I like Robert Redford. He never tried to be anyone but himself. There was an “everyman” quality about him that appealed to men, and he had the looks to appeal to the ladies. He would never be classified as a great actor. Certainly not at the same level as Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, or even the actor he associated with the most – Paul Newman. The latter are (and were, in the case of Newman) great actors.

Redford did not have a “Cool Hand Luke”. He had “All the President’s Men”, in which he was pushed in his acting by Hoffman and put out his best performance. Still, his acting was good, but not great. The same goes for “Butch and Sundance” and “The Sting.” He performed adequately in these movies, but in each the limelight was on his costars.

His best directing was for Ordinary People, a long, drawn out, boring movie that somehow won him the academy award. One has to wonder if the movie was directed by anyone not named Redford it would have won that award.

So Redford had looks and a connection to the common man, which is nothing to be ashamed of. Some people get by on looks and decent but not great talent. This is not uncommon, and there are countless actors in Hollywood who look a lot better than they act.

Which brings us to the Sundance Film Festival. According to his opening remarks, Redford states, “We show stories of what people in America are really dealing with, and really living with, against a consequence of having a government that’s let them down,” Redford said. “People can come and say, ‘God, at least we’re seeing how people are really living in America, and what they’re up against.’ We square away on the 99 percent.” Continue reading →