Be Kind Rewind – Watch the ORIGINAL Brad Pitt!

By Michael Nazarewycz

In an industry where the shelf life of its denizens is sometimes measured in months, let alone years, you know someone is special when they last over 50 years. Such is the case of Robert Redford. In Redford’s first act, he was a pretty-boy actor. In his second act, he kept acting but added Oscar-winning director to his résumé. And in his third act, he added environmentalist and founder of one of the most important independent film festivals in town, Sundance. And while you don’t normally think of the 1980s when you think Robert Redford, he certainly left his mark on the decade.

Brubaker
1980
Starring Robert Redford, Yaphet Kotto, David Keith, Morgan Freeman, and
M. Emmet Walsh
Directed by Stuart Rosenberg

Based on a true story, Brubaker tells the story of Henry Brubaker (Redford), the new warden in charge of Wakefield State Penitentiary. To get an understanding of his new environment, Brubaker spends his first few days in the guise of a prisoner. What he discovers are shocking conditions and inhumane treatment of prisoners. When he tries to enact change, he meets resistance from corrupt politicians and community leaders that have been profiting from the prison’s structure. Director Rosenberg also directed another iconic prison-based film, 1967’s Cool Hand Luke.

Legal Eagles
1986
Starring Robert Redford, Debra Winger, Daryl Hannah, Brian Dennehy, and
Terence Stamp
Directed by Ivan Reitman

Tom Logan (Redford) is an Assistant DA assigned to prosecute Chelsea Deardon (Hannah), a woman accused of stealing a painting. The painting once belonged to her father, an artist that was killed in a fire that destroyed his home and much of his work, and Chelsea believes that the painting was stolen from her father first. Her attorney, Laura Kelly (Winger), is determined to make Tom believe Chelsea’s innocence. When he is caught in bed with Chelsea, he is fired, but joins Laura to clear her client’s name. The film’s soundtrack includes Rod Stewart’s ‘80s classic, Love Touch.