Barbarosa

PG

Released Feb 19, 1982

1h 30m

Western

List

100%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In pre-Civil War Texas, naïve Karl Westover (Gary Busey) accidentally kills his brother-in-law, and heads to Mexico to escape the consequences. Along the way, he encounters Barbarosa (Willie Nelson), who is also on the run. Barbarosa teaches Karl survival skills for the desert -- and how to rob. In their journey from Texas to Mexico and back again, the two men are captured by outlaw Angel Morales, and pursued by Don Braulito (Gilbert Roland), who wants Barbarosa dead.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Schepisi's Western is an underestimated film, boasting strong performances from Willie Nelson and Gary Busey

Rated: B+

Jan 31, 2013

Full Review

Adam Lippe

Examiner.com

Schepisi doesn't have time to show off; Despite the opportunity for some beautiful widescreen vistas, he doesn't use them as a crutch or a cheap conduit for a scene transition without a proper segue. [Well, other than Busey's unbelievably toothy grin.]

May 28, 2011

Full Review

Randy Shulman

Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)

Rated: 4/5

Nov 4, 2004

Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

Barbarosa comes along just when we thought Westerns were extinct: this gritty mongrel saga ought to satisfy all sagebrush devotees.

Feb 4, 2004

Full Review

Carol Cling

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Rated: 4/5

Aug 22, 2003

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Patrick C

Barbarosa is not for audiences used to big explosions, unreal storylines and unbelievable CGI. Released in 1982, it relies on cinematography, writing and acting. It emerses you in the world of the pre-civil war old west. Willy Nelson gives an outstanding performance as a grissled outlaw who only wants to be accepted by his wife's family. Gary Busey plays the young, naive farmhand on the run for accidentally killing another farmhand. He only wants his life back but his unusual friendship with Barbarosa gives him insights into a world he finds his niche in. The acting is superb and real. It is funny and heartfelt in appropriate amounts. It is the antithesis of 90 percent of typical, cookie cutter westerns, which is a running theme of viewers who failed to grasp it's originality. The music is grandiose. The cinematography is gorgeous. The acting is real. It's a shame this movie never became more popular but that makes it a gem to people who know a good movie without any hype.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/08/23

Full Review

Deborah H

Movie scenes were scattered and disconnected.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Director Fred Schepisi teams Gary Busey and Willie Nelson It's pre-civil war Texas and Karl Westover is wanted for murder The thing is he accidentally killed his brother-in-law but the authorities want to bring him in for swift justice Karl decides to flee to Mexico but runs into outlaw Barbarosa Since Karl has nothing left he has Barbarosa teach him how to rob and pick up survival skills Later they're captured by Angel Morales while also pursued by Don Braulito wanting Barbarosa's blood Both these men find themselves in scrapes but working together they can escape anything Strong performances from both Busey and Nelson This is a lovable throwback to classic westerns for long time fans of the genre before completely dying out The scenery acts as more of a backdrop for these two keeping the legend of Barbarosa's name alive and well Good friendship between the two nearly escaping every gunshot coming their way

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

jelisije j

Sometimes people need a Barbarosa in their life to makes their own lives have meaning.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

s r

Just pointless trashy entertainment trying to be raw and edgy. It's sad to see such high ratings for a contrived worthless movie. I never want to see it again. Saw it on HBO.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A poorly told, sappy moralistic yarn told with ridiculous dialogue. The ending is corny and predictable. This movie was produced by Nelson and Busey to showcase themselves. Perhaps this movie might be OK for children given its simplistic fairy tale like quality, but nothing beyond that.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

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Fred Schepisi

Director

Willie Nelson

Barbarosa

Gary Busey

Karl Westover

Gilbert Roland

Don Braulio

Isela Vega

Josephina

Danny De La Paz

Eduardo

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Synopsis

In pre-Civil War Texas, naïve Karl Westover (Gary Busey) accidentally kills his brother-in-law, and heads to Mexico to escape the consequences. Along the way, he encounters Barbarosa (Willie Nelson), who is also on the run. Barbarosa teaches Karl survival skills for the desert -- and how to rob. In their journey from Texas to Mexico and back again, the two men are captured by outlaw Angel Morales, and pursued by Don Braulito (Gilbert Roland), who wants Barbarosa dead.

Director: Fred Schepisi
Screenwriter: William D. Wittliff
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Incorporated Television Company
Rating: PG
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 19, 1982, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Runtime: 1h 30m

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