Barbarosa

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A P 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. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/02/25 Full Review Martin B 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. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/10/25 Full Review 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 3.5/5 Stars •  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 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/08/23 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 3.5/5 Stars •  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 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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