Robert Redford, an iconic American actor and Oscar-winning director, died in his sleep at age 89 today in Sundance, Utah, the location of the Sundance Institute, which he founded in 1981 to support emerging and aspiring independent filmmakers.
Ethan Hawke wrote on Instagram: “Robert Redford, our ultimate champion of independent film, relentless advocate for authentic storytelling and fiercely passionate environmentalist. Robert’s legacy remains ingrained in our culture, transformed by his artistry, activism and the founding of Sundance Institute and Film Festival.”
It's hard to pick and choose from among all the incredible films Redford was involved with, but if I had to program a two-week memorial film festival that admittedly involves a lot of my personal favorites, it would look something like this:
WEEK 1
- Festival opener: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- The Hot Rock (1972)
- The Sting (1973)
- Three Days of the Condor (1975)
- All the President's Men (1976)
- (This is chronological, but it's the viewing order I'd put them in even if it weren't. It takes us from his superstar emergence to a series of 1970s films that transition from fun to serious, while being thrilling all the while.)
WEEK 2
- Ordinary People (1980, director only, for which he won the Oscar)
- The Natural (1984)
- Sneakers (1992)
- The Horse Whisperer (1998, director and star)
- Finale: All Is Lost (2013)
- Coda: "Nothing in the Dark," 1962 episode of "The Twilight Zone" (pictured at top)