Cool Hand Luke (1967): Paul Newman

     Directed by Stuart Rosenberg, Cool Hand Luke (1967) found a receptive audience amongst the anti-establishment crowd. Focusing on a man sent to a Florida prison chain gang, and his refusal to conform to the system, the story is dramatic and inspiring. Classic scenes abound. The cinematography is brilliant, filmed in warm hues, making the viewer sense the hot sun and sweat involved. Paul Newman is excellent in the lead role. George Kennedy won an Oscar for his supporting role. The rest of the cast is great as well, including Dennis Hopper, Richard Davalos, Jo Van Fleet and Strother Martin.

Cool Hand Luke. 1967: Paul Newman

Cool Hand Luke. 1967: Paul Newman

Cool Hand Luke. 1967

Cool Hand Luke. 1967: Paul Newman

Cool Hand Luke. 1967

Cool Hand Luke. 1967: Paul Newman

Cool Hand Luke. 1967: Paul Newman

Cool Hand Luke. 1967: Paul Newman

Cool Hand Luke. 1967: Paul Newman

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969): Paul Newman and Robert Redford

     Written by William Goldman (an Oscar winning screenplay) and directed by George Roy Hill, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) employed many innovative cinematic techniques, putting the film way ahead of it's time. As Robert Leroy Parker and Harry Longabaugh, a.ka. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the on-screen chemistry between Paul Newman and Robert Redford is almost unparalleled in Film History. The two formed a lifelong friendship and teamed up on other films together as well. Interestingly, Robert Redford almost didn't get the part of Sundance. Originally, Steve McQueen was up for the role. A clash of egos between Newman and McQueen prevented it, however, and the producers took a chance on the relatively unknown actor Redford. It made him a star. Also, on a historic note, the scenic vistas of Utah in which they were filming so inspired Robert Redford, that he bought property there and founded the "Sundance Film Festival"... named after the lucky character that brought him so much success.

      Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman), The Sundance Kid (Robert Redford), their Gang "The Wild Bunch" and their gal-pal Etta Place (Katherine Ross) have gotten wealthy robbing trains and banks in the turn-of-the-20th-Century American West...

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. 1969: Paul Newman and Robert Redford

     The hold-ups are getting tougher, however, and requiring more drastic measures...

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. 1969: Paul Newman and Robert Redford

     Times are changing, modernization is near. Their carefree lifestyle is becoming less stable...

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. 1969: Paul Newman

     The Law and Railroad Financiers are getting fed up with Butch and Sundance and hire an elite posse to get rid of them. Butch and Sundance are outmatched and they know it...

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. 1969: Paul Newman and Robert Redford

     Desperate and on the run, they resolve to do anything to get away...

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. 1969: Paul Newman and Robert Redford

     Knowing they must flee the United States, Butch suggests they head to Bolivia, thinking that the mining area payrolls in the South American country are vulnerable and ripe for the taking. They have some success in Bolivia, but their luck is bound to run out sooner or later...

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. 1969: Paul Newman and Robert Redford

Road to Perdition (2002): Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Jude Law

     Based on the graphic novel series of the same name, Road to Perdition (2002) was the highly acclaimed and highly anticipated second film by director Sam Mendes (American Beauty). With limited, sparse dialogue in the script, Mendes was able to convey much of the story through the powerful cinematography of Conrad Hall. Sadly, Road to Perdition was Hall's last film, but he deservedly won a posthumous Academy Award for his brilliant work on it. Starring Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law and Daniel Craig, the film perfectly recreates depression-era 1931 Chicago, in a respectful nod to the source material. A splendid work all around, Road to Perdition is a masterwork of atmosphere, and in terms of establishing time and place, and is deserving of repeat viewings.

     1931: Michael Sullivan, Sr. (Tom Hanks) has been a trusted enforcer for Irish mob boss John Rooney (Paul Newman) for years... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Tom Hanks and Paul Newman

     Their families are intertwined, with Rooney acting as a father to Sullivan, and as a grandfather figure to Sullivan's two young sons... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Paul Newman

     But John's son, Connor Rooney (Daniel Craig) is a bad seed with a chip on his shoulder... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Daniel Craig

     Connor snaps during a routine job with Sullivan, killing the man they were meeting with. Sullivan's eldest son, Michael, Jr., having hidden in the car, witnesses the bloodbath. Afraid young Michael will talk, Connor orders that the entire Sullivan family (wife, children and Sullivan himself) be murdered. Only the two Michaels, Sr. and Jr., father and son survive. Michael Sullivan vows to avenge the deaths of his wife and youngest son... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Tom Hanks

     But Connor Rooney has gone into hiding and is being protected by powerful men, including his father... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Daniel Craig

     and they have hired an assassin of their own to kill Sullivan, Harlen Maguire (Jude Law), a sadistic hitman with a penchant for photographing his victims post-mortem... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Jude Law

     Michael Sullivan must track down and kill those responsible... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Tom Hanks

     including John Rooney, the man who has been like a father to him... 

Road to Perdition. 2002: Tom Hanks and Paul Newman

     so that Michael, Jr. can be free to live a safe life...

Road to Perdition. 2002

Twilight (1998): Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Reese Witherspoon

     Co-written and directed by Robert Benton, Twilight (1998) has all the hallmarks of great Film Noir, despite being made half-a-century after the peak period of the genre. Full of plot twists, dramatic cinematography, tense moments and good performances, Twilight is an underrated Gem. Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Susan Sarandon and James Garner are all great in the lead roles... and a young Reese Witherspoon holds her own.

     Harry Ross (Paul Newman) is an aging private detective...

Twilight. 1998: Paul Newman

     He is hired to track down 17-year-old runaway Mel Ames (Reese Witherspoon)...

Twilight. 1998: Reese Witherspoon

     Ross finds her in Mexico...

Twilight. 1998: Reese Witherspoon

Twilight. 1998: Reese Witherspoon

Twilight. 1998: Reese Witherspoon

Twilight. 1998: Reese Witherspoon

     He brings her back, but she does not go quietly...

Twilight. 1998: Reese Witherspoon

     Fast forward two years... Mel's parents, both wealthy actors, are grateful for Ross' discreet assistance and have hired him on permanently. Jack Ames (Gene Hackman) is now Ross' trusted friend, but he is dying of cancer...

Twilight. 1998

     Catherine Ames (Susan Sarandon) openly flirts with Ross, and he finds it hard to resist her charms...

Twilight. 1998

     Trouble emerges once again when Mel's ex-boyfriend (the one from Mexico two years prior) attempts to blackmail Jack Ames about a murder committed 20 years before. Ross enlists the help of his friend, retired Cop Raymond Hope (James Garner)...

Twilight. 1998: Paul Newman

     but the web of confusion and misleads is growing denser, as Ross realizes that the situation is much more serious than it first appears...

Twilight. 1998: Paul Newman