Blackthorn (2011)

Director:

Mateo Gil

Writer:

Miguel Barros (scriptwriter)

Release Date:

1 July 2011 (Spain)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

Sam Shepard is Butch Cassidy

Plot:

In Bolivia, Butch Cassidy (now calling himself James Blackthorne) pines for one last sight of home, an adventure that aligns him with a young robber and makes the duo a target for gangs and lawmen alike. |

Plot Keywords:

Butch Cassidy | Bolivia | Wounded | Robbery | Revenge

Awards:

6 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Sam Shepard	...	James
Eduardo Noriega	...	Ing. Eduardo Apodaca
Stephen Rea	...	Mackinley
Magaly Solier	...	Yana
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau	...	James Joven
Padraic Delaney	...	Sundance
Dominique McElligott	...	Etta
Luis Bredow	...	Doctor
Cristian Mercado	...	General of the Bolivian Army
Daniel Aguirre	...	Iván
Martin Proctor	...	Caballero inglés
María Luque	...	Tabernera
Raúl Beltrán	...	Jefe indígena
Luis Aduviri	...	Lugarteniente indígena
Claudia Coronel	...	Indígena perseguidora 1
Erika Andia	...	Indígena perseguidora 2
Shirley Torres	...	Indígena perseguidora 3
Jorge Hidalgo	...	Soldado argentino 1
Daniel Arce	...	Soldado argentino 2
Fernando Gamarra	...	Director de banco
Víctor Orihuela	...	Cajero
Julio Mita	...	Hombre anciano
Delia Fabián	...	Mujer anciana
Fernando Pericón	...	Camarero
Marcos Soto	...	Soldado boliviano
Fernando Peredo	...	Jefe de estación
Rodolfo Calaumana	...	Cliente taberna (as Rodolfo Calahumana)
Álex Terán	...	Cliente taberna
Alice Guimares	...	Prostituta
Karen Maysunga	...	Prostituta
Paola Oña	...	Prostituta
Tania Watoro	...	Prostituta
Ismael Suárez	...	Perseguidor indígena
Christian Bautista	...	Perseguidor indígena
Ariel Ramos	...	Perseguidor indígena
Froilán Paucara	...	Perseguidor indígena
María Quispe	...	Perseguidor indígena
Andrés Celili	...	Perseguidor indígena
Marcos Yucra	...	Perseguidor indígena
Andrés Márquez	...	Perseguidor indígena
Sandra Rivero	...	Perseguidor indígena
Emmanuel Espíritu	...	Perseguidor indígena
Eddy Aramayo	...	Perseguidor indígena
Maximiliano Ortega	...	Perseguidor indígena
Mario Flores	...	Perseguidor indígena

Directed by
Mateo Gil

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Miguel Barros		scriptwriter

Produced by
Paolo Agazzi	....	executive producer
James Atherton	....	executive producer
Ibon Cormenzana	....	producer
Ángel Durández	....	executive producer
Ignasi Estapé	....	executive producer
Marina Fuentes	....	executive producer
Julián García	....	delegate producer
Alberto Moya	....	delegate producer
Julien Naveau	....	associate producer
Jan Pace	....	executive producer
Andrés Santana	....	producer
Jérôme Vidal	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Lucio Godoy

Cinematography by
Juan Ruiz Anchía		(as Juan Ruiz-Anchía)

Film Editing by
David Gallart

Casting by
Jina Jay

Production Design by
Juan Pedro De Gaspar

Art Direction by
Juan Pedro De Gaspar

Set Decoration by
Angela Nahum

Costume Design by
Clara Bilbao

Makeup Department
Mirian Alarcón	....	make-up and hair assistant
Sonia Aliaga	....	make-up and hair assistant
Mariela Hermo	....	make-up and hair assistant
Ana López Puigcerver	....	makeup designer (as Ana López-Puigcerver)
Belén López Puigcerver	....	hair designer (as Belén López-Puigcerver)
Betsabé Mamani	....	make-up and hair assistant
Romelia Perales	....	make-up and hair assistant
María Rodríguez	....	make-up and hair assistant
Nelson Rodríguez	....	make-up and hair assistant
Miguelina Rojas	....	make-up and hair assistant
Roxana Toledo	....	make-up and hair assistant
Janeth Vera	....	make-up and hair assistant

Production Management
Alexandre Isidoro	....	post-production supervisor
Patricia Quintanilla	....	unit production manager: Bolivia
Iñaki Ros	....	unit production manager
Andrés Santana	....	production manager
Sandra Tàpia	....	post-production supervisor (as Sandra Tapia)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Magdalena Cernadas	....	second assistant director (as Male Cernadas)
Mónica Cortés	....	third assistant director
Guillermo Escribano	....	assistant director
Patricia Prada	....	trainee assistant director
Diego Revollo	....	trainee assistant director
Lorena Rodríguez	....	trainee assistant director
Patricio Romay	....	second assistant director
Luis Velasco	....	trainee assistant director
Miguel Velásquez	....	trainee assistant director

Art Department
Andrea Antezana	....	props
Ferran Criado	....	original poster designer
Alejandro Cuevas	....	props
Esther Gili	....	storyboard artist
César Mamani	....	carpenter
César Morón	....	art coordinator
Sergio Pol	....	construction coordinator
Carlos Salgado	....	storyboard artist
Serapio Tola	....	property master
Angelo Valverde	....	painter

Sound Department
Mafalda Alba	....	dialogue editor
Marc Bech	....	foley editor
Marc Bech	....	foley recordist
Luis Bolívar	....	sound assistant
Dani Fontrodona	....	production sound mixer
Dani Fontrodona	....	sound recordist
Manu García-Escudero	....	boom operator (as Manuel García-Escudero)
José Manuel Lara	....	foley artist
Fabiola Ordoyo	....	sound designer
Fabiola Ordoyo	....	supervising sound editor
Marc Orts	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jaume Puig	....	sound consultant: Dolby (as Jaime Puig)
John Griffin	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Ángel Alonso	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Bernat Aragonès	....	postproduction supervisor (as Bernat Aragonés)
Anna Aragonés	....	graphics
José María Aragonés	....	postproduction supervisor (as Josep Maria Aragnonés)
Gloria Bernabeu	....	digital compositor
Alfredo Blasco	....	compositor
Jaime Cebrián	....	visual effects supervisor
Jordi Costa	....	visual effects supervisor
Chema del Fresno	....	technical director
Neus Hernández	....	post production coordinator
Fernando Jiménez	....	visual effects artist
Ignacio Lacosta	....	visual effects supervisor
Jesús Marín Jaca	....	visual effects artist (as Jesús Marín)
Alexis Rosés	....	graphics
Jaime Torelló	....	compositor

Stunts
Ángel Alonso	....	stunts
Jordi Casares	....	stunt coordinator
Jordi Casares	....	stunts
Hugo Dietz	....	stunts
Ángel Gómez Fernández	....	horse master (as Ángel Gómez)
Ángel Gómez Fernández	....	stunts (as Ángel Gómez)
Angélica Macías Gil	....	stunts
Paula Monroy	....	stunt: Dominique McElligott
Pablo Andrés Rivero	....	stunts (as Andrés Rivero)
Ismael Suárez	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Jorge Abuday	....	electrician
Hernán Arcani	....	additional electrician
Jaime Arcani	....	grip
Nelson Arcani	....	additional electrician
Miguel Barros	....	second unit: director
Ariana Bonavia	....	digital imaging technician
Lucas Borghi	....	assistant camera
Daniela Cajías	....	assistant digital imaging technician
Enrique Callejas	....	additional electrician
Miguel Inti Canedo	....	video assist (as Miguel Canedo)
José Luis Cartagenas	....	additional electrician
Óscar Cedres	....	key grip
Ibon Cormenzana	....	second unit: director
Freddy Delgado	....	second assistant camera
José Ramón Delgado	....	first assistant camera
Juan Gabriel Estellano	....	assistant camera
Alberto Foronda	....	electrician
Fredie Hayes	....	assistant camera
Juan Idigoras	....	second unit: assistant camera (as Juan Manuel Idígoras)
Juan Idigoras	....	steadicam assistant (as Juan Manuel Idígoras)
Américo Luna	....	gaffer
Juan Carlos Montesinos	....	additional electrician
Daniel Ocampo	....	electrician
Pablo Paniagua	....	making-of
Pablo Paniagua	....	still photographer
Franklin Poma	....	additional electrician
Debray Quisbert	....	additional electrician
Ramiro Quispe	....	electrician
Rafael Sahade	....	second operator
Rafael Sahade	....	second unit: operator
Rafael Sahade	....	steadicam operator
Veimar C. Soto	....	additional electrician
Guillermo Tórrez	....	head electrician

Casting Department
Wendy Alcázar	....	casting: Bolivia
Mylene André	....	casting assistant
Katti Calero	....	casting assistant
Cristina Medina	....	extras casting
Patrick Rocha	....	casting assistant
Glenda Rodríguez	....	extras casting
Ana Sanz	....	casting: Spain
Mary Torricos	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nancy Bautista	....	military wardrobe
Martha Cabrera	....	seamstress
Regina Calvo	....	costume supervisor
Mario Catari Condori	....	leather craftsman
Francisca Chambi	....	embroidery
Yoni Crispín	....	hats
Pilar Groux	....	costume supervisor
Fernando Huanca	....	military wardrobe
Emiliano Machaca Osco	....	tailor
Natividad Mallón Catata	....	costume assistant
Ana Muñiz	....	leather craftsman
Juan Pierola Pinedo	....	laundry
Luis Rodríguez	....	tailor
Agapito Sillerico	....	tailor
Manuel Sillerico	....	tailor
Maite Tarilonte	....	costume assistant
Julia Tintaya	....	seamstress
Roxana Toledo	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Chema Alba	....	colorist
Luis Rico	....	assistant editor
Martí Roca	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Esteban Balaguer	....	musician
José Luis Crespo	....	music sound engineer
Marianne Dumas	....	musician
Lucio Godoy	....	musician
Lucio Godoy	....	string arrangements
David Gwyn	....	musician (as David Gwynn)
Federico Jusid	....	string arrangements
Rosa Marchena	....	music coordination: producer
Olivier Milchberb	....	musician (as Olivier Milchberg)
Peter Pejtsik	....	conductor
Santiago Quizhpe	....	music recording assistant
Manuel Tobar	....	musician

Other crew
Mireille Andriampahita-Ranaïvo	....	production assistant (as Mireille Andriampahita Ranaivo)
Paulo Aranda	....	location manager (as Paulo Aranda 'Lukas')
Paulo Aranda	....	location manager
Oliver Beiro	....	production assistant
Ana Blázquez	....	production assistant
Núria Casanueva	....	script supervisor
Donato Espinosa	....	coach
Thierry Fontaine	....	production accountant
Franck Fuchs	....	production accountant
Paola Gosalvez	....	stage manager (as Paola Goszálvez)
Matilde Grange	....	translator
Laurent Granier	....	production assistant
Tony Gray	....	translator
Johnny Huayta	....	shoes
Clara Lago	....	financial controller
Oriol Marcos	....	production supervisor
Yolanda Mulero	....	production secretary
Félix Novo	....	veterinarian
Ana Pastor	....	location manager: Spain (as Ana Pastor Escolano)
Carlos Piñeiro	....	stage manager
Patricia Puerto	....	production coordinator
Quim Roca	....	dubbing director
Freddie Rocha	....	production assistant
Pholak Ríos	....	production assistant
Marta Santana	....	production assistant
Miguel Torricos	....	production assistant
Sandra Tàpia	....	production coordinator (as Sandra Tapia)
Naila Vázquez	....	production secretary

Thanks
Alejandro Amenábar	....	thanks
Eugenio Caballero	....	thanks
Paz Sufrategui	....	thanks
Bernat Vilaplana	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Ariane Mararía Films
• Arcadia Motion Pictures
• Quickfire Films
• Nix Films
• Eter Pictures
• Manto Films
• Pegaso Producciones (co-production)
• Noodles Production (co-production)
• Televisión Española (TVE)
• Canal+ España
• Ono
• Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA)
• Ibermedia
• Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO)
• Audiovisual Aval SGR
• Six Sales

Distributors

• Bac Films (2011) (France) (theatrical)
• Magnolia Pictures (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Vertice Cine (2011) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2011) (Germany) (all media)
• Ascot Elite Home Entertainment (2011) (Germany) (all media)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2011) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• WoWow (2012) (Japan) (TV)

Special Effects

• Entropy Studio (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Entropy Studio  VFX (uncredited)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

Spain | USA | Bolivia | France

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Ireland:15A | UK:15 | Germany:12 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

La Paz, Bolivia

Company:

Ariane Mararía Films

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: At the very beginning of the film there is text reading "Butch Cassidy was ONE THE MOST wanted outlaws in America..." The OF that should be included in the sentence is curiously missing.

Quotes:

James Blackthorn aka Butch Cassidy:There are only two significant events in a man's life: when you leave home and when you go back. Everything else is just the middle.

Soundtrack:

Ain't No Grave

Outstanding Lead Performance, Beautifully Shot

If you're a guy and you haven't at some point had the dream of becoming an outlaw who takes down government banks and rolls with either a wicked car or a massive horse then...well...you're weird. Let's just be honest: being an outlaw is just super cool. Robbing from the rich and corrupt, taking out bad guys (even though you're kind of a bad guy yourself), and living outside of the law are all exciting ideas and make for even more exciting men (and women). We gravitate toward those characters in movies because they are always charismatic, fun, and give off an air of freedom despite (and perhaps because of) always being just one step ahead of certain death at the hands of stodgy law makers and guys who don't have the stones to be outlaws themselves (I'm talking to you, Pinkertons!). Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is one of my very favorite films, the rare "classic" that plays just as well today as I imagine it did when it opened in 1969. The idea, then, of an alternative history in which Butch and Sundance escape the doom that awaited them at the end of that film (and in real life, I guess) is beyond interesting to me. I saw a blurb about Blackthorn a couple of months ago and immediately knew I would seek it out. I'm awfully glad I did.

20 years after the standoff in which he and the Sundance Kid supposedly died, an aging Butch Cassidy (Sam Shepard) still lives in Bolivia, laying low and breaking wild horses for wealthy riders. He has a good life but one that is a good deal quieter than he experienced in his outlaw days and that lack of action wears on him. So when he comes in contact with Eduardo Apodaca (Eduardo Noriega), a Spanish engineer with a plan to steal thousands from a mining company, he senses an opportunity not only to relive the glory days but to buy his way back home. The heist turns south, however, when it becomes clear that Noriega isn't who he says he is, forcing Cassidy into circumstances he may not be able to overcome.

Blackthorn (which is the name Cassidy goes by) is a slowburn that moves methodically through both the narrative and the Bolivian landscape, providing action in short, contained bursts rather than excessively throughout the run time. Part of the story is told in the form of flashbacks that fill in the blanks between BCSK and while these aren't the best parts of the film, they re-engage the audience with the Cassidy storyline and essentially create an immediate rooting interest in the character. This is a big part of what makes the film work. It progresses exactly the way a Western should when it concerns itself with an aging protagonist and that makes for a rich and intriguing narrative. (And by the way, can we please have more Westerns, Hollywood? They don't have to be big budget entries like Cowboys and Aliens, just simple little films like this and Meek's Cutoff. More of that please.) In addition, the behind-the-camera work on Blackthorn is excellent. The shot selection is simple yet purposeful and the settings are well-chosen. The cinematography is outstanding, highlighting the tremendous and beautiful geographical diversity of South America. The landscape is in many ways the premier supporting character.

But as you might expect, Blackthorn depends almost entirely on the performance of Shepard and the man delivers magnificently. Shepard is one of the greatest actors of his generation and yet he is often overlooked when that conversation comes up and I am one of the guilty who has too often neglected to mention his name. I can't think of a single actor who I would prefer to play the aging Cassidy and he completely lives up to that statement. I think it would have been very easy to play Cassidy as some sort of knock-off of Paul Newman's interpretation of the character. Instead, Shepard makes him wholly his own with just a hint of reminiscence for the iconic original. The years have taken their toll on Cassidy but Shepard never makes him come off as bitter or even overly tired so much as hardened and slightly more crotchety. Cassidy shows the physical rust that would accumulate during a 20 year hibernation but he displays the wits and reflexes that make men like himself so exciting. There are a few moments in which I found myself thinking, "The guy still has it!" the same way I would if I was watching an aging slugger take one monster swing that sends a ball 450 feet up into the stands. It's a powerful yet understated performance that has reminded me of Shepard's true greatness. I won't be forgetting his value again anytime soon and the same should be said for Blackthorn as a whole.

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