A natural athlete bored by his upbringing in suburban California, Redford became the reluctant byword for WASP America. In the 70s Hollywood era of dark-haired, dynamic actors – many of Italian or Jewish descent – Redford remained an old-fashioned leading man. It’s easy to see why Redford was attracted to the liberal cause of prison reform – and the heroic role. While Brubaker can be a little bit on the nose at times, it’s a wholly likable film – and Redford is a pro at embodying a hard-headed idealist. As he drifts through the open sea, lonely and maybe doomed, Redford gives a defining late-career performance of endurance and desperation.