JohnSeal Review of Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That

Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That (2005 TV Movie)

Worthwhile TCM original

[7/10 · 24 December 2005]

This look at cult director Budd Boetticher features copious footage from his western canon and intelligent interviews with Taylor Hackford, Peter Bogdanovich, Robert Towne, Paul Schrader and most importantly of all, Boetticher himself. Though he died in 2001, Boetticher was not camera-shy, and the bulk of this documentary consists of on-camera interviews with its subject, including a fascinating excerpt from a 1971 PBS feature hosted by a hairy young Hackford. Thankfully, Quentin Tarantino's presence is minimal, with him reduced to appearing as Clint Eastwood's organ grinder monkey most of the time. Though I'm still not convinced that his films are much more than above average 'B' features, this documentary does what it needs to do, and will have viewers rushing out to rent The Tall T, The Cimarron Kid, and all the rest of Boetticher's output.