Robert Redford: Our Top 10 Favorite Film Roles

0:01 I like to let things go. I like to be let go as an actor. I don't want to be over controlled as an actor. He used to hate it. I like best when I said, what do you want now? Let me go? Hello everybody, I'm Jeff Johnson. I'm Amber Lewis, and I am Andrew Blakeley.

0:41 And this is a Film by podcast. So this past Tuesday, Oscar winning director, actor activist icon really Robert Redford passed away in his sleep at the age of eighty nine. I think it wasn't more in an hour had passed after that, after news broke that that I heard from both of you about it, and just like, wow, I can't believe. You know, Redford's one of those guys that we just assumed. I just assumed like he he will. He will always make movies. He's been making movies since before we were born, and he'll continue to do so. Just a you know, I don't want to say it's a it's a shock. You know, he was eighty nine years old. So I think I think this is a moment where we can celebrate his life.

1:30 We can celebrate what what he gave us. Amber, do you recall the first time you took notice of Robert Redford, like do you remember what movie it was that where you're like, oh, this guy's a movie star, this guy's amazing. Very young. My parents loved Butch. Cassidy and The Sundance Kid and The Sting, and we watched those like quite often and quoted them a lot. So were the first two where I was like, knew who he was and you know, appreciated what he did. How about it, Andrew, I, honestly, it'd be hard for me to say he's you know, he's been around since, like you said, before I was born. He'd made a dozen classics. So I can't even pinpoint it. You know, as a kid, I remember watching The Natural, I remember watching The Sting. I remember watching Sneakers we had on VHS.

2:24 I watched that one all the time, you know. So it's it's hard to say when when it first came about. He's just always been there. So what we're going to do today, it's not exactly our normal format, but we did want to take a moment to show our appreciation. So what we're doing is our top ten Robert Redford film. Roles, you know, be it film, be a TV. I know he's done some amazing television work. And I want to clarify you know that we're not saying that these are the best performances. You know, we're not ranking them. This is just I think after the conversation the three of us off off, Mike was you know, these are these are the ten that that stand out to us.

3:05 These are our favorites. So I wouldn't say there are any any particular order. But let's let's get it. Let's jump into this amber. What do you have for our number ten choice? So this is a newer one from twenty thirteen. The film is All Is Lost. This is it the Virginia gene An SOS call Over. This is the Virginia gene An SOS call Over. This is the Virginia gene with an SS call over.

3:53 And he plays a character known only as our Man. There's almost no dialogue in this movie. I think there's like thirty two words, fifty two words something like that in the whole entire movie. I am obsessed with this movie. I absolutely love it. There I read somewhere once that people die in the wilderness because of lack of imagination. And this movie is about a guy who. Is incredibly intelligent, incredibly prepared, Like he's not just wandering out in the world, and he is on a sailboat that is sinking and he has to work the problem, and he's all by himself, and the cheat would be to have him like talk to himself, you know.

4:47 And he does not do that. You are just watching Robert Redford, who I think conveys you know, everybody talks about how gorgeous he was, and of course he was, but he also conveys an incredible intelligence, and this movie is him. You're watching him think, and you're watching him methodically work the problem. Andrew, you're nodding and smiling a lot. What's what's your take on this one? I only watched this movie maybe two years ago. I stumbled on it by accident, not even looking for Robert Redford. The score is done by Alex Ebert, who's the front man for Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros, and I'm a big fan of them, so when I heard he did the score for this movie with almost no dialogue, I was like, Oh, check it out, and then boom, there's Robert Redford. So I'm so glad it's on the list because it really caught me off gard and it blew me away. He's so engaging that it doesn't feel like a gimmick that there's no dialogue. It feels very natural and you can't look away.

5:45 So I'm gonna be honest, I have not seen this one yet, and you know it kinda I think it kind of had a quiet opening it when it first came out, and I always thought, oh, that could be good. But after hearing Amber describe it. It, Amber, you're giving me a real Santiago old Man of the Sea vibe. Yeah, you know, so, I'm i and I love that. I love that book. So I'm definitely gonna check this one out. Guys, A great pick, Andrew, what do you have at number nine? Number nine? We have sneakers and she's using you to get to her. And she's using me to get to you. I know, I know that's confusing. If you love him, if you really love him, then just keep on loving him and give him head whenever he wants.

6:37 Give him help, be a be a beacon in a sad and lonely life. Can you do that for Gunner? Yes, I get out of here, give him a head, be a beacon. I know I mentioned it once already, but I absolutely love this movie as a kid. The cast is stacked with talent. It's got Sidney Pottier, Dan Aykroyd, Young River, Phoenix, Ben Kingsley. But heading it up is Robert Redford, and he is a somewhat reformed criminal leading a group of the same and so it's got some fun heist vibes.

7:25 It's really funny. It's just classic classic nineties humor carried by just an unbelievable cast. I've seen this movie probably about a thousand times. I could quote it so much. I'm not gonna lie. This has been on the film by list for a couple of seasons, like a maybe we can get Sneakers in this month, And I'm a big fan of Martin Marty. Bishop, so I think we're gonna probably get to this one. Judging and Amber, just just judging by her expression just now, it sounds like you two will be the ones covered. That episode when we do it. But uh, Amber, obviously you're a fan of Sneakers.

8:06 You're a fan of Bishop and Sneakers. Yes, yes, I'm slightly older than Andrew, so I was just graduated high school and I remember going with a group of friends to see it and just having a great time. And I was working at Blockbuster Video at the time, so I got like a cheap copy and wore it out. Fantastic film. Now I think we're gonna we're gonna zag here on the number eight pick, because I gotta be honest. I was surprised. I was pleasantly surprised Amber when you mentioned this one, because now you're taking us into that that television realm, specifically to nineteen sixty two.

8:51 Who's your pick here? Okay, So for those of you that were timing, what are we like five minutes in? I'm getting choked up. So this is a Twilight Zone episode. It is one of my favorites from season three. It's episode sixteen, Nothing in the Dark, and he plays a mysterious young man. He's so young and so beautiful, and he shows up at this old woman's apartment. And I don't want to like reveal the twist, but it's cat. She is afraid of dying, and she won't leave her apartment because she's afraid if she goes out, she's going to die.

9:38 She's going to meet death, and she will die. And the reveal is that he was death and he was with her all along. And he holds his arms out and he says, look, is this so bad? You kick me? It was you all the time? Yes, I tricked you, But why. The moment I let you inside. You could have taken me anytime, but you and nice You made me trust you, But I.

10:21 Had to make you understand. Am I really so bad? Am I really so frightening? It's okay? And there was nothing in the dark that wasn't there in the light all the time. Maybe the most charming grim reaper of all time. This poor woman he. Beats, He beats out Brad Pitt and meet Joe. Black he does. Yeah, that's no easy feet. But I think this has got to be one of the most This is probably the earliest, maybe the first time we've seen a study in agoraphobia showing up in television or film. This old woman who has you know, Rod Soling has explained to us, has cheated death thousands of times, has now relegated herself to She's like in this crummy Rundown basement apartment. It's a the building's dilapidated.

11:20 Yeah, they're going to tear it down, and they're about to tear it down. She will not leave because she's that petrified of dying. And the way I won't spoil it, Okay, I won't spoil this part, but the way he gets in the door is so clever, especially when the you know, the next the next person comes knocking and uh, you know, it's it's twilight and so it's meant to be creepy and a little little scary, but the way he makes it okay to accept fate, it's it's it's it's actually amber. This is a great pick because he's he's doing a whole lot in what twenty two minutes short? Yeah, I mean yeah, And I'll tell you if if you got to go, you know, Robert Redford holding his hand out to you, that's not a bad way to go, honestly. Uh, let's take a quick break and when we come back, we'll talk a little bit about Robert Redford the director, and we'll continue with our top ten. Welcome back, we are talking about our top ten favorite Robert Redford film roles.

12:33 It's no doubt he's he was an incredible actor, but let's not forget he. Was an incredible director. So I got to ask you guys, because I know we've collectively, we've probably seen all of his the films that he's directed. Amber. If you had to suggest a title to someone, if someone came up to you and said, oh, I didn't know he directed movies, you know, did he do anything good? What's the title that you're going to tell people to go go out and watch. There are a handful of movies that I would define as perfect, and this is one of them. A River Runs Throat.

13:15 I think it's absolutely It's beautifully shot, it has beautiful music, the. Performances are amazing. It's just absolutely one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful movies. And Andrew it it stars Brad Pitt, not as the Grim Reaper. No, Brad Pet's basically playing Robert Redford. He's playing Robert Redford. Let's go, let's call it what it is. Brad Pitt's a young Robert Redford. They're both obnoxiously good looking but amazing actors. To boo tho, Yeah, how about it? Andrew? What movie? What Robert Redford directed film? Would you recommend to people? And as she said, he did so many, but for me it was an obvious choice. It blew me away.

13:55 The first time I saw it as his nineteen ninety four movie Quiz Show. It's it's tense and it's extremely well shut it. It's kind of like it reminds me of the Social Network in that on paper, the story is really boring, and get somehow you manage to make it really tense and thrilling and engaging. Fantastic movie, fantastic pacing. I just love it. Yeah, listen, I'll tell you both right now. There was no wrong answer there, there was no bad suggestion there. So but Quiz Show and River runs that they would probably be at the top of my list. But back to the list at hand, our top ten favorite roles.

14:36 I'm gonna jump in here real quick because I listen, you guys had some great choices. Fortunately for me, You can't You kind of had a little bit of crossover that gave me a chance to drop two in there. So for number seven, I got to talk about Jeremiah Johnson in Jeremiah Johnson. There's pa been trapped out since twenty five? What are you doing here? Then? I hunt Grizz Grizz Grizz or Bears Pilgrim, I Collect the Claws. I had one on that ticket back there ready to shake hands?

15:16 Would you come along? I'm sorry that that you look hungry too, huh? Come on, you know how to. Skin grizz I can skin most anything. Sure her or Cocky for a Starving. Field Group nineteen seventy two, directed by Sidney Pollock. So if you if you hadn't seen this one, if you needed a reason, you don't need many. But you know Pollock was an incredible director, and this is this is certainly evidence of that. It's based on the story of real life trapper and mountain man John Johnston, who was known as the Crow Killer.

16:07 This is a nickname he earned. Because it was after members of the Crow tribe murdered his wife that Johnston swore vengeance on the entire tribe. Redford is on the record as saying this is his favorite among the films he started. Have you guys, I have either of you seen this? Because I know this is It's nineteen seventy two, so I know we're going way back. I'm embarrassed to say that I haven't. This is one of those ones that's been on my list for years, you know, I think it's it's an iconic film. Well for him, I'm aware of it, but no, I've just I've never seen it. How about an. Amber, I've seen it, but it's been a really long time. It's time for a revisit. I think what the irony here is that today's generation probably uses a very specific gift from the movie.

16:56 Without even knowing that it is, in fact Robert Redford. You know, we're talking about the bearded man who just looks to the side and gives you that knowing smile like you're doing something right. So, hey, kids, every time you share that, you're actually sharing Jeremiah Johnson. So keep keep that in mind. Uh. And on a personal note, I was this close to being named Jeremiah Johnson because of this film. My father campaigned h rather. Rather vigorously with my mother that you know, because they were there, they knew was it gonna be a J name. They just didn't know which. And uh, he wanted Jeremiah Johnson and unfortunately she did not.

17:39 So you know, I could have called you double J either way. I'm okay with right, It's it's all good. Yeah, my nickname would have stood, you know, uh, the same regardless. But yeah, just a fantastic movie. And again, you know, when you're talking Pollock, the cinematographer on this movie's gorge just because we're out you know, it's the American West, and it's it's incredible. Well and again a lot of you know, long interrupted scenes with no dialogue. Yeah, I would, and I would tell anyone, like, if you haven't seen this movie, and maybe you're a big fan of Dances. With Wolves, yeah, not a bad double feature. You know, you know, And I don't want to spoil the whole movie, but basically, Jeremiah Johnson, he's a mountain you know. He decides to kind of go off live in the mountains on his own, be a hermit. And after a time he does, he does find himself a nice woman to settle down with. And then there's a a bit of controversy with the the the Crow Tribe Native Americans.

18:35 So definitely one to watch. As for number six, I'm gonna tell you guys right now, this is, without a doubt my all time favorite Robert Rever performance. And I say that knowing that the Sting is out there and Butcher Cassidy and Sundance Kids out there, and you know, there's a lot of great performances out there, but I'm telling you there's something about General Irwin in The Last Castle, which came out in two thousand and one, that is absolutely incredible. These salutes, I've given them some thought, and technically they are not a violation of regulations. So if the inmates can confine themselves to a simple hand movement through the hair, I see no problem with it. And if the men want to call you chief, well that's fine. Then free speech.

19:36 And all that. Okay, then no, not okay, it's too late, colonel, it's too late for one through your offer. The men don't want a salute, they don't want to use rank, they don't want better food, they don't want more TV. They just want your resignation. So do I. My resignation or disgrace? Colonel, a disgrace to the uniform? You should not be allowed to retain your command? Well, then I better go back. I think you should. Tell me, mister Irwin, what's to stop me from just placing you in the hole for say six months?

20:23 Nothing, that's the way you want to win. This was shot on location at a former prison at Tennessee, which coincidentally is the same prison that they used for the Green Mile. Your thoughts on this one. Aber. Have you seen The Last Castle with Redford and James Gandolfini. I have not. It sounds a lot like Brew Baker. He went in in that one and cleaned up a prison, but that's probably more brutal. Than now Brew Baker man and against a cruel system, you know. This. So General Irwin is uh, he's court martialed for insubordination and he's sent to this military prison where the commandant is played by James Gandolfini, who has a real chip on his shoulder, you know, because he wants to be that that military leader that has you know, military experience, and he's regulated to you know, running this prison. And of course, uh, General Erwin is a very famous figure.

21:33 In popular culture. Everyone knows him. He's written books, you know. He's kind of like a Storm and Norman type for those of you that remember Desert Storm. Ah. But it's just it's an incredible cast. James Gandolfini, Robert Redford, you got uh, Mark Ruffalo, who I know in the past I've said I'm not a big fan of Ruffalo. There's a handful of movies where I really like him. This is one of those where Ruffalo is just on point in playing an incredible part. Del worry Lindo is in this amber. I'm telling you, you're gonna love this film, absolutely. Gonna love it. Fascinating. So on the list it goes. Yeah, Redford. Redford carries it in my opinion. I mean, he's the reason to watch it.

22:16 I think, oh gosh, he's he well Andrew, you know, he's he conveys leadership without without. Even trying, right. Yeah, and it's funny. One of my favorite stories about this movie is Redford actually needed about fifteen to twenty takes to get his salute right, which is ironic because the scene in question, Andrew, you know which scene I'm about to talk about. The scene in question is him teaching another prisoner how you know what the history of saluting is and how how to properly do it. So the fact that director's out there calling cut because he's having some troubles with it is a little funny. That is pretty good, especially the amount of times they salute terribly movies. But like, that's the one scene you really can't that's the one important it right this time.

23:02 Yeah, and it's it's interesting too. I won't spoil it for Amber, But just what he has to say about the history of saluting really cool. Let's talk about number. Five, Andrew and uh, this is a genre that you're no stranger to. Yeah, we've talked about it more than once, but that's not the reason it's on here. So I want to talk about him as Alexander Pierce in Captain America and the Winter Soldier. For immediate hearing. Don't need hearings, we need action. Is this Council's duty to overseas shield. Breeds like this raises a serious question. Like how the hell did a French pirate manage the hijack of covert shield vessel in broad daylight? With the record councilman, he's Algerian. I can draw a map of it. Help.

23:44 I appreciate your wit, Secretary Pierce, but this Council takes things like international piracy fairly seriously. Really, I don't. I don't care about one vote. I care about the fleet. This is going to fall to ranker every time someone pushes. Us on the playing field. Maybe we need someone to oversee us, Secretary. The reason this one went on my list isn't just my love for Captain America. It's he was such a brilliant choice to cast as a villain or an antagonist, partially in the MCU in general because you know, as we said, he's so charming. His leadership that he just his gravitasity carries makes him such a great hero that it was a really interesting turn. And the moment that you like realize now that he's the villain in the movie, I think was spoiled by the marketing.

24:38 Unfortunately, sadly. Yeah, but it's such a great turn, and from a casting standpoint, what I love about it is if the MCU had started twenty thirty years earlier, he would have been Captain America. He's like, oh gosh, the perfect choice to be Captain America. So to cast him as, you know, a hydro operative and to have him be so charming and so likable that even as as you know, he is straight up controlling, ruling the world evil, you still kind of like him a little bit. He's still kind of charming. Like his relationship with Samuel L. Jackson's fury is it's it's it's cool, like it's nice. You know, even when he's bullshitting you, you kind of fall for it a little bit. Uh, Peggy Carter. I mean, uh, amber lewis this this one?

25:21 This one was on your list as well. Uh, tell tell me about your your thoughts on his performance. Well, this actually when I heard that he had died, this was the first movie that I thought of It made that much of an impact. It's this movie is one of my, if not the favorite MCU film, and uh, you know what he brings to it. It sort of elevates the story and changes what the MCU was doing from just superhero villain to like a seventies conspiracy thriller kind of thing. And it's just absolutely awesome to watch.

26:07 The problem with his villain is that it's really difficult to dislike him because he's so damn charismatic. You know, he's he's Robbert, He's like Michael B. Jordan and Black Panther, Like. Yeah, he's not rock And I know he's a bag, I know. A good point. Yeah, And he was able to do it without any physical threat, Like there's no fight. You know, he doesn't have to punch Captain America. He's he's an amazing villain just by being charming. He doesn't have to twirl a mustache or you. Know, if he did. He'd pull it off though, because he's he would. He would, he would, he absolutely would. Guys, Let's take another quick break and when we get back, we'll keep uh, we'll keep going on with the top the top ten.

26:54 All right, guys, back to the top ten. Amber. I believe we have arrived at the number four pick. Yes, this is the one swooning romance entry that I had to make from nineteen eighty five out of Africa. He plays Dennis finch Hatton and he's as untamed as early nineteen hundreds Africa itself, and every single man should have to watch the scene where he washes Meryl Streep's hair, laughed. Loud and long, and all the while his eyes went to and fro. Haha, quoth he full plane. I see the devil knows how to roll.

27:46 Farewell farewell. Yes, where I leave out the doll parts, farewell farewell. But this I tell to thee our wedding guest, lay your head back, prayeth well, loveth well, both man and bird and beast. It should be required viewing for. All of you. I'm not gonna I'm not gonna argue this pick. It's it's an incredible performance. It's another one I haven't seen. I know. I'm sorry. It's killing me.

28:30 Andrew. It did, It did win the Academy Awards for Best Directing and Best Score. It's a it's an amazing John Barry score h nineteen eighty five. You listen when I when it came out. When I was a kid, I was like, no, thank you. But as an adult, it's it is. It is peak Redford and uh, Amber's right. You know this that. I mean him and Him and Street together, they they're cooking. Yeah, they really swimmingly romantic. Your wife will thank you. Your wife will thank me for telling you. I'll make sure to let her know you said so. I say, don't show the movie.

29:12 Just just wash your hair, just steal his move, and you know, just take take all the glory. Uh, Andrew, let's uh, let's get back to something a little less romantic. Unless we're talking romantic. What do you have for number three? That's that's the perfect word for it. We got Butch Cassidy and the Sun Dance Kid. No real chump. Like hell, we will no, It'll be okay. It's lors deep enough. We don't get squished to death. He'll never follow how do you know would you make a jump like that? You didn't have to. I have to, and I'm not gonna what we got to otherwise we're dead.

29:55 They're just gonna have to go back down the same way they come. Come on, just one clear shot. That's all I want. We got to get away from me. I want to fight him. He'll kill us. Maybe you want to die? Do you. All right? I'll jump first? Nope? Then you jump first? Oh, I said, what's the matter with you? I can't swim? Why are you crazy? The fall will probably kill you. Paul Newman and Redford at their most charming, they're most handsome, and it's the most iconic duo. I love this movie.

30:41 I think so many movies tried to capture this energy. This you know this buddy cop Outlaw five. I don't think anybody's done it as successfully. The ending is top five endings of all time as far as I'm concerned. Yes, I mean just a the freeze frame of them, you know, running out is it's iconic. I love this movie. It's it feels good, it's funny, it's got action, it's got it's got everything. It's just you just want to be these guys. Ember it's this one comes out in nineteen sixty nine. But as far as westerns go, it it holds up. Would you agree with that?

31:22 Oh my goodness, yes, And there chemistry and banter is just absolutely sparkles. She says, it sparkles. I like that, Jeff, you and you and I have jumped off of a JuffEd off of a cliff into water in the desert. I gotta tell you, the first time we did that, all I could picture was, you know, them running jumping off that cliff together. That that helped get me over that hump. It absolutely helped me when when someone says, yeah, you got to jump, it's it's only forty feet down. I just thought, okay, I'm I'm Butcher Andrew, Hey, Sundance, let's let's do this. It does take the edge off when you're when you're doing something like that.

32:11 But yeah, this one's a classic. It's an all time great, all time great for the Western genre. Now let's go to number two because. If you if you like him, uh you know, in the Buddy roll. But now you want to take a little more seriously, Amber the. Best journalism movie in the history of journalism movies all the presidents men. Where are you stuck? The story is stalled on this and you thought i'd help. I'll ever quote.

32:53 I wouldn't quote you, even as an anonymous source. I mean you'd be on deep background. You can trust me, you know that. Can you tell me what you know? You tell me what you know? The story is dry. All we've got here or pieces. We can't seem to figure out what the puzzle is supposed to look like. Forget the myths that the media is created about the White House. You tell me what you know and I'll confirm. I'll keep you in the right direction if I can. But that's all. We covered this one on our limited nineteen seventy six series.

33:35 You're right, Ambert, what it's if you're watching a journalism movie, which I'd love to do like a Top five Journalist Movies episode at some point in the future. But this one is the number one pick. Right, Yes, yes, absolutely, I am. I'm obsessed with journalism movies. I love it, and this one is it just captures like the excitement and the tedium of you know, building the story brick by brick, and you know there's one scene, there's one long, uninterrupted five minute scene of him on the phone and Robert Redford on the phone, like your body's clenched, you're holding your breath, like to see what's going to happen.

34:22 And it's a one sided conversation. I mean, it's just absolutely him trying to pull this information out of this guy is just awesome. It's unimaginable charisma, Like he could sit on screen for five minutes just talking, like you said, and you can't look away, and not many people can. I think one of the things that he does really well here and he teaches this in other films that he's done with other actors. This is just as much Dustin Hoffman's movie as it is his. But he never he never outshadows his co star. He shares. I feel like he shares the screen very generously with any co star, you guys, is am I right?

35:05 Or oh? Absolutely? I mean he's He's a consummate professional And that does remind me though. There was a really funny story I wanted to share, and it's not a movie that Redford was in, but it's a movie that he thought he could do. So Charles Webb directed The Graduate and when he was trying to cast all these different people. He's trying to find that the right person for it. He knew Redford, and Redford was putting himself up for the role. He's like, I should do it, and and Webb said to him, you can't. You can't play a loser. And He's like, what do you mean. I'm I'm an actor. Of course I can play a loser. And according to red Webb, he said, Okay, have you ever struck out with a girl? And Redford's response was, what do you mean? And he was not doking. He didn't understand the question. Yeah, and that is why he did not get the role in The Graduate, but Arman Dustin Hoffman did, and it was iconic in that as well.

36:04 I just I just wish I could be there when Hoffman heard that story for the first time. That's definitely a shot to his ego. I mean, you can't stand in Redford's presence and not not get it a little bit, you know. No, no, you can't. Guys. Let's let's take one more quick break and then we will be back with an honorable mention and our pick for number one in our top ten favorite Robert Redford performances. Well, guys, we are here we have arrived. It's no it's no secret how I feel about honorable honorable mentions. But if it gives us a chance, if it gives us a chance to talk just a little bit longer about an amazing actor like Robert Redford, then I guess I'm okay with it. So before we talk about our choice for number one, let's briefly offer a few honorable mentions, because, truthfully, with eighty nine film roles to his credit, our list is missing some very noteworthy roles.

37:15 So Amber, you made the. Phone call first on Tuesday, so I'm gonna I'm gonna let you offer your honorable mention first. So it's like not one of his greatest movies, but I love. This movie and I love him in it. Tom Logan in Legal Eagles, Yeah, all right, it's this sweet, little like lawyer thriller romance kind of eighties ridiculousness. But there's a whole section right in the middle where he and Deborah Winger are in They're each in their own apartment, and they're both have insomnia, and the ridiculous things that they do to like just try to like wear themselves out to go to sleep, and you know, he's like tap dancing in the bathroom and it's just absurd, and he's so charming and so funny, and I just adore this movie.

38:18 Those of you that have been with us for a little bit, you know, we had a very long running limited series called nineteen eighty six. This movie Legal Eagles, which came out nineteen eighty six, did not make our initial run. But then when we brought back the eighty six series on our Patreon, we promised to do twenty more, so that we did eighty six movies for nineteen eighty six. Our very good friend Jason Colvin from the Surely You Can't Be Serious podcast, he came over and talked Legal Eagles with me. It's a very fun episode. All the more reason to check out our Patreon.

38:58 Go over there right now, get yourself signed up for a free seven day trial, and pick leg Legals first, because that was a fun one. It's a good time. Andrew an honorable mention, sir. I'm glad I got the opportunity to do this because I really like this movie. I don't think it should make a top ten list, but it's worth talking about. It's a twenty eighteen film called The Old Man and the Gun. He plays a career criminal named Forest Tucker. It's a biographical movie about him, and he's just charming and it's fun. And I really like Robert Redford as he's aged into these roles. He really embraces the humor that can come with it and you know, uses his gravitas in a much more subtle way. And so I do definitely recommend it. It's sort of a crime comedy type thing, but really really good, and he is just delightful in it.

39:48 You know, you're talking about a crime comedy. And I guess it would be criminal for me not to use my honorable mention to talk about Johnny Hooker in the sting because again, an all time great Uh. I won't, I won't. I won't even start talking because we'd be here like another hour time. I love to sing, you. Know, Andrew, if you uh, if you hadn't made the phone call and I had, I had more picks than this thing definitely would have made this top ten list. But I'm gonna I'm gonna throw it in there now as as an am wall mention, just to be just be fair. It was wild to me it didn't make the top ten. I didn't put it in my I I had to cut it for mine, and I was like, it's okay, somebody else will say it. I'm sure that's what let's tell myself.

40:28 It's it ain't about what what we think people want to hear. It's about what are our favorites. So, you know, and I'll be honest. You know, there's been some movies mentioned here where I have to believe that there's probably some listeners going. I've never heard of that movie, you know, I've never heard I didn't. I don't remember him in that movie, you know, Old Man of the Gun. That's that's a new one on me. I didn't even know that existed. So and all is lost. I gotta go see that for the non dialogue Robert Refford movie apparently ever but uh yeah, so you gotta you gotta share your favorites. And with that we have arrived at the role we collectively feel as our favorite. Go pick me out a winner, Andrew.

41:51 This was number one the second I started thinking of a list. I think it's probably true for all of us. It's Roy Hobbes in the Natural. It is a beautiful, beautiful movie. You know, we've talked about sports movies and baseball movies plenty of times. In this tops the list almost every time. It's this haunting, beautiful story, gothic feel. But it's just it's the love of baseball. It's the second chance, it's the the effort and the beauty. And Robert Redford just carries all of it with such subtlety. But you can't look away. No, it's I'll be honest.

42:34 The moment I heard about his passing on Tuesday, I heard the score to the Natural in my head, and I thought about the home run and the lights exploding it. I don't care. I'll argue it with anyone. The greatest home run hit of all time. In any film, maybe one of the greatest moments of all time in a sports film. I mean, I don't know what. I don't know. I don't know what topsy, I really don't. I heard his voice in my head saying, when I walk down the street, people say, there goes Roy Hobbes. The best there ever was Amber. I know you love I know you love a good sports movie. God in a baseball movie too. Oh my god. Yeah, I've seen this movie.

43:18 I don't even know how many times I've seen this movie and listened to the soundtrack, and. This is the baseball movie. Played baseball in the backyard with my brothers and you know, goodbye, mister saul. Well. I mean, you know, playing little League? How many you know, how many times did you write wonder Boy? You know? You know, I know I'm guilty of it multiple times. You know, whether it was that or the Savoy Special. It's like you know that Lightning bowlt you had to have it. Yeah, and he's he's this really crazy balance of like mature and wise but also so innocent in that movie.

43:59 It's it's iconic, but I can't even really point to what makes it iconic because it's just it's so subtle and it's just pure talent, it is it. I mean, we know it's a it's a you know, kind of like a historical film, like as far as like this the moment in time that that's capturing. The sport of baseball. But I you know, I could watch it tomorrow, I could watch it next next year, you know. And I don't know about you guys, Like when every every time we get to spring training, I start watching baseball movies. This one, this one's gotta be the first one though, And I don't know why. It just does it just does well. It It's like you said, you know, there was Roy Hobbs, the best that it ever was. You know, I thought about this movie yesterday when we heard the news, and it's you can't be it's not a tragedy that we lost Redford. You know, he lived an amazing life, he had an amazing career, but the the mark that he left, it's impossible to not you know, just just deep in your gut, you just kind of feel like this talent, it was a once in a lifetime thing, you know.

45:03 I agree. Listeners, What do you think of our choices for Robert Redford's top ten film roles? Did we mention all your favorites? Did we omit any of your favorites? Please let us know on social media. You'll find us on Facebook, Instagram, and x You can check out a Film by Podcast dot com for plenty of film and TV articles, as well as our entire library, all six season stream and free. You can write to us at a Film by Podcast at gmail dot com with your questions, comments and concerns. You might just read your response on the show and send you some of film by swag My. Thanks to both Amber Lewis and Andrew Blakeley for joining me for this special, impromptu episode so that we could show our appreciation to Robert Redford and celebrate some of his memorable film roles.

45:51 Guys. Very happy that you both reach you know, reached out to me. You know, we're we're a you know, we're like in a crunch mowe right now with our schedule and the fact that you both wanted to do this, I was like, well, we'll find time, We'll make time. So I thank you both for that. Yes, thank you, Yeah, thank you. I was so excited to be able to talk about this And all of you listening to the show, following us on social media, and subscribing to our Patreon, we certainly thank you.