Blackthorn is a slow burn elegiac western with a fine performance from Sam Shepard. The actor and playwright who passed away in 2017 shows here what an excellent actor he could be when given the right role.
Shepard plays the ageing Butch Cassidy who did not die in a shootout in Bolivia but laid low living a modest life with his housekeeper Yana and longing to go home which he tries to do when his old flame dies back in the USA.
On his way back to America Butch comes across a Spanish mining engineer named Eduardo Apodaca (Eduardo Noriega) who has stolen from a mining company and is now in pursuit. He has also scared off Butch's horse and saddlebag carrying his money. Butch decides to team up with this young upstart who does not realise that legendary outlaw he is riding with.
However pretty soon McKinley (Stephen Rea) an old alcoholic agent from the Pinkerton Gang senses Butch's scent as he never believed that Butch died all those years ago.
This is a contemplative film, with maybe a too simple story. McKinley indicates to Butch at one point that he has become too trusting in his old age. There are some flashbacks to Butch and Sundance's younger days. The film has wonderful photography and stands testament to Shepard's vast talents.
Shepard plays the ageing Butch Cassidy who did not die in a shootout in Bolivia but laid low living a modest life with his housekeeper Yana and longing to go home which he tries to do when his old flame dies back in the USA.
On his way back to America Butch comes across a Spanish mining engineer named Eduardo Apodaca (Eduardo Noriega) who has stolen from a mining company and is now in pursuit. He has also scared off Butch's horse and saddlebag carrying his money. Butch decides to team up with this young upstart who does not realise that legendary outlaw he is riding with.
However pretty soon McKinley (Stephen Rea) an old alcoholic agent from the Pinkerton Gang senses Butch's scent as he never believed that Butch died all those years ago.
This is a contemplative film, with maybe a too simple story. McKinley indicates to Butch at one point that he has become too trusting in his old age. There are some flashbacks to Butch and Sundance's younger days. The film has wonderful photography and stands testament to Shepard's vast talents.