Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

As an example of another New Hollywood Western, I did enjoy this, and almost gave it five stars, but it wasn't as tight a story or as lyrical as Bonnie & Clyde or The Searchers. For me, the timing of watching this as particularly apt, given I'm about to go to the Sundance Film Festival (named by Robert Redford for his character in the film). Steve McQueen was droll and fun to watch, but I didn't warm to Robert Redford's character.

All the President's Men

WOW! This movie is stunning. If I could, I'd give it six stars, but sadly I don't have a graphic or label for that. Both Redford, Hoffman, and Robards are amazing in this and compliment each other well, between Redford's more introspective cautious style, Hoffman's disarrayed eagerness, and Robards as the unwitting editor-in-chief who is at the helm of the paper that breaks the Watergate Scandal to the public. I loved the sound direction and parts of the art direction. In particular there is a scene in which Redford is just about becoming aware of the fact he is being followed--the soundtrack is a slow ringing thudding like a clock's pendulum while Redford starts walking slowly and then increasing his gait into a run away from the garage in which he had met deep-throat. The shots alternate between his dark frame being projected against the white wall of the garage or his body front lit the dark of night. Worth watching for the acting and historical significance. I never realized that the Watergate scandal was essential broken by two newsman while the rest of the news world and justice department dragged their feet unwilling to either believe the magnitude of what had happened or afraid to stake their reputations on it. Makes me want to go pick up the book and give it a read. In a side note, the Washington Post's office reminded me of 9 to 5.