THE PLOT THUS FAR
It’s been said that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were killed in a standoff with the Bolivian military in 1908. In BLACKTHORN, Cassidy (Sam Shepard) survived and is quietly living out his years under the name James Blackthorn in a secluded Bolivian village. Tired of his long exile from the U.S. and hoping to see his family again before he dies, Cassidy sets out on the long journey home. But when an unexpected encounter with an ambitious young criminal (Eduardo Noriega) derails his plans, he is thrust into one last adventure, the likes of which he hasn’t experienced since his glory days with the Sundance Kid.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
An aging Butch Cassidy, now calling himself Blackthorn and living a quiet life in 1920s Bolivia, learns that Etta Place has died in San Francisco, living her young son behind, to whom Butch has long been writing in the guise of “Uncle Butch.” He decides to travel back to the States to see his “nephew,” and sets off with the blessings of his indigenous girlfriend Yana (Magaly Solier). Early on, however, he comes across Eduardo, a young Spanish man on the run from a posse after he stole a lot of money from an evil mine-owner. Eduardo’s horse is dead and he is lost, and he begs Blackthorn to help him; somewhat against his will, Blackthorn does so, and they set off on a last grand adventure, together.
This whole story is a bit outlandish, but it’s at its best when Blackthorn runs smack dab into Makinley, one of the old Pinkerton men who was chasing him twenty years ago. Turns out, Makinley (Stephen Rea) is a social outcast because he was the only one who thought the boys survived that attack so many years ago. Seems both Makinley and Blackthorn have been cast aside and trapped in Bolivia. While Shepard is outstanding, he shares star billing with the terrain of Bolivia. It definitely holds its own versus the Monument Valley we have seen in so many westerns over the years. The salt flats are particularly beautiful and treacherous, and filmed with skill by the director. We are also treated to periodic flashbacks and a few of the key moments for Butch, Sundance and Etta.
The Blu-Ray comes with featurettes, deleted scenes and a trailer. The A/V Quality is near reference quality which is a first for a Magnolia release this Christmas season. The 1080p transfer stands among the best that they’ve done in the company’s life and I anxiously await to see if they can keep up the momentum. The DTS-HD 5.1 master audio is well mixed and keeps the gun shots and dialogue in their respective channels. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!
