Happy 85th birthday to screen legend Robert Redford.
Here’s what Variety has said about some of his biggest movies. bit.ly/3gglx5r
In “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” Redford, silent, menacing in the power of his fabled guns, displays no evidence of the evil temper which gained him his reputation. Redford and Paul Newman make a fine team. bit.ly/3gglx5r
“Jeremiah Johnson” is the sort of man of whom legends or sagas are made. The film lays out the life of Redford’s character, circa 1825, who decides to live in the Rocky Mountains as a trapper. It also gave the world a classic meme. bit.ly/3z1DQme
“The Sting” has all the signs of a blockbuster. Paul Newman and Robert Redford are superbly reteamed, this time as a pair of con artists in Chicago of the ’30s. The stars make all the difference between simply a good film and a superior one. bit.ly/3iWHmc0
With “All the President’s Men,” Redford excels in his starring role. Some ingenious direction by Alan J. Pakula and scripting by William Goldman remove much of the inherent dramatic lethargy in any story of reporters running down a story. bit.ly/2UwRTRW
“The Natural” is an impeccably made, but quite strange, fable about success and failure in America. Redford is perfectly cast as the wary, guarded Roy Hobbs, an aging rookie who takes the baseball world by storm in one season. bit.ly/3xTwG2h
The big-time cast of “Sneakers” provides sterling company, as the very casual demands put upon them allow the performers to convey the impression of enjoying a no-stress vacation. bit.ly/2UvunVt
“All Is Lost” is an impressively spare, nearly dialogue-free stranded-at-sea drama that strips characterization down to basic survival instinct, that's also an emotionally resonant one-man showcase for Robert Redford. bit.ly/3iWzG9z
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier’s” biggest surprise is Redford, who plays his character to an oily, Rumsfeldian perfection, becoming the very embodiment of the might-makes-right defense ethos. bit.ly/3z3vn2a
When it comes to twinkles and smiles, Robert Redford can run circles around everyone. His performance in “The Old Man & the Gun” reminds what movie stars once were capable of, delivered with natural ease and nary a trace of vanity. bit.ly/3mclfR1
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Singer-songwriter-guitarist David Crosby, a founding member of two popular and enormously influential ’60s rock units, the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (later Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), has died. He was 81 years old. bit.ly/3IZEj02
His wife released a statement to Variety, saying, "Although he is no longer here with us, his humanity and kind soul will continue to guide and inspire us. His legacy will continue to live on through his legendary music." bit.ly/3IZEj02
With bandmates Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke, Crosby set down the template for ’60s L.A. folk-rock in the Byrds during his stormy 1964-67 tenure in the group. bit.ly/3IZEj02
After two years of going virtual, Sundance Film Festival is back in person. Here are 13 films that could have buyers writing big checks: bit.ly/3CXksLo
DRIFT
Cynthia Erivo plays Jacqueline, a refugee who flees war-torn Liberia for the safety of a Greek island. Through her friendship with a tour-guide (Alia Shawkat), she begins to find a way to move past the violence and trauma she has endured. bit.ly/3CXksLo
CAT PERSON
Emilia Jones ("CODA") and Nicholas Braun ("Succession") team up for the film adaptation of the viral New Yorker short story that instigated fiery discussions about gender, sex and "first date" social pressures. bit.ly/3CXksLo
Austin Butler + Janelle Monáe
Cate Blanchett + Michelle Yeoh
Viola Davis + Jennifer Lawrence
Jamie Lee Curtis + Colin Farrell
Eddie Redmayne + Ana de Armas
From #TheDropout to #Euphoria to #Andor, our chief TV critics sifted through an avalanche of shows to pick their favorites from this year. See which ones they chose here: bit.ly/3Bh9ob4
"Abbott Elementary"
"Quinta Brunson’s ABC comedy about a hardworking, charismatic group of Philadelphia teachers was so immediately realized...that it feels like it’s been on for years rather than months." – Caroline Framke bit.ly/3Bh9ob4
"Barry"
"The drama and the jokes were operating at their highest level yet in this year’s third season. Barry’s journey into unrepentant inner darkness was played beautifully by Bill Hader, but the season belonged to Sarah Goldberg." – Daniel D'Addario bit.ly/3Bh9ob4
Kirstie Alley, a two-time Emmy-winning actor who rose to fame with her role as Rebecca Howe in the NBC comedy series “Cheers,” has died after a battle with cancer. She was 71. bit.ly/3UELFbr
Alley’s death was confirmed through her official social media presence, which shared a statement from her children. bit.ly/3UELFbr
“To all our friends, far and wide around the world… We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered,” reads the statement. bit.ly/3UELFbr