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Barbarosa

Play trailer Poster for Barbarosa PG Released Feb 19, 1982 1h 30m Western Comedy Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 72% 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

View All (5) Critics Reviews
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Schepisi's Western is an underestimated film, boasting strong performances from Willie Nelson and Gary Busey Rated: B+ Jan 31, 2013 Full Review Adam Lippe Examiner.com 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.] May 28, 2011 Full Review Randy Shulman Metro Weekly (Washington, DC) Rated: 4/5 Nov 4, 2004 Full Review Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice Barbarosa comes along just when we thought Westerns were extinct: this gritty mongrel saga ought to satisfy all sagebrush devotees. Feb 4, 2004 Full Review Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal Rated: 4/5 Aug 22, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member 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. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/02/24 Full Review Patrick C Barbarosa is not for audiences used to big explosions, unreal storylines and unbelievable CGI. Released in 1982, it relies on cinematography, writing and acting. It emerses you in the world of the pre-civil war old west. Willy Nelson gives an outstanding performance as a grissled outlaw who only wants to be accepted by his wife's family. Gary Busey plays the young, naive farmhand on the run for accidentally killing another farmhand. He only wants his life back but his unusual friendship with Barbarosa gives him insights into a world he finds his niche in. The acting is superb and real. It is funny and heartfelt in appropriate amounts. It is the antithesis of 90 percent of typical, cookie cutter westerns, which is a running theme of viewers who failed to grasp it's originality. The music is grandiose. The cinematography is gorgeous. The acting is real. It's a shame this movie never became more popular but that makes it a gem to people who know a good movie without any hype. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/08/23 Full Review Deborah H Movie scenes were scattered and disconnected. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member 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 Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review jelisije j Sometimes people need a Barbarosa in their life to makes their own lives have meaning. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review s r 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. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Barbarosa

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Cast & Crew

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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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