Robert Redford, actor, director, and producer, was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2014, and there’s definitely good reason for it. His acting career began on stage in the 1950s, and since then he has won many different awards, including an Oscar, a BAFTA, two Golden Globes, and even the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Perhaps one of his biggest achievements, however, is becoming one of the founding members for the popular Sundance Film Festival.
There’s no doubt that Redford’s career took off when he first started in the film industry in the 60s, especially thanks to the many awards and nominations he earned at the time. In fact, some might say the 60s and 70s were the peak of his career, producing some of his best movies. Because of this, however, many of his movies after 1980 are overlooked in favor of the classics. Even at the current age of 86, Redford is still a powerful, magnetic screen presence. Here are some of his best movies from the 80s and on, to highlight some of those that are overlooked.
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7 Indecent Proposal
Paramount Pictures
The drama Indecent Proposal is based on a novel of the same name. David and Diana Murphy are a happy couple hoping to design and build their dream home. Investing their money in a beachfront property they begin construction, but the recession leaves them struggling to save their land from repossession. After traveling to Vegas to win the money, Diana catches the eye of billionaire John Gage.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Because of his interest in her, Gage offers the couple an offer they can’t refuse: a million dollars for him to spend one night with her. Desperate for the money, they eventually accept, unaware of the repercussions it might have on their relationship. The movie was a success, and though it didn’t have the best reception, the acting was often praised, with Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, and Redford all doing an excellent job. Redford played Gage, bringing the antagonist to life and making him just as arrogant as one would expect out of Gage.
6 Out of Africa
Universal Pictures
Another movie based on a book, Out of Africa is a story about writer Karen Blixen. She was an unmarried wealthy Dane who moved to Africa as she married Baron Bror Blixen out of convenience. He was supposed to take her money and set up a dairy farm, but instead used it for a coffee farm that was at too high of an elevation to be successful. She remained there for a while anyway, often alone as Bror is more interested in guiding game hunting safaris, taking him away from their home for long periods of time.
She grows to be respected in her time there, taking care of the people squatting on her land by teaching them and taking care of their medical needs, among other things. Her experience there before the farm burned down was unique, and it’s clear she touched a lot of lives while in Africa. Redford brings Denys Finch Hatton to the big screen. Hatton was a big game hunter that was also one of Karen’s lovers while she was in Africa. He really makes the role believable and adds a new dimension to Karen’s story, and they have passionate chemistry in this big Oscar-winning film.
5 Sneakers
Universal Studios
Sneakers is a thriller movie about crime, updated for a more modern era. Martin Brice and Cosmo are computer hackers, working together to fund left wing organizations until Cosmo is arrested. Martin goes on the run, renaming himself to Martin Bishop, and eventually leads a computer security team. When they’re approached by NSA officers that claim to know his past, they ask for help in retrieving a black box from a local mathematician in exchange for clearing his name.
Of course, not everything goes according to plan as thrilling conspiracies and character revelations change the narrative. Martin is played by Redford, who shows us the intricacies and struggles of facing an old friend who no longer shares the same morals as you do. His acting really helps carry the story.
4 Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The second Captain America movie, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, follows Steve Rogers as he begins to grow used to the modern world and joins S.H.I.E.L.D. After rescuing S.H.I.E.L.D.hostages from a pirate that captured their vessel, Rogers discovers his mission and that of his team, especially Natasha Romanoff, are different, as she extracts data from the computers. Not long after he confronts Nick Fury about being lied to, there’s an attempt on Fury’s life that leads Rogers into chasing after the assassin only known as The Winter Soldier.
Redford plays Alexander Pierce, a high ranking member of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Secretary of International Security. While he and Fury are friendly in his first appearance, it’s soon revealed that Pierce is the one who hired the assassin, and is actually the head of Hydra hiding within S.H.I.E.L.D. Redford knows just how to play the villain, acting innocent before the big reveal, and being such a great villain only helps boost the movie.
3 The Natural
Tri-Star Pictures
The sports movie The Natural is also another movie based on a book of the same name. Roy Hobbs learned to play baseball from his father, but his father dies after a heart attack. Lightning splinters the tree his father died next to, so Hobbs takes the broken wood and turns it into his own baseball bat, complete with a lightning bolt design. Hobbs is soon shown to have great baseball prowess, out-pitching a famous baseball player at a carnival game on his way to try out for the Chicago Cubs.
For certain reasons, however, he is prevented from playing baseball professionally for another 16 years, until he signs on to the New York Knights, a struggling team that he attempts to turn around despite many problems. Redford plays Roy Hobbs, settling into the main character’s role wonderfully. Though he didn’t receive any of the award nominations the movie had, there’s no doubt that his performance in this great baseball movie is a classic, and is something many remember him for.
2 The Old Man & the Gun
Fox Searchlight Pictures
The biographical crime film The Old Man & the Gun is about the life of Forrest Tucker, a career criminal who was known for being an escape artist. The movie starts out late in his life, where he is a wanted man for escaping from San Quentin State Prison two years prior. He’s just robbed another bank, and in order to evade the police, stops and helps a woman on the side of the road with her car trouble, watching the police drive past without noticing him. Jewel, the woman he just helps, buys Tucker lunch for his help, and he quickly becomes enamored with her.
Redford plays Tucker, showing us the role of the criminal who, despite being in and out of jail for all of his life, still has a soft side, and can still fall in love. His performance earned him best actor nominations for the Golden Globes and Satellite Awards, proving that he’s still incredible even in his 80s. The supporting cast is phenomenal as well, with Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek, Danny Glover, Elisabeth Moss, and Tom Waits giving great performances in David Lowery’s very good film.
1 All is Lost
Lionsgate
All is Lost is a unique film with only one cast member: Robert Redford. The story revolves around an unnamed man lost at sea in a series of one unfortunate event after another. When his boat collided with a lost shipping container in the middle of the night, it ripped a hole in the hull and damaged a lot of the ship’s controls, including the radio.
After he patches the hole and removes the water, he first tries to repair the radio by connecting it to one of the boat’s batteries, hoping to call for help, but a storm ultimately send him adrift on his life raft. Redford is perfect here in this movie about survival and hope, trying to find help and keep himself alive as his supplies dwindle. It’s a nearly wordless performance from a man who was 77 at the time and still absolutely able to carry a film with his physical presence.
