Barbarosa
1982  PG  WESTERN  1h 30min
CAST— Willie Nelson, Gary Busey, Isela Vega, Gilbert Roland, Danny De La Paz, George Voskovec
MUSIC— Bruce Smeaton  DIRECTOR— Fred Schepisi

     Country music legend Willie Nelson hits the trail in a surprisingly decent Western adventure. He plays a notorious outlaw known as Barbarosa who reluctantly takes under his wing a kindhearted farmhand (Gary Busey) on the run from the law. Nelson shows the kid the ins and outs of a drifter’s life, the dos and don’ts of being a bandit. At first Busey is reluctant to participate but when Nelson is in dire straights Busey must draw upon his newly acquired knowledge to ensure their survival. Though compared to some of the classic Westerns of yesteryear this may seem like so much fluff; but the film is entertaining enough. The pace is swift, the banter is kept light and you can root for the good guys. Final note: even though the film is rated PG the language can still be rather harsh, so be warned.
OUR RATING— ** ½