With the passing of Robert Redford, it’s inevitable that folks will begin revisiting his classics to pay tribute to one of many biggest film stars of all time. And to be honest, there are loads of fantastic movies to select from. Redford was famously picky along with his tasks, and outdoors of the occasional misfire like Havana (which, to be honest, isn’t that unhealthy), he had only a few flops on his résumé.
Over the following few weeks, I think about individuals shall be watching his two legendary team-ups with Paul Newman—Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Child and The Sting—in addition to stone-cold classics like All of the President’s Males, The Pure, The Approach We Have been, Out of Africa (by no means my favourite, however that rating is unforgettable), The Horse Whisperer, Indecent Proposal, and lots of extra.
Nonetheless, right here at JoBlo, we love to do issues just a little in another way. For years, I’ve had a column known as The Finest Film You By no means Noticed (admittedly intermittent in recent times), and similar to I did when Gene Hackman handed, I need to share some underrated Robert Redford films that deserve one other look.
The Sizzling Rock
William Goldman wrote lots of Redford’s greatest movies, together with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Child, The Sting, and The Nice Waldo Pepper. Some of the missed is The Sizzling Rock, against the law caper that’s surprisingly laborious to seek out as of late (although it pops up on Criterion Channel from time to time). Tailored from Donald Westlake’s novel, it options Redford as John Dortmunder, a thief who retains failing—repeatedly—to steal the identical gem. He’s paired with the late George Segal as his brother-in-law/companion in crime, and the movie options some intelligent twists and a scene-stealing flip by Zero Mostel. Outdoors of Authorized Eagles, that is the closest Redford ever got here to creating a straight comedy.
Jeremiah Johnson
This Sydney Pollack-directed western might be most well-known as of late for the GIF it spawned, but it surely’s truly a stark, delicate frontier story with Redford forged approach towards kind as a bearded mountain man. When Jeremiah trespasses on sacred Homeland, he’s marked for dying by the Crow tribe, who ship era after era of warriors to kill him—however none can defeat him. Whereas the finale leans into motion, a lot of the movie is known as a romance, with Jeremiah constructing a life with the daughter of a Crow chief, just for tragedy to strike. Redford introduced a softness to the position that Steve McQueen or Clint Eastwood—each extra pure matches—seemingly would have lacked.
Three Days of the Condor
Redford wasn’t usually recognized for motion, however he made an exception for this paranoid post-Watergate thriller. He performs a CIA analyst who stumbles onto a large conspiracy and finds himself hunted by his personal authorities. Whereas the setup would possibly sound acquainted now, it was groundbreaking on the time. Sydney Pollack staged a handful of wonderful suspense sequences, and Redford’s later casting in Captain America: The Winter Soldier was a direct nod to this movie.
Brubaker
Considered one of Redford’s grittier dramas, Brubaker casts him as a crusading jail warden decided to scrub up a corrupt penal system. Primarily based on a real story, the movie has a terrific first act the place Brubaker goes undercover as an inmate, with audiences unaware he’s the brand new warden till nicely into the story. It pairs properly with one other jail movie he made a long time later, The Final Fort.
Spy Recreation
Whereas I used to be tempted to incorporate Sneakers right here (although let’s face it, that’s already a basic), I’ll as a substitute spotlight Tony Scott’s Spy Recreation. This slick techno-thriller paired Redford with Brad Pitt (whom he helped uncover with A River Runs By It). Propulsive enhancing and Scott’s kinetic fashion made it in contrast to the rest in Redford’s filmography.
And there you will have it. When you’re searching for much more underrated Redford gems, try All is Misplaced, The Outdated Man and the Gun, The Electrical Horseman, and The Candidate.
So—what’s your favourite Robert Redford film? Tell us within the feedback beneath!
