Film Review from Tribeca Film Festival 2011: Blackthorn
by Kathryn Loggins

What would it be like if Butch Cassidy, the legendary bank and train robber in the American Old West, were a washed up man living in hiding in Bolivia? This is the intriguing question that Blackthorn seeks to answer. Allegedly Butch Cassidy was killed in a shootout, but this film explores the idea of this famous outlaw making his final stand as an old man.

Mateo Gil (screenwriter Vanilla Sky), director of Blackthorn, takes his audience on an adventure that is bold and beautiful. Butch Cassidy (Sam Shepard) has decided to return home after living in exile for 20 years, but a last unexpected adventure awaits him. Cassidy comes alive once more and embraces the mischievous and rebellious spirit he had when he was younger. His adventure is mixed with flash-backs to his days with the Sundance Kid and gives the audience a deeper glimpse into Cassidy’s character. Sam Shepard does a fantastic job as Cassidy and the beautiful Bolivian backdrop is a fun spin on a classic Western landscape.