Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

In the long list of iconic monikers throughout cinema's history, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid will always be one of the most notorious hit breakers!

Made in 1969, this ginormous classic tells the story of two train robbers at the brink end of the old world. Technological advancement brought by industrial revolution is slowly consuming the generation, and our heroes are trying hard to exist in this new change with their known and dusted ways. The refusal to adapt and constant rejection of the future forms the theme of this celluloid and the negative character arcs of our leads. Advent of bicycle is a sample tool to illustrate this.

William Goldman's writing is exactly like his last name - gold! There isn't one dull scene in this film! The way the genius screenwriter utilized contrast in scenes and dialogues is simply amazing! Every scene reveals character and moves the plot forward. Our protagonists are constantly thrown into situations where they are forced to bend to the world that's transforming at breakneck pace. Coded bank locks and language barrier are examples of barricades placed on the protagonists' path to show how they constantly choose to live in the past and ignore or reject the future.

The moment Butch (Paul Newman) and Kid (Robert Redford) starts running for their lives as bounty hunters are on their tails, the thrill, excitement , tension and suspense elevate to a whole new level! Stakes become higher. These are bounty hunters with advanced technology. Butch and Kid are outnumbered, outgunned, leaving them at their most vulnerable state yet. While they gradually lose their horses before jumping into a waterfall in an effort of evading the bounty killers whom they try to figure the identity of along the way, just listen to all the fantastic dialogue exchanges between Butch and Kid!

The chemistry between Paul Newman and Robert Redford is unlike anything we've seen before! Their performances are top class! They gel so well together as Butch and Kid! You know these great characters are good people, and you certainly are aware of their upcoming fate due to their stubbornness of declining change over and over! You want these guys to survive so bad, but as their ally departs and the herd of policemen surround them with firearms in a Bolivia yarn during the climax, there's no hope left. It's even more pitiful realizing these characters didn't know what's waiting for them at the other end.

Despite dealing with a heavy subject matter, the way director George Roy Hill handled this motion picture with a light tone throughout, enhanced by incredible humour is absolutely marvellous! Exposition layout is smooth. Camerawork and colours are pure vintage! The documentary-esque opening to set up the story and Bolivia travel narration through photographs are innovative. The live-on-set explosions are absolutely daring! Granted, some of score choices could have been better. The love triangle between Butch, Kid and Etta (Katharine Ross) is quite weird plus the 'Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head' number is out of place.