what this one was. How many movies and shows have duplicated the bike riding scene with Burt Bacharach's "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Dead"? Or Sundance's gun-play? And my all-time favorite movie, "Mallrats", does a fine job of adapting the character of LaFours.) The script was written by William Goldman, probably best known for "The Princess Bride", but also "Maverick". I have no doubt the light humor owes a debt to Goldman.
The robberies and such were great, the horse-riding was well-done and very believable. I especially enjoyed the dynamite and the character of Woodcock. And the director's use of angle shots to make the mountains look even more impassable? Superb.
Katharine Ross is gorgeous and a strong character who holds her own with the wily bandits. She could have had a larger part (except then they might have to rename the movie).
Fantastic, epic and inspiration for both film-makers and bank robbers. Long live the legend of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.