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Jan 05, 2015lukasevansherman rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
"Some say he's dead. . .some say he never will be." Visceral, virile, sometimes violent, sometimes lyrical story of mountain man Jeremiah Johnson (loosely based on a real figure) that is an atypical take on the western, while still embodying some of the major themes of 70s movies. Robert Redford plays the title character and while initially he seems too pretty, he gets rugged pretty fast and plays Johnson as a stoic loner trying to escape civilization, yet still in touch with his humanity. Like other 70s westerns, this eschews the romantic, mythic ethos of classic westerns, doesn't shy from violence, and offers a more nuanced look at Native Americans, who are actually played by Native American actors rather than whites in "redface." The physical terrain (Utah mostly) is stunning and the acting is solid by everyone. This was the only film of Delle Bolton, who plays the woman who is given to Johnson. One of 7 movies that Redford and director Sydney Pollack made together. Others include "Three Days of the Condor," "Out of Africa," and "The Electric Horseman."