THE NICEST "BAD" GUYS IN THE WEST : BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID

Well, all this “of beat” stuff is very well and good but I have to plug a classic western in there somewhere don’t I? Otherwise it’s, well… Sort of disrespectful, almost. Now, this is a classic but it still has a certain something about it. It’s back from the days when Hollywood was churning out more classics and less of the “just get bums on seats” stuff. And you are strongly encouraged to watch the film even if you aren’t usually a fan of the genre. There is a lot more going on than just baddies fighting goodies in this one.
First and foremost, our story is actually based on actual events. The title at the beginning of the film informs us that “what we are about to see is mostly true”. One can’t help but smile at the statement’s sincerity and I find it actually quite clever in that it sets the general tone of the film to perfection. The tone of course, is largely determined by its two stars; Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford). Butch is a charming and intelligent rogue who always has a plan; Sundance is the quickest and most accurate rifle in the West and between them they make an unbeatable team. You know the sort of thing; bank robberies, train robberies, the usual. They have a small gang to help them along and besides they are such truly nice guys that the population doesn’t mind helping them out now and again. But one day… One day they meet their match. Although the general population sees them as lovable scamps who commit a robbery or two here and there, bank managers don’t exactly share the same opinion. And one man’s anger and indignation will be the beginning of a desperate escape for our two heroes… One that will take them further than their wildest nightmares…
I haven’t watched enough films in the genre to be able to judge, but this MUST be one of the first films that formed the genre where you tend to sympathize with the bad guys instead of the good guys. I don’t mean they’re anti-heroes or anything; what I mean is that in actual life we’d be on the side of justice and the police, not the train robbers. I mean, same principal as, I dunno, Ocean’s 11. They’re all criminal’s for Heaven’s sake, why then do we root for George Clooney and Brad Pitt to get away (apart from the fact that they are both gorgeous that is). Well, looks do come into it up to a point here too. I mean, you’d have to have serious eye problems to consider Robert Redford (his youth at any rate) nothing to write home about and the same goes for Paul Newman (oh yes, the casting in these things is rarely random!). But in this case the twosome is more than just a pair of pretty faces. The characters are so real, so sincere, so funny… They may take money that doesn’t belong to them, but they have principals. I mean, they rob those big faceless corporations (or their equivalent in the past) not the common people. They treat the common people with respect (ok they’re no Robin Hood they won’t be SHARING the loot with you any time soon) but they are such well-meaning rascals your instinct is to laugh, shake your head and turn the other way while they make their escape. And with the relentless pursuit begins the nail biting ordeal that will pretty much go on to the end of the film.
I am tempted to comment on said end of film, but the main body of the film is just SO exciting I will refrain. I don’t want to spoil the excitement. However this I will say, if a film wins the Oscars® for Best Story AND Best Screenplay, well there’s usually a pretty good reason for it.