Bitch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid

I think it’s safe to assume you have an idea what this movie is about but just in case let me give you a quick synopsis: The Sundance Kid (Robert Redford) and Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) are a part of the Hole in the Wall Gang.  Butch is the brains behind the operation whereas the Sundance Kid is his very close friend and partner, not to mention a notoriously fast gunman. The movie follows their journey as Butch and the Sundance Kid break away from the rest of the gang due to their last operation where they end being chased by a group of the best lawmen and tracker.  Butch schemes up the idea that they head to Bolivia, so Sundance brings along his girlfriend Etta Place (Katharine Ross) and they head out to begin their new lives.

Now that’s put of the way let’s get down to my thoughts on the movie. I rate this movie an 8 on a one to ten scale. The chemistry between Paul Newman and Robert Redford is undeniable, the back and forth banter between the two is just flawless. You can’t help but get sucked into their comical friendship and feel like a part of the gang. The overall dialogue in the movie is superb even when the scene is serious. For example, when Etta agrees to come to Bolivia but lets the guys know “I’ll go with you, and I won't whine, and I'll sew your socks, and I'll stitch you when you're wounded, and I'll do anything you ask of me except one thing. I won't watch you die. I'll miss that scene if you don't mind” (Etta). It is easy to relate to Etta at this point and you know exactly where she comes and what she’s feeling. It’s also significant because later on she really does miss the “scene” the she dreads.

            When it comes to the cinematography and production design used, I cannot find a single scene that was not spot on. I especially fell in love with the way Butch’s face is lit when he sits at the campfire after killing for the first time. The pictorial lighting expresses the contemplation, sadness, and weariness and moral conflict he is having.  The first two opening scenes were also one of the best. They give us a looking into what each character is like before we even officially meet them. With Butch we get a look at his piercing eyes which are amplified by the sepia-tone and you can clearly see him thinking and planning as he looks around the bank, which speaks volumes about his character? The small line he gives when he asks the guard about the bank also gives us a looking to his witty side. With the Sundance Kid we see a serious cowboy, simply playing cards but of course he gets accused of cheating and it leads to a show down. We get the sense that he isn’t full of himself and want to quickly show off his skill but only defending himself.