A Walk in the Woods (2015)

 

After spending two decades in England, Bill Bryson returns to the U.S., where he decides the best way to connect with his homeland is to hike the Appalachian Trail with one of his oldest friends, Stephen Katz.

Likeable, leisurely paced road movie has its amusing moments, some good landscape cinematography, and Redford and Nolte seem to be enjoying themselves, fully at ease with the characters they are playing.

 

Robert Redford

The Conspirator (2010)

 

 

Mary Surratt is the lone female charged as a co-conspirator in the assassination trial of Abraham Lincoln. As the whole nation turns against her, she is forced to rely on her reluctant lawyer to uncover the truth and save her life. 

Made in good taste and excellent period detail and with a capable cast ensemble, this historical drama focuses on an interesting aspect of the Lincoln assassination, but without much suspense or giving the story the importance it actually has. 

Maltin**1/2: "'Historical drama never achieves the urgency it should, but McAvoy's impassioned performance is worth seeing."  

Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

A mountain man who wishes to live the life of a hermit becomes the unwilling object of a long vendetta by Indians, and proves to be a match for their warriors in one-on-one combat on the early frontier.

Classic revisionist western about a legendary, almost mythic man of the wild, masterfully depicting the harsh life in the wilderness with amazing realism.





On rewatching: I've seen this movie quite often by now, and it's still a rewarding view

Halliwell**: "Splendidly made if rather desultory plotted adventure story with the feel of raw reality."

Maltin***: "Atmospheric chronicle...Unfortunately, film doesn't know where to quit rambling on to inconclusive ending. Geer is delightful as feisty mountain hermit."

Out of Africa (1985)

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Two Western bank/train robbers flee to Bolivia when the law gets too close.

Highly entertaining Western takes a lighthearted, but not insincere view of outlaw life and gives its two leads lots of room to expand (and enjoy) on their buddyhood, while never losing pace of the tale, and offers some spectacular landscape cinematography; the soundtrack may have been popular, but is a bit incongruous to the goings-on.

Halliwell****: "Humorous, cheerful, poetic, cinematic account of two semi-legendary outlaws, winningly acted and directed. One of the decade's great commercial successes, not least because of the song 'Raindrops Keep Falin' on My Head'.'"

Maltin****: "Delightful seriocomic character study masquerading as a Western....Many memorable vignettes."

Truth (2015)

Newsroom drama detailing the 2004 CBS 60 Minutes report investigating then-President George W. Bush's military service, and the subsequent firestorm of criticism that cost anchor Dan Rather and producer Mary Mapes their careers.

Solid, but a bit old-fashioned political docudrama makes well use of its star cast and does manage to convey the vagaries and risks of a high-profile journalistic investigation into a political scandal.

The Discovery (2017)

Two years after the afterlife is scientifically proven, a man attempts to help a young woman break away from her dark past.

An intriguing premise is muddled by a half-hearted treatment and a disappointing ending, and the central romance between Mara and Segel is simply mismatched.

Sneakers (1992)

A security pro finds his past coming back to haunt him, when he and his unique team are tasked with retrieving a particularly important item.

Good-humoured and harmless caper comedy, although it does presciently convey an alarming attempt at global surveillance.

Halliwell**: "Enjoyable caper that pleasantly passes a couple of hours."

Maltin**1/2: "High-tech caper yarn...Redford is in fine form in a lighthearted leading-man role, and his "team" is fun, but why does this story take so long to unravel - and why does it jettison every shred of believability toward the end?"

Three Days of the Condor (1975)

A bookish CIA researcher finds all his co-workers dead, and must outwit those responsible until he figures out who he can really trust.

First-rate 70s political thriller feeding on its time's fear of overpowering conspiracies, intelligently directed and well cast.

Halliwell**: "Entertaining New York-based thriller which shamelessly follows most of the twists of  The 39 Steps. It is just possible to follow its complexities, and the dialogue is smart."

Maltin***: "Dunaway is excellent as innocent woman who shelters him. Good suspense yarn."

The Clearing (2004)

As an executive is held captive by an employee, it's up to his wife to deliver the ransom.

More psycho-drama than thriller this movie has ambitions to tell more than its story holds; good performances, though.

Maltin**1/2: "More a character study than a conventional story, this interesting, elliptical plays with chronology in challenging ways but doesn't lead to a satisfying conclusion. The three stars are excellent."

The Company You Keep (2012)

A former Weather Underground activist goes on the run from a journalist who has discovered his identity.

Subdued and pleasantly melancholic political thriller with a good ensemble works more with atmosphere than suspense.

Maltin**1/2: "Impressive cast can't breathe fire into this story despite its promising ingredients."

An Unfinished Life (2005)

 

 

A down on her luck widow, desperate to provide care for her daughter, moves in with her father in-law from whom she is estranged, because he gives her the fault for his son's death.

A deliberately simple tale is well produced and the cast in great form, but the movie is slow-paced and not too exciting.

 

ON renewed viewing: I still agree with my first assessment, but it is a likable movie.

Maltin***: "Warmhearted, embracing story about family ties and the need for forgiveness. It's a treat to watch Redford and Freeman as two old codgers with an unshakable bond of friendship."

 

 

Robert Redford

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Redford

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Two Western bank/train robbers flee to Bolivia when the law gets too close.

All Is Lost (2013)

After a collision with a shipping container at sea, a resourceful sailor finds himself, despite all efforts to the contrary, staring his mortality in the face.

Professionally made one-man-lost-at-sea drama tells its story silently and in finely tuned sequences of consecutive little disasters; Redford is perfect for the role.

Maltin**1/2: "...virtually dialogue-free film...The narrative loses its pull when we realize (assured by the film's title) that things are not headed in a good direction. Expertly crafted by writer-director Chandor and his team, but the picture's major asset is Redford, who is completely and effortlessly credible. He alone makes the movie worth watching."

Ordinary People (1980)

The accidental death of the older son of an affluent family deeply strains the relationships among the bitter mother, the good-natured father, and the guilt-ridden younger son.

Fine analysis of a family on the verge of catastrophe, subtly and grippingly told with a great ensemble.

Halliwell***: "An actor's piece which on that level succeeds very well, and accurately pins down a certain species of modern American family."

Maltin****: "Superb adaptation...Intelligent, meticulously crafted film, an impressive directorial debut Redford..."

Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

A mountain man who wishes to live the life of a hermit becomes the unwilling object of a long vendetta by Indians, and proves to be a match for their warriors in one-on-one combat on the early frontier.

Classic revisionist western about a legendary, almost mythic man of the wild, masterfully depicting the harsh life in the wilderness with amazing realism.

Halliwell**: "Splendidly made if rather desultory plotted adventure story with the feel of raw reality."

Maltin***: "Atmospheric chronicle...Unfortunately, film doesn't know where to quit rambling on to inconclusive ending. Geer is delightful as feisty mountain hermit."