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Barbarosa

Play trailer Poster for Barbarosa PG 1982 1h 30m Western Comedy Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In pre-Civil War Texas, naïve Karl Westover (Gary Busey) accidentally kills his brother-in-law, and heads to Mexico to escape the consequences. Along the way, he encounters Barbarosa (Willie Nelson), who is also on the run. Barbarosa teaches Karl survival skills for the desert -- and how to rob. In their journey from Texas to Mexico and back again, the two men are captured by outlaw Angel Morales, and pursued by Don Braulito (Gilbert Roland), who wants Barbarosa dead.
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Barbarosa

Critics Reviews

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Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 01/31/2013
B+
Schepisi's Western is an underestimated film, boasting strong performances from Willie Nelson and Gary Busey Go to Full Review
Adam Lippe Examiner.com 05/28/2011
Schepisi doesn't have time to show off; Despite the opportunity for some beautiful widescreen vistas, he doesn't use them as a crutch or a cheap conduit for a scene transition without a proper segue. [Well, other than Busey's unbelievably toothy grin.] Go to Full Review
Randy Shulman Metro Weekly (Washington, DC) 11/04/2004
4/5
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice 02/04/2004
Barbarosa comes along just when we thought Westerns were extinct: this gritty mongrel saga ought to satisfy all sagebrush devotees. Go to Full Review
Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal 08/22/2003
4/5
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Audience Reviews

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A P Mar 2 First saw this at the theater in 1982, where it was said to be a box office flop. We had made a 30 plus mile trip to the “big city” to see On Golden Pond, but ended up leaving half way through because it was such a bore. On the way out we noticed the poster for Barbarosa, and that it was just about to start the next showing so we took the chance. And boy, were we glad we did. What a great movie! It had a bit of everything; drama, comedy, action, romance, even a touch of horror… it made the whole trip worth while. It was later one of the first movies I bought on VHS, and then on DVD. It is definitely the kind of movie you can watch over and over again, and find new details you might have missed before. I’d highly recommend it to anyone with even the slightest interest in westerns. See more Martin B Feb 10 I don't get the widespread acclaim. How anyone can say Willie Nelson is a good actor I'll never know he's got one personna, this was it on or off screen. This film more like a string of loosely connected vignettes across a lot of different geography with a pointless ending. Busey was the only bright spot. This move showed how much talent he wasted when he decides to go off the rails ending a promising acting career prematurely. See more 07/02/2024 The antithesis of a Michael Bay film. And very good. A very realistic production with only blanks, squibs, and theater blood for special effects. Good dialogue, good acting, with sweeping panoramas and scrutinizing close-ups, this film is a class on how to make a good, compelling film with just enough. This helps it hold up through the decades. I have seen this film 4 or 5 times and want to watch again. See more 02/18/2022 Director Fred Schepisi teams Gary Busey and Willie Nelson It's pre-civil war Texas and Karl Westover is wanted for murder The thing is he accidentally killed his brother-in-law but the authorities want to bring him in for swift justice Karl decides to flee to Mexico but runs into outlaw Barbarosa Since Karl has nothing left he has Barbarosa teach him how to rob and pick up survival skills Later they're captured by Angel Morales while also pursued by Don Braulito wanting Barbarosa's blood Both these men find themselves in scrapes but working together they can escape anything Strong performances from both Busey and Nelson This is a lovable throwback to classic westerns for long time fans of the genre before completely dying out The scenery acts as more of a backdrop for these two keeping the legend of Barbarosa's name alive and well Good friendship between the two nearly escaping every gunshot coming their way See more jelisije j 11/18/2021 Sometimes people need a Barbarosa in their life to makes their own lives have meaning. See more s r @ScottR 06/03/2021 Just pointless trashy entertainment trying to be raw and edgy. It's sad to see such high ratings for a contrived worthless movie. I never want to see it again. Saw it on HBO. See more Read all reviews
Barbarosa

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Movie Info

Synopsis In pre-Civil War Texas, naïve Karl Westover (Gary Busey) accidentally kills his brother-in-law, and heads to Mexico to escape the consequences. Along the way, he encounters Barbarosa (Willie Nelson), who is also on the run. Barbarosa teaches Karl survival skills for the desert -- and how to rob. In their journey from Texas to Mexico and back again, the two men are captured by outlaw Angel Morales, and pursued by Don Braulito (Gilbert Roland), who wants Barbarosa dead.
Director
Fred Schepisi
Producer
Paul N. Lazarus III
Screenwriter
William D. Wittliff
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Incorporated Television Company
Rating
PG
Genre
Western, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 19, 1982, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2016
Runtime
1h 30m
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