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The Wild Bunch (1969) watch along (Patreon)

Published:
2025-01-17 17:49:37
Edited:
2025-01-18 02:44:53
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

Happy AFI Friday! Some tech issues today but at least my backup sound is decent! Sorry about that folks!

WELL...The Wild Bunch (1969) #79 on the AFI list...My thoughts... it is undoubtedly a technical masterpiece, with what I felt was bold cinematography, sharp editing, and most likely a groundbreaking approach to violence LOL. It’s a film that clearly influenced cinema for years to come. From the little Westerns I've seen to so many more genres...However, despite its critical acclaim or how much others love this film, it just didn’t resonate with me. Something about it didn’t quite strike my movie-lover’s core the way I had hoped.

I'm still grateful to have watched this film. And for sure had some awesome laughs and thoughts over this movie. Maybe over time and another rewatch it will hit me differently. But, I'm not so sure. Perhaps you can sway my thoughts! LOL

xx

Ames

Files

The Wild Bunch (1969) watch along

Comments

Toc

I must confess, I'm with you, I've never been taken with this movie to be honest. I rewatch it every few years, just to give it another chance and it's never impressed me. I like other Peckinpah movies, definitely "Straw Dogs", and there are a slew of westerns I love, but I've always found this one tedious, dated, and overrated. If I was to represent one Peckinpah movie on the AFI list, it would be "Straw Dogs", not this one. Still....looking forward to revisiting it with you, as always! (But first.......Severance!!! Tonight!!! I'm going to try and make it!!!!! :D )

Robert Berry

So... this film had a very targeted audience. It was definitely a classic "guy film." The type that appealed to what some people today might describe as "toxic masculinity". Basically the same culture you would find amongst men and women in locker rooms, fire houses, army barracks, even prisons, etc. Dark gallows humor, don't give a sh*t attitudes, very calloused and sometimes violent emotionally, but also a strong sense of brotherhood or sisterhood. If you don't totally identify with or go into it understanding that, then movies such as this one are going to be a little harder to take in, understand, or identify with. Sam Peckinpah had that kind of personality, mostly driven by heavy drinking and drug use, and it often showed through in the movies he made such as this one.

Catchermag

I love the movie, but I get it. It’s not for everyone. I’ll skip the watchalong, but watch it tonight since I rented it….. with a few beers while the wife’s out.

RFK Fan

Peckinpah is an acquired taste I agree. Although I prefer Leone to his films he was a groundbreaker when it came to film violence and what a stellar cast. Looks almost tame compared to todays standards but when this film was released it raised many eyebrows and went on to influence many directors.

Teemu Laitinen

I figured this might be your reaction to this film Ames, but hear me out. HEAVY SPOILERS! I think this story is a really universal one that everyone regardless of their gender will enjoy. In it's heart it's about a group of guys who are getting older. They used to be really amazing at what they do, but now running from the law requires younger knees and a better back. Not only that, but the world has progressed so much that you really feel out of place. Well the only thnig to do is to have one last hurrah and ride to the sunset with your loot. Unfortunately everything goes wrong and some innocent bystanders get hurt. Well this isn't your first rodeo and you know that things happen so you're not too upset. But then you find out the whole thing was a trap by your former best friend who knows all your tricks and by the way there is no loot. So what other option is there but to try again. I mean nobody wants to be a quitter. So you ran into this Mexican general guy and he wants some guns. No problem you think, I mean money is money. So you end up getting the guns, but then you find out that this general dude is too much even for a guy whos been there and done that. What's a guy to do? In the beginning you might have just forget about the whole thing and retired, but then that whole thing about the former best friend and the trap and no loot. Then you manage to get away and get this fantastic second change to make your dream come true, but then it turns out that wont be happening either. You could decide to just walk away, but what's the point of living in a world where you don't fit in. So you think ef it and decide to go down in a blaze of glory and at least take that sumbitch with you. So when you think about this Ames this could happen to anyone of us. So when AI and robots replace all of us you're gonna think that damn Peckinpah had this all figured out in 1969.

Clay F

First watch. I liked the movie and your reaction. I like how gritty and the look of the movie. I have no attachment to this movie and thought you were balanced. You made good observations of what you liked but also about the movie not resonating. John Wayne called The Wild Bunch “distasteful.” Interestingly, an American film that had many roles for characters who were Mexican, in which every single role was played by a Latino -- that was unheard of in 1969. I like that the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), which was a revolution against the Mexican dictator/government, is integrated into the movie. The general was on the side of the government. The US supplied arms to the revolutionaries. Early in the movie, a lot of innocent people killed in town. I would not want to be a resident of that town with a town leader like that. I hate to say it, but I was glad the creepy guy who remained was killed. Late in the movie, I wonder why they didn't ambush their old friend/bounty hunters in route to the injured Freddy, forget about Angel, and get the hell out of there to live their lives? Angel could never be my favorite character because he killed the girl. I wasn't big on his torture, but wanted him jailed or killed -- even though he was effective on the train. "Old West is dead." I read that the movie takes place in 1913 at the end of the American West, on the eve of WWI. The end of the Western frontier period. Also, apparently a shift in the genre. "The Wild Bunch (1969) is a revisionist Western film that marked the end of the classic Western era and the beginning of the post-classical Western. The film's violence, moral ambiguity, and nihilistic worldview challenged the traditional values of the genre." "The Wild Bunch is Sam Peckinpah's shocking, violent ballad to an old world and a dying genre". I was fortunate that the Prime digital version (not labeled as director's cut) I previously purchased (likely on sale) had the same run length (2h-24m) and matched your digital version (which I noticed on Amazon Prime labeled as director's cut).

Clay F

I forgot to mention that the audio is not bad at all. Also, I got the sense with the moral ambiguity that the movie enticed the audience to side with the "bad" guys, sort of like with some of the 2000s TV series. As for actors, I liked Ernest Borgnine (Dutch) in The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and other stuff -- he has a presence about him and a good actor. I noticed Warren Oates (Lyle) who is in "In the Heat of the Night" (1967) that is an AFI Top 100 movie and one of my favorite movies all time. Lastly, Ben Johnson (Tector) is awesome in "The Last Picture Show" (1971) (my favorite first watch of 2024) you reacted to in early October.

James Rogers

This movie was definitely a game changer but I don't know if that is enough to warrant calling it a great film. Still, it is a treat to see so many great character actors together in one film. I just wish Peckinpah was a little less ham-fisted. Still a solid film.

Toc

Still a great reaction video! :)