Blackthorn (2011)/Movie Review

Release Date: USA 7 October 2011  Runtime:  98 min 

Genre: Western  

In Bolivia, Butch Cassidy (now calling himself James Blackthorne) pines for one last sight of home, an adventure that aligns him with a young robber and makes the duo a target for gangs and lawmen alike.

Credited cast: Sam Shepard, Eduardo Noriega, Stephen Rea, Magaly Solier, Dominique McElligott , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Padraic Delaney, Daniel Aguirre, Luis Bredow, Fernando Gamarra    
Cristian Mercado    

Director: Mateo Gil
Writer: Miguel Barros
Original Music by Lucio Godoy        
Cinematography by Juan Ruiz Anchía        
Film Editing by David Gallart        
Casting by  Wendy Alcázar & Jina Jay        
Art Direction by  Juan Pedro De Gaspar          
Costume Design by  Clara Bilbao   

Filming Locations: La Paz, Bolivia
Production Co: Arcadia Motion Pictures, Aiete-Ariane Films S.A., Quickfire Films

Review   
An Unusual Western Set in Beautiful Bolivia,
Author: Alison from Montreal, Quebec, Canada

An aging Butch Cassidy (Sam Shepard), 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 (Eduardo Noriega), 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. But Eduardo isn't all that he seems, and in addition to the posse, an old broken-down Pinkerton man, Mackinley (Stephen Rea), is also aware that Butch Cassidy didn't die all those years ago....
I'm not big on Westerns usually, but this is an exception. Beautifully filmed on location in Bolivia, and employing numerous indigenous actors, we are also treated to flashback scenes of a younger Butch (played as a young man by Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau, who looks very much like a younger Sam Shepard), his friend the Sundance Kid (Padraic Delaney) and their mutual love Etta Place (Dominique McElligot), which deepen and enrich the larger story. I'm not sure why this screened at FantAsia, as it's not really genre, but perhaps it's because the director, Mateo Gil (making his English-language debut here), is known for earlier Spanish thrillers that were screened in earlier years. In any event, I'm very glad that I saw this unusual Western, which I believe will get a regular release later this year.