Luke
stu-kicks
CibbuanoUnforgiven
March 28th 2007 11:26
Unforgiven (1992)
Prior to seeing this movie I was convinced that the 'Western' genre held nothing of interest for me. I had caught glimpses of hokey technicolour films on Sunday afternoons as a kid, and they seemed entirely boring and old-fashioned. So when I finally yielded and watched this film, it was a whole new sensation for my then-teenage mind. It despelled my beliefs about the romanticism of the genre and drew me in with it's realism and reversals of film stereotypes.
William Munny (Eastwood) is a retired and reformed villain, the would-be hero of the film, who is forced to pick up his guns one last time to chase up a bounty, or else be faced with the starvation of his own children. He doesn’t do this lightly, but as the film moves on, and we are given a tour of the ‘West’ as it most probably was, we watch Munny gradually move back towards what he once was.
No aspect of the era is left untarnished, not even the dialogue is as polished and pristine as such a film often warrants, and it’s a great service to the writer and Eastwood that they manage to pull off such a memorable movie without grand (and, let’s face it, unrealistic) dialogue.
All the performances are perfect too. Gene Hackman, in particular, turns in a fine performance as Little Bill; the unfearing, dishonourable sheriff Munny finds himself up against. And Eastwood gives some of the best acting of his career, utilising his own legend and playing up his age to great effect to give us something special. Richard Harris and Morgan Freeman also give fine supporting turns that help re-subvert the genre that Eastwood first subverted some thirty years earlier.
A modern classic, and possibly the last great Western film.
HIGHLIGHTS: The inevitable showdown is an obvious highlight. Richard Harris as English Bob, complete with travelling biographer, is also great to watch, and his character’s role in the film is more important than one might initially think.
TRIVIA: Eastwood deservedly won a Best Director Oscar for this. Gene Hackman also took out Best Supporting Actor, and the film got Best Picture. It was also nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Actor (Eastwood).
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Comment by Theresa
Today's World
A terrific review of the movie.
The only thing I might disagree with is that this will be the last
great western movie.
I can't wait for Q. Tarantino to make a western.
Theresa
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I think westerns appeal to our generation as we get older... when I was young, I passed up westerns for Star Wars...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I also dig the whole deconstruction the stereotype that the film has...plus the statement about alcohol and violence of the time is profound.
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
that raises another question... what's the best western to show to get someone into the genre? I'd probably say this... 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly' is great but it would probably stretch the attention span of your average film watcher if they've never enjoyed a western before.