Robert Redford named the best movie of his career: “Really well made”
Robert Redford is known for his countless contributions to the silver screen, whether through his acting, unwavering support of independent cinema through the creation of the Sundance Institute, or his stunning directorial work. He’s a multi-faceted creative, and the reverberations of his legacy can still be felt in the film industry today, with his last movie being released in 2018. Despite starring in nearly 50 films, actors are often reluctant to watch back their own work, with many talking about the struggle of objectively watching your feature and the self-criticism that comes with seeing your face stretched over the big screen.
However, when Redford was asked if there was anything from his own filmography that he enjoyed watching, he named one film that he found himself being surprisingly impressed by.
Redford is perhaps most known for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Way We Were, and All The Presidents Men, collaborating with Paul Newman and Jane Fonda on multiple projects. He has an infectiously boyish charm that makes him the perfect lead in any romantic drama, with many people suspecting real-life relationships between himself and Fonda due to the natural chemistry of their sizzling on-screen relationship.
However, to some, he is best known for Ordinary People, his astonishing directorial debut that was released in 1980, which won the Academy Award for ‘Best Picture’. The film follows a young man and his family as they react to the death of his older brother, each dealing with grief and trauma in a very different way. In contrast to his often laid-back character work, the film showed a different side to Redford and his creative versatility, making a film that is layered and emotionally intelligent in its exploration of grief.
But when asked which of his films he watches himself, Redford spoke of The Sting. Released in 1973, the film swept most of the awards during the Oscars, a ceremony that was famously interrupted by a streaker who ran across the stage during the announcement. The film is one of the most famous of Redford’s collaborations with Newman, with the pair playing a couple of criminals as they seek to avenge the murder of a mutual friend.
When asked about both films made with Newman, Redford said, “I enjoyed making both of them, but if I were to step way back and be truly objective, I would say, as much as I love Butch Cassidy, I think The Sting is one of the finest films ever, and that belongs to [director] George Roy Hill. He’s the guy who designed it, who came up with the music and did everything. I hadn’t seen it for many, many years until recently when my daughter wanted me to see it again, and when I did, I realised, ‘God, this is a really good movie. Really well made.’”
While many people emphasise the importance of critically evaluating your work, I would say it’s equally important to step back and appreciate what you’ve achieved, looking at the wider picture and giving credit where it’s due.
