It goes without saying that I love movies; more than television, more than books, more than anything.
I love movies that entertain, illuminate, educate and provoke emotion. Not always all at once, but a movie that can do all of that is really something special.
So in the following blog posts, I will be listing movies I love and the reasons why.
Shall we begin?
BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID
The first movie I can remember actually watching. I was too young to watch it probably, but my parents were frugal and we went to the drive in, a lot...because for one low price, you can entertain your whole family for a few hours. But I digress.
So, I can remember being at the drive in. There were at least three movies playing, usually a cartoon, then a family movie, then something a little more adult and then something for when the kids fell asleep in the back seat.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
was the second one; a little more adult. It wasn't the first release either, because the movie originally came out in 1969 when I was four. I don't remember much about being four except when the Dalmatian bit me on the nose and a brief recollection of seeing The Aristocats at the movies and oh, a baby alligator almost biting my hand off.
I think I was about nine years old when I saw this movie, so on the cusp of puberty. I had started getting crushes on boys, though didn't know why I had a crush because puberty hadn't actually arrived, but crushes nonetheless. Usually it was older men, yes I was a Daddy's girl and adored my wonderful father so any man who seemed to have my father's personality but didn't look like him was fair game. I remember Robert Redford looking dishy and rocking that moutstache; making cowboys look like gods in my tender eyes. I remember the chase through the badlands scene, and the bicycle scene with the song "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" by Burt Bacharach and sung by B.J. Thomas
and of course, the shoot out in Bolivia. Great images. Great acting.
Of course, at the time, I didn't really know why I appreciated it. Years later I bought the movie on dvd and watched it again. Glad that I did because it was really Newman and Redford at the peak, their best, with great performances, great director by George Roy Hill and a stellar screenplay by one of my all time favourites, William Goldman.
This movie is probably the start of all this. Where I saw something that spoke to me. It was fun, entertaining ("Who are those guys?"), educational (hey, closest thing to historical at the time), inspirational (two friends who stayed loyal to the end of the line - remind you of any two characters today? Think Captain America and The Winter Soldier.) and it provoked an emotional response that resonates to this day (I laughed, I cried, I got girly over Robert Redford). It really is one of the perfect movies, of it's time and today.
I still have the dvd and recommend this film to anyone who wants to see great writing, directing and acting. It's also why I love Westerns the way I do. Something primal about them.
Anywho, that's today's post about one of my many favourite movies. More to come!
Ciao!
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