Blackthorn

2011 "No destiny"
6.5| 1h38m| R| en| More Info
Released: 07 October 2011 Released
Producted By: TVE
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.blackthornmovie.com/
Synopsis

In Bolivia, Butch Cassidy (now calling himself James Blackthorn) pines for one last sight of home, an adventure that aligns him with a young robber and makes the duo a target for gangs and lawmen alike.

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Reviews

ThiefHott Too much of everything
Matrixiole Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.
Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
Matho The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.
charlywiles This Spanish/South American western is not only one of the most underrated films in the genre, but one of the most overlooked films of the last several years. It boasts a compelling story, a fine script, an excellent cast, stunning photography of some magnificent Bolivian locations and a terrific performance from Sam Shepard as Butch Cassidy (alias James Blackthorn). This may well be Shepard's finest screen work in a stellar career. Stephen Rea as Blackthorn's (Shepard's) ancient nemesis and pursuer (their relationship recalls Victor Hugo's Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert) and Eduardo Noriega as the devilishly charming Spanish thief provide wonderful support. The action is well-handled and the flashback scenes of a young Butch, Sundance and Etta Place perfectly underscore the story rather than sidetrack it as flashback sequences so often do. The picture is different in tone - more serious and downbeat - than the classic "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969), but it is still a worthy companion piece to that film - largely due to Shepard's expert characterization and Mateo Gil's sure-handed direction. In a genre that has often been depicted as all but dead (but still lives on splendidly thank you), this is a more than worthy entry.
Leofwine_draca BLACKTHORN is a low key little western story with the added attraction of having been filmed in Bolivia. It's a semi-sequel of sorts to BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, supposedly based on a real-life bit of historical research that revealed the pair weren't killed by Bolivian soldiers in a shoot out after all. What really happened is shown in brief flashbacks in which Butch is played by GAME OF THRONES star Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau , and it's more downbeat and realistic than in the Hollywood production.Otherwise, this film is very much unlike the glossy Paul Newman-starrer. There's no humour for a start, just an understated approach that makes this an art-house film. It's a lyrical mood piece in which glorious rolling landscapes and deserts are the backdrop to character-based plot twists. Sam Shepard plays an aged Cassidy in an understated way, leaving the brunt of the acting to Eduardo Noriega who plays his newfound associate. There's no action here to speak of aside from a couple of brief shoot-outs, just plot-building and pretty visuals.
Adam Peters (63%) A handsome modern western that twists a legendary character more for personal acclaim than for the sake of good story telling. Sam Shepard has a perfect feel of an ageing old west outlaw and he is more than capable playing such a well known man. While the rest of the cast isn't exactly all that bad either. It's well shot with some fantastic location work, and the makers have created a very convincing setting. My only issue is whether or not the Butch Cassidy connection and everything that comes with it is actually required, because in all honesty this has enough of an interesting plot without the quite frankly unneeded association distracting from the perfectly fine central theme. The simple fact is this would have been even better, cleaner, more focused film if everyone kept well away from Butch and Sundance, or merely just hinted at the idea.
coiffuremixte Blackthorn is one of those films. The kind that you discover and fall in love with. It exists and this is already a miracle.Between The Good, The Bad, The Weird and Walter Salles is Blackthorn. The meditative beauty, poetic narration and sublime photography of Salles and something of the supercool bravura of Kim Jee Woon's masterpiece.Everything pays off here: the unexpected flashbacks which actually work dramatically and interact with the central story, the performance of Shephard which is Oscar worthy - this sounds like a cliché but he is really wonderful in this film and deserves recognition for his brilliant work - Eduardo Noriega is also back to being the resolutely appealing actor able to make you feel for him even when his character is unsympathetic, which he proved in the classic Abre Los Ojos.Blackthorn is a sad film which tells the story of an aging outlaw's attempt to make up for the things he regrets as he's nears the end of his life. It is exciting, beautiful, sensitive and true. See it if you can and be glad you did.