Unforgiven

⭐ 9.0/10

(Originally written by Tim)

I have seen only 2 other Client Eastwood cowboy movies, and even with that small of a history lesson I could tell while watching this movie that it was rewriting the script on who he is as a person, as an actor, and how we portray heroes in our stories. This movie came out 30 years ago, and its funny to think at the time of how people viewed Clint as an old broken-down action hero, since that's still how we see him now! He plays a former-outlaw trying to be a changed man, but struggling with his past. He takes on a job to help some mistreated women, but gets in way too deep.

I loved the way this movie balanced Hackman's sheriff character, who is trying to prevent reactionary violence in his town, with Eastwood's dashing cowboy who who wants to make some money and also get revenge on behalf of the women. He is staged as our hero, fighting for the downtrodden, and the sheriff gets in his way so we naturally are opposed to him, but its the sheriff who is trying to form a civil society. I also loved the use of an author character who is following around whoever impresses him the most. He cares only for spectacle, not necessarily the truth, and I found that idea pretty modern. We witness the retelling of a couple events, and all of them are told with key differences. In a way that's what this movie is, a retelling of a glorious cowboy romp. But in this one the cowboy can barely get on his horse, rarely hits his mark on the first try, and is objectively kind of evil by the end - which is probably closest to what most of these guys would have been like.

The ending features some incredible lines and some impactful violence, and it feels like watching a western wouldn't be the same after this. Great performances all around with Hackman, Eastwood and Morgan Freeman chipping in as well. Another interesting character, their dopey sidekick with everything to prove, felt outclassed surrounded by these titans, and I think in better hands could have really escalated this movie. But overall I found this to be a gripping and rewarding watch.