Defining the career of Robert Redford, the undisputed heartthrob of Hollywood in the 1960s and 1970s, in just a handful of titles seems a rather daring task. Because the filmography of the actor, who died this Tuesday at the age of 89 at his residence in Utah and whom the Academy ignored for decades at the Oscars, is both vast and praised. But the man who formed one of the best (and most beautiful) couples in cinema with Paul Newman, well deserves this review of his acting life. So these are some of his best films:

Barefoot in the Park (1967)

Robert Redford had already starred in this story on Broadway, but the big screen was still waiting to turn him into a star, that actor with the whitest lopsided smile and a symbol of beauty. The newlywed couple that the actor forms with Jane Fonda is hilarious at times. He is a lawyer, upright and formal. She is wild and lively. Until at one point Redford tells her, in the middle of an argument,"I'm not upset, Corie. I'm just trying to keep my sanity while you throw it out the window, brick by brick." And she is stunned. Enough to stay.

Available for rent on Apple TV, Amazon, and Rakuten.

Two Men and a Destiny (1969)

Although we'll get to The Sting later, it was George Roy Hill's western that finally launched Robert Redford to fame and forged his bond with Paul Newman. The Sundance Kid, Butch Cassidy's inseparable companion in hardships, was the first robbery that both actors perpetrated on the big screen. They did it on the banks of the state of Wyoming, the Union Pacific mail train and, in the process, the hearts of all the women - and the occasional man - who came to see them. You'll remember the couple's jump into the river to escape the police. Well, it might not have happened because Redford wasn't a great swimmer and wasn't sure if he could do it. He did it, and that's how it went down in cinema history.

Available on Apple TV and Movistar+.

The Adventures of Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

To get into the role of John Liver-Eating Johnson, the actor dedicated himself to learning survival, fishing, and hunting techniques from mountain men. This was the film that allowed Robert Redford to give free rein to his climate concerns, a political line that would end up shaping his life at a time when these issues, which are now central to the younger generation, were barely discussed. It was also the one that showed that the actor wasn't just a physique. Silent, introspective, with hardly any great dialogue, there remained his Mountain Man.

Available for rent on Apple TV and Amazon.

The Sting (1973)

The pinnacle of the trio formed by Newman, Redford, and Roy Hill came in 1973 with The Sting. Once again, two con men, Henry Gondorff (Newman) and Johnny Hooker (Redford). The charismatic duo that has turned the film into an absolute classic of 1970s Hollywood. The crazy scene at the station where the plan is revealed had to be shot several times, while the two actors shared jokes during each break. And the scene of Newman in the shower with Redford sitting on the toilet, waiting to convince him to join him, will go down in history."I thought I'd find you in the back room counting bills," Hooker tells a bewildered Gondorff. That was his only Oscar nomination as an actor.

Available on Filmin.

Three Days of the Condor (1975)

The thriller in which Robert Redford starred under the direction of Sidney Pollack - once again in his career - opened a new path for the actor. He was no longer the confident and charismatic robber. Joe Turner is a simple CIA analyst who discovers a conspiracy within the agency, which forces him to flee because all his colleagues are being murdered. Redford and Pollack had a very close relationship and the script also had the political component that interested the actor. Watergate still resonated strongly among the American population and the distrust in its institutions were the perfect breeding ground for this film.

Available on Movistar+ and Filmin.

All the President's Men (1975)

In 1967, Robert Redford was passed over for the lead role in The Graduate because he was too handsome to play the part. That role went to Dustin Hoffman. Eight years later, the two actors would reunite in All the President's Men as journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, investigating the Watergate scandal—once again, politics played a role in the actor's career. It is said that on that shoot, Redford and Hoffman embodied two opposing acting styles. The former, relaxed and natural. The latter, pure intensity. The perfect complement to each other.

Available on Movistar+.

Out of Africa (1985)

Robert Redford's presence could be defined by that scene, by the river, in which he washes Meryl Streep's hair with a jug. Never has there been so much sensuality in a stream of river water. His Denys Finch Hatton is also the very stereotype of the free man. He rides, flies over Africa in a small plane, and chats amicably about the beauty of being a free man."I don't want to own anything. I just want to live," says Redford at one point in what is considered one of the great gems in the history of romantic cinema.

Available on Filmin.

Spy Game (2001)

It may not resonate as one of the great films in Robert Redford's filmography, although it is a more than enjoyable thriller. And, above all, it is the transfer of power from a classic heartthrob to a modern heartthrob. Redford is a cunning CIA agent on his last day of service, and Brad Pitt is his young protégé. One represents calm and experience, while the other represents the impulsiveness of youth, even though his life is at stake. It was Redford himself who, during the filming of that film, said that his partner reminded him of when he was young. Who would dare deny him?

Available on Filmin and Prime Video.

The Old Man and the Gun (2018)

Maybe I wouldn't have entered Robert Redford's altar either, based solely on cinematic criteria, but what would become of us if sentimentality were excluded? Robert Redford's final act—although he would later have a small role as a villain in Marvel—couldn't be left out of a list of his essential films. Because the role of Forrest Tucker that David Lowery prepared is the perfect homage to everything the actor's career had been. A constant nod to his iconic roles and also, of course, a final act to pull off well into his 80s. A line from that script that explains it all clearly demonstrates this:"I just like doing what I do best." Well, that's it.