Whilst owning the film on DVD,I found myself drawn to stay up late at night a few weeks ago to watch the ultra-stylish Neo-Noir Cold In July get screened on TV,with Sam Shepard's being utterly chilling. Checking to see if anything interesting was being shown over the last days of the Easter holiday,I was thrilled to spot a Shepard Spanish Western (!) being shown,which led to me pulling out the black thorn.
The plot:
Leaving the US with a myth of him and Sundance both being killed, Butch Cassidy changes his name to James Blackthorn and goes to live a life of solitary in Bolivia. Waken up from his 20 year slumber by news that his former lover Etta Place has died,Cassidy writers to their son Ryan to give him news that he will be coming home to meet him. As he prepares to set off,Cassidy discovers people who want to make the myth of his death become true.
View on the film:
Riding across the beautiful hills of Bolivia,director Mateo Gil & cinematographer Juan Ruiz Anchía dip the title in the ghostly myth of Cassidy with isolated crane shots sweeping along the wilderness that Cassidy has left the myths behind for. Tipping his hat towards the Chorizo Western genre, Gil gives the clipped shots of gunfire a dry,earthy colour,that keeps the action grounded with the stark reality of Cassidy.
Unearthing Cassidy's "missing years" the screenplay by Miguel Barros superbly grinds into the daily life of Cassidy,with Barros gradually revealing the loves and relaxed daily rituals that Cassidy has come accustomed to. Getting Cassidy to put his cowboy hat back on, Barros struggles to make Cassidy's return thunderous,due to appearing to be like Cassidy,in enjoying the chance to focus on his domestic life,but being much less interested in unleashing Wild West Cassidy action. Joined by a rough and ready Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau as young outlaw James Joven, Sam Shepard gives a fantastic performance as Cassidy,thanks to Shepard making a mere facial expression strip the 20 year myths off Cassidy's face,to unveil a rugged,black thorn outlaw.
The plot:
Leaving the US with a myth of him and Sundance both being killed, Butch Cassidy changes his name to James Blackthorn and goes to live a life of solitary in Bolivia. Waken up from his 20 year slumber by news that his former lover Etta Place has died,Cassidy writers to their son Ryan to give him news that he will be coming home to meet him. As he prepares to set off,Cassidy discovers people who want to make the myth of his death become true.
View on the film:
Riding across the beautiful hills of Bolivia,director Mateo Gil & cinematographer Juan Ruiz Anchía dip the title in the ghostly myth of Cassidy with isolated crane shots sweeping along the wilderness that Cassidy has left the myths behind for. Tipping his hat towards the Chorizo Western genre, Gil gives the clipped shots of gunfire a dry,earthy colour,that keeps the action grounded with the stark reality of Cassidy.
Unearthing Cassidy's "missing years" the screenplay by Miguel Barros superbly grinds into the daily life of Cassidy,with Barros gradually revealing the loves and relaxed daily rituals that Cassidy has come accustomed to. Getting Cassidy to put his cowboy hat back on, Barros struggles to make Cassidy's return thunderous,due to appearing to be like Cassidy,in enjoying the chance to focus on his domestic life,but being much less interested in unleashing Wild West Cassidy action. Joined by a rough and ready Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau as young outlaw James Joven, Sam Shepard gives a fantastic performance as Cassidy,thanks to Shepard making a mere facial expression strip the 20 year myths off Cassidy's face,to unveil a rugged,black thorn outlaw.