What is the point of this movie? - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) Discussion

[–] b5erik 8 years ago

Addressing the topic question...

What is the point of this movie? Certainly not a plot. There isn't a strong narrative here, no real plot. It's just a string of events that happen with these guys. It's style over substance.

I don't know what the point of the movie is. It isn't as funny as the makers try to make it. It isn't particularly dramatic as there is almost no plot.

As a result it's not horribly bad, but it's not very good, either, IMO.

Overrated is what I'd call it.

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[–] doobienick 8 years ago

Ignorant to a great movie is what I'll call you. And to the OP, what is the point of your existence?

I spend my money on dope, sex and cheap thrills.
The rest of it, I waste.

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[–] Owlwise (1535) 5 years ago

A strong plot isn't the point of this film, as it's almost a slice-of-life film, a study of two men who have outlived their time but can't (or won't) admit it. Their lives have been a romp, they want that to go on indefinitely, but times have changed & they have no place in the ongoing world. That's a theme still quite relevant to this day.

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[–] gungfugilman 8 years ago

The point was to glorify two handsome criminals, which it did very well. It also showed the downside of their lifestyle, i.e. few lasting relationships and living on the run.

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[–] belstaff-35222 8 years ago

The cynical answer would be to make money for the producers/studio/investors.

Perhaps to entertain ?

Or maybe to comment on what happens when people aren't willing to change with the times. Butch and Sundance were both living a hedonistic and carefree lifestyle outside of the law and as their sheriff friend warned them, they needed to accept the fact that the times have changed and if they didn't change with it, then their outcome would be bloody and violent deaths. Instead of accepting this and giving up their lawless lifestyle, they decide to move to Bolivia thinking that they'd be able to continue their chosen lifestyle. As we see in the end, it eventually catches up to them. Etta foresaw this and it's why she leaves in end.

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[–] ecarle (14979) 6 years ago

The constant parade of one-liners, and the handsomeness of the men, bely the fact that the story is a great big downer -- for the two robbers. The sheriff indeed calls it -- they are going to die bloody and the only thing they can do is choose where. They do.

Note that the movie is pretty hard on the "lazier" side of the two robbers. Near the end, they discuss trying to go straight as farmers("I don't know how to be a farmer" Sundance says), or ranchers(Butch says the work with horses and cattle is too physically hard.) They think they can join the Army and go to war(more gunplay and action for them), but they can't. They chose their profession -- bank and train robberies -- and to their amazement, they learn that EH Harriman is now interested in them dead, and only dead. No jail. No deals. With a Superposse of the best lawmen alive sent to kill them.

It was a mixed time at the movies. Robbers like Bonnie and Clyde, Butch and Sundance, and (most brutally) The Wild Bunch were presented to young under-30's as "rebels against the Establishment" but the writers and directors of the films saw these 'rebels" as pretty violent, unintelligent(well, some of them), and lazy people who could only end up dead. I suppose it was "the American studio version of the radical film."

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[–] Jones70 (6534) 6 years ago

i'm sure you could say that about a shitload of movies out there.

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

it's fun

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[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

It was made in 1969, when the Civil Rights movement had gone from peaceful protests to street riots and the Black Panther movement, and when kids were protesting the Vietnam War and dodging the draft, and Flower Power was out, and being a Revolutionary was in. Being a Rebel or an Outlaw was in style, and young men wanted to be Outlaws or at least convince the girls they were Rebelling against Society.

And this movie is a look at what at being an Outlaw and a Rebel is really all about.

Oh yeah, the guys are cool, but does the movie glamorize the life of an outlaw? Well, somewhat, but do they win their war against society? No! They lose, and they know that they're going to lose, and during the film they realize they're losing NOW, they're playing a game they can't win. The Man is relentless, remorseless, pitiless, willing to follow a target to the ends of the Earth, and bring in armies when they get there. So in the end, the message is something like "Rebelling may be fun, but The Man always wins in the end".

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[–] liscarkat (18388) 5 years ago

To entertain audiences and to make money, two perfectly worthwhile goals.

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[–] marktayloruk (2502) 2 years ago

To entertain people?

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[–] ccr1633 (1523) 2 years ago

Not only that, but this was a period of time when the classic western film was being re-envisioned. After the success of the Leone trilogy and Bonnie & Clyde, the line between the good guys and the bad guys was blurred to great effect. It was acceptable, entertaining even, to demonstrate that even criminals could have wit and personality. What I found most appealing in my first viewing was the clever dialog, most especially when Butch and Sundance were sparring with each other. Examples:

"For a gunman you're one hell of a pessimist"
"Don't you get sick of being right all the time?" (just after Butch predicted only one gunman was harassing them)
"They could surrender to us, but I wouldn't count on that." (as Butch pondered the options the posse had in flushing them out)
"Think you used enough dynamite there Butch?"
"I was really rooting for you Butch." "Well thank you, Flatnose. That's what sustained me in my time of trouble."

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