Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)

People are voting emotionally.

Just perfect...

Good movie but grossly overrated

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Finally Got The DVD Recently. Hadn't Seen The Film In Years But Enjoyed It Again After All These Years. I Am A Big Fan Of Sam Peckinpah Got Most Of His DVD'S. Also A Big Fan Of Westerns Especially On Stories Of Pat Garrett, Billy The Kid and John Poe. Plus Cracking Soundtrack By Bob Dylan Love His Songs Also

Sam Peckinpah had many demons and encountered many battles during his artistic life but his work, survives. What an exceptionally gifted man he was.I watched PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID again tonight. Despite disagreements with young author Rudy Wurlitzer (who turned into one of the best writers around) and the usual, obnoxious movie studio heads, Peckinpah's mastery shines thru.What a beautiful film PAT GARRETT is and James Coburn is smashing as the lawman (and friend) who hunts down Billy the Kid (Kris Kristofferson). The cast is legendary - Jason Robards, Emilio Fernandez, Katy Jurado, Slim Pickens, among numerous other veterans. The soundtrack, by Bob Dylan, is among the finest ever put on film.Peckinpah's eye, choreography, sense of tempo, are both poetic and exhilarating. Is it possible that such a maverick actually worked in Hollywood at one time? Wurlitzer, who had disagreements with Peckinpah over the script, nonetheless wrote a beautiful novel, SLOW FADE, about a legendary director of westerns coming to grips with his sorrows in the twilight of his life. Many believe the novel was inspired by his working relationship with Peckinpah.

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)** 1/2 (out of 4)Pat Garrett (James Coburn) takes a job as a Sheriff and soon after wards he heads out to arrest his old friend Billy the Kid (Kris Kristofferson). Before they can hang him Billy makes an escape so Garrett sets out to finish the job.Sam Peckinpah's PAT GARRETT & BILLY THE KID was released to mostly negative reviews but the version released wasn't what the director wanted. The studio pretty much took over the film and released their own cut, which was the only version out there until the Z-Channel released a 121-minute cut in the late 80s. Most preferred that version but there were those who felt this wasn't what Peckinpah would have wanted so a third version called the "Special Edition" was released in 2005 and that's the version being reviewed here.There's a lot of great stuff in this movie. In fact, it's easy to see why so many people consider this to be one of the director's greatest films but for my money there are still plenty of flaws. For starters, the biggest flaw is that the film is just downright boring. I'm going to place the majority of the blame on the screenplay, which doesn't seem to know what it's trying to do. Or, perhaps the screenplay was okay and it was Peckinpah that just couldn't get a clear story onto film. I'm going to guess that the main attempt was to show these two men, former friends, and what their falling out was all about. For the most part we see both characters doing their own thing and the movie really doesn't seem all that interested in a clear narrative of having Garrett find Billy. Of course, it eventually happens because that's the only way the movie could end but everything leading up to it just doesn't add up to much.The film is a technical marvel as the director clearly still had an eye for style. The entire film contains some wonderful cinematography and there's no question that the slow motion is perfectly used throughout. Peckinpah certainly knew how to stage a scene and milk everything out of it that he could. Just take a look at the sequence where Billy escape from jail and the destruction that follows. Another great sequence involves the capture of Billy and the remarkable shoot out that happens. The editing is another marvel that really helps move the film along. Then there's the music score and soundtrack from Bob Dylan. The score and soundtrack on their own are excellent but I really think the songs take away from the action on the screen. This is especially true for the "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," which just doesn't have much of an impact.The performances are where the real fun stuff comes from. I thought Coburn was excellent in the role of Garrett and he perfectly captured a rather dark character. Kristopherson is extremely good in the role of Billy the Kid and manages to turn in a very memorable version of the character. Dylan, the actor, is okay in his part even though he isn't given too much dialogue. The supporting cast includes Richard Jaeckel, Cill Willis, Jason Robards, Barry Sullivan, Luke Askew, Jack Elam, Slim Pickens, Harry Dean Stanton and Charles Martin Smith among others.PAT GARRETT & BILLY THE KID is far from a horrible movie but I think a stronger story would have made the technical achievement a lot better.

Fans of Sam Peckinpah and Fans of the Movie Western seem to give this Meandering Semi-Incoherent Film a Pass because it is a Sam Peckinpah Western. There are Moments in this Troubled Production that are Poignant and Beautifully Gritty. There are just as Many Others that are Clunky and Awkward.Much Controversy Arises Concerning this Movie the Least of Which is the Casting and Utilization of Bob Dylan as an Actor and His Songs. At Times the Inclusion of the Musical Numbers can be Heartfelt and Effective and at Other Stages not so much. But Using the Dylan (Lyrics or not) Material doesn't do too much to Diminish the Overall Effectiveness. As an Actor in a Smallish Role Mildly Detracts but Again not to the Detriment of the Whole.James Coburn and Kris Kristofferson as the Title Characters, it can be Argued, are Good Enough and along with the Slew of Familiar Faces and Odd Ball Stalwarts the same can be Said. So just what is the Major Malfunction that Keeps this from Becoming a Great Peckinpah, like say The Wild Bunch (1969) or Ride the High Country (1962) or to a Lesser Extent, Fine Films like Straw Dogs (1972) or the Getaway (1974)?The Answer My Friend is the Gloomy, Sombre, Lethargic, Motionless Pace and the Stumbling Editing. Add to that a Few Scenes of some Stiff and Unnecessary Nudity and a Couple of Other Ill-Advised Excesses and Underdeveloped Important Characters. The Studio Interference and the Director's Personal Detachment from Alcohol Abuse and General Belligerence around the Set are most Likely Contributions.Overall it is Worth a Watch and which Version is not that Important because as a Complete Peckinpah Picture it Works more than it Doesn't and is not one of His Worst and not one of His Best.