Robert Redford's
11 Best Performances
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Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is what I call a Western classic. Paul Newman and Robert Redford make
the best duo ever in cinema history. It's the most famous picture of their careers. The finale is brilliant when
their characters are surrounded by the Bolivian army and they're ready to come out with their guns blazing.
The Horse Whisperer is a terrific motion picture. Playing Tom Booker may be the deepest role of Robert
Redford's career. He can do no wrong, appearing mystical with the right lines. Of course, Pilgrim is the show.
Every time the attention is on him, the power of editing comes alive. The most dramatic moment is when Scarlett
Johansson was atop him before they rose up.
The Natural is a one-of-a-kind baseball movie. Robert Redford will always be Roy Hobbs. He's just perfect.
His story is almost what if Mickey Mantle never existed. The Natural is a mythology film by creating a
legend out of Roy Hobbs, hence the quote: "And then when I walked down the street people would've looked and
they would've said there goes Roy Hobbs, the best there ever was in this game."
The Great Gatsby is an underrated film that stays highly faithful but brings more meaning than the novel.
Many highlights are the Roaring Twenties costumes, the opulent cinematography, and the lavish interior sets. I'm
a firm believer of the adage: "Less is more." But for this film, why not go all out? And they just do. Robert
Redford is perfect, and he will always be Jay Gatsby to me.
If you ask me what's the best film I've seen for politics, my answer is The Candidate. Hence, I won't be
surprised if it's the standard reference guide for many fledgling politicians. My favorite moment is when Bill
McKay, who's marvelously played by Robert Redford, made fun of himself by how he sounded while riding in the
limo. It's also the moment Bill realized he sold his soul during the process.
An Unfinished Life combines elements of The Horse Whisperer and Enough. Robert Redford
deserves the most credit for making the show better in the long run. He starts small, works his way through,
and ends up turning in a solid performance. No matter how much star power Robert Redford emits, he knows how to
be homely and relatable.
The premise is literally everything, and it's very good. Back then, Indecent Proposal was a major hit of
the year, and nobody could stop talking about it. Almost all thought the proposal was actually decent. A million
dollars for one night? Hey, it's a no-brainer. Robert Redford is the most perfect casting choice. There's a lot
of Jay Gatsby in him, too.
I'm impressed with Robert Redford's performance. He worked hard to keep Legal Eagles together.
There were times the film almost got away from everybody, but Robert Redford kept bringing it back into the
fold by stretching his range more. It's these small things he did, and they've made a big difference. At the same
time, Jennie Dundas deserves credit for creating rapport with him as his daughter, and Debra Winger isn't bad.
Here's something interesting from Robert Redford and George Roy Hill: The Great Waldo Pepper.
The story isn't particularly strong, but that's okay. The fun comes from watching guys emulating what stunt
pilots did for real during the 20's: daredevil acrobatics and performing things on the wing. As always,
the aerial photography is well-done.
It's a liberal's wet dream about how to run a prison the right way. That's the most shocking aspect of the film,
not how the prisoners were treated in a brutal manner as depicted in the first thirty minutes. On other hand,
Robert Redford looks great; I mean, it's an outdoor fashion show for him, and his hair is immaculate.
Brubaker is gritty and worth watching, and having Robert Redford on board is a big bonus.
Of course, Downhill Racer isn't deep. Robert Redford plays a one-dimensional character with daddy issues.
He has a boring, superficial dating relationship with a pretty, tanned European who's played by Sweden's Camilla
Sparv. As his coach, Gene Hackman is nothing to write home about. And maybe that's how it is for the sport.
Honorable Mentions:
A Walk in the Woods (2015)
Updated:
9/26/25