Blackthorn (2011)

Very disappointing...

Such a frustrating disappointment

Perfect cast and a good story

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Since the movie didn't say this was a true story, there are no statements at the end telling us what happened to everyone. I suppose we do wish that this was a true story.James Blackthorn (Sam Shepard) once known as Butch Cassidy seems to be alive in Bolivia and wants to go to the United States to see his nephew Ryan. On the way, he is almost bushwhacked by Eduardo (Eduardo Noriega), who fails, and Blackthorn kind of agrees to help him retrieve money he says he stole from a mine where he was an engineer and there is a posse after him. The rest of the movie has Blackthorn and Eduardo racing across the desert with the posse close behind. There will be a major twist later on. (Oh, oh!) The cinematography is excellent and many scenes were shot in Bolivia. There are many flashbacks of Butch and Sun Dance together to help fill in some gaps. Notables: Magaly Solier as Yana, love interest to Blackthorn; Dominique McElligott as Etta, who traveled with Butch and Sundance initially to Bolivia and later is shown as pregnant seemingly with Sun Dance's child; Padraic Delaney as Sun Dance; Stephen Rea as Mackinley the Pinkerton man who takes Blackthorn to safety.This was well told and acted throughout. (9/10)Violence: Yes. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Humor: Some may think some things were funny. I didn't see that. Language: Yes, some not much. Rating: A

Mateo Gil's "Blackthorn" ranks as a rugged, entertaining western set in South America that qualifies as a kind of sort a sequel to George Roy Hill's exceptional horse opera "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." This visually stunning oater lensed on location in scenic Bolivia by "The Others" lenser Lucio Godoy should be seen on the biggest screen possibly because the film reeks of grandeur. Not only are the towering mountains awe-inspiring but also the salt flats look terrific. Basically, this western concerns an older but wiser Butch Cassidy after the Sundance Kid has died and their girlfriend Etta Place has left the country. Interestingly, Gil explores our legendary heroes after they have just arrived in Bolivia, with Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau cast as the younger Butch, and then later with Sam Shepard playing the older Butch. Although the actors bear little resemblance to Paul Newman and Robert Redford, the narrative—relying less on humor—channels the classic western. No, "Blackthorn" isn't as good as the brilliant "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," but it makes a worthy companion piece. As the film opens, our venerable outlaw (Sam Shepard of "Country") is writing a letter to Etta Place (lovely Dominique McElligott of AMC's "Hell on Wheels") about his plans to leave Bolivia and return to America to live with his son. The flashbacks with the younger Butch (Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau of "Black Hawk Down") show our heroes escaping the wrath of a Pinkerton agent, Mackinley (Stephen Rea of "The Crying Game"), and his posse. "Endless Night" scenarist Miguel Barros doesn't let the action bog down, and director Mateo Gil keep things suspenseful and surprising as our protagonist is sidetracked on his journey home when he crosses trails with a Madrid-born bandit Eduardo Apodaca (Eduardo Noriega of "Sweetwater") and finds himself riding the owlhoot trail once again. The settings are atmospheric, and the time period is the late 1920s. Everybody believes that Butch has died, including the wily former Pinkerton agent McKinley, when our hero ties his fortune to Eduardo. Like "Butch Cassidy," "Blackthorn" takes place in some breathtaking scenery in craggy mountainsides and sprawling deserts. Posses of one kind or another assemble to pursue these two, and Butch—who calls himself James—takes a shine to Eduardo and they find themselves struggling to pursue those posses. Like the posse in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," the posses in "Blackthorn" don't know when to quit and they are determined to bring back our heroes dead or alive. Sam Shepard delivers a sympathetic performance of a fading outlaw who has to resume his own ways. In the flashback sequences, Pádraic Delaney makes a good Sundance. Unfortunately, he isn't as flamboyant as Robert Redford, but the two actors have enough charisma to make them memorable. Miraculously, they manage to escape the authorities, but Sundance catches a bullet that won't go away as the flee for parts unknown and eventually Butch must do the unthinkable to put him out of his misery. Most westerns that occur in the 20th century rarely encapsulate the wild spirit of the old West, but "Blackthorn" does, and anybody who craves a good shoot'em up will treasure this tale.

Whilst owning the film on DVD,I found myself drawn to stay up late at night a few weeks ago to watch the ultra-stylish Neo-Noir Cold In July get screened on TV,with Sam Shepard's being utterly chilling. Checking to see if anything interesting was being shown over the last days of the Easter holiday,I was thrilled to spot a Shepard Spanish Western (!) being shown,which led to me pulling out the black thorn.The plot:Leaving the US with a myth of him and Sundance both being killed, Butch Cassidy changes his name to James Blackthorn and goes to live a life of solitary in Bolivia. Waken up from his 20 year slumber by news that his former lover Etta Place has died,Cassidy writers to their son Ryan to give him news that he will be coming home to meet him. As he prepares to set off,Cassidy discovers people who want to make the myth of his death become true.View on the film:Riding across the beautiful hills of Bolivia,director Mateo Gil & cinematographer Juan Ruiz Anchía dip the title in the ghostly myth of Cassidy with isolated crane shots sweeping along the wilderness that Cassidy has left the myths behind for. Tipping his hat towards the Chorizo Western genre, Gil gives the clipped shots of gunfire a dry,earthy colour,that keeps the action grounded with the stark reality of Cassidy.Unearthing Cassidy's "missing years" the screenplay by Miguel Barros superbly grinds into the daily life of Cassidy,with Barros gradually revealing the loves and relaxed daily rituals that Cassidy has come accustomed to. Getting Cassidy to put his cowboy hat back on, Barros struggles to make Cassidy's return thunderous,due to appearing to be like Cassidy,in enjoying the chance to focus on his domestic life,but being much less interested in unleashing Wild West Cassidy action. Joined by a rough and ready Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau as young outlaw James Joven, Sam Shepard gives a fantastic performance as Cassidy,thanks to Shepard making a mere facial expression strip the 20 year myths off Cassidy's face,to unveil a rugged,black thorn outlaw.

(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.