Movies for Guys: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Last night I had the wonderful opportunity to see one of the all-time classic movies the way it was meant to be seen. On the big screen. As part of the TCM Big Screen Classics program, my local theater was showing Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. So, with one of my best friends, we saddled up and rode out to the see it. If you haven’t seen Butch and Sundance, stop reading and go watch it immediately. Seriously, it’s free on Amazon Prime right now. This is one of the original buddy action/comedies, but it’s so much more.
Two actors in their prime.
Have you ever wondered why people (maybe your parents or grandparents) revere actors like Paul Newman and Robert Redford? Aside from being great actors, they were also incredibly handsome. I would kill to have Redford’s hair in this movie! I think a lot of times we see older actors and wonder what all the fuss is about. Watching a movie like Butch and Sundance, especially in a theater, gives insight into how these actors were able to captivate their audiences.
Issues which guys can appreciate.
Talking your buddy down from a fight, trading zingers back and forth, having a crush on your friend’s girl, this movie hits a lot of real topics that many men have either been through or will experience at some point. Sure, there are shootouts, posses, and horses, but, taking it even further, this is a window into the way men relate.
The true beauty of film.
I had seen Butch and Sundance several times before last night, but nothing prepared me for the beauty of this film. There were no green screens, no CGI characters, no special effects beyond a few sticks of dynamite here and there. This movie was real. There was a texture to the scenes that drew me in more than most of today’s blockbusters. There were deserts, jungles, plains, mesas, rocky trails. I felt more connected to a movie than I had in a long time, because everything on screen was something I had experienced in real life. I could relate better. I knew what the characters were experiencing.
I’ve had a business idea for while now to open a theater that only shows classic movies. Sadly, judging by the eleven people in the theater (including me!), it’s probably not a sustainable business. But Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is what movies are supposed to be. Seeing in it the theater only served to boost that thrill. And after last night, you can be sure I will be seeing The Maltese Falcon in February!
Regards,