AFI Top 100: #68
If there's one name that even non-film fans can usually think of when it comes to the genre of the western, it's Clint Eastwood. And for good reason too, as the man is an absolutely wonderful storyteller with an impressive filmography spanning many different subgenres. Unforgiven is a solid, early 90s western that only someone as renowned as Eastwood could helm. I have come to accept that I may never be too keen on the genre simply because of my upbringing but that never stopped me from thoroughly enjoying the filmmaking choices that Eastwood exhibits here. While this film might not be the most original tale of revenge or taking a job for the sake of money, it contains everything that made the classical westerns early in the genre so enjoyable. There is a lot to love about this movie, including the performances and excellent dialogue, and within even the first act, it is plain to see that this film is a culmination of Eastwood's western efforts.
Retired assassin Bill Munny (Clint Eastwood) lives in the old west with his two young children and is barely scraping by to survive. When he is given the news by a local boy about two men who assaulted and cut up a prostitute, he decides to take the job and kill them for what they've done and brings along old friend Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) with him on his travels. This script, written by David Webb Peoples, is so simple yet so elegant. The plot is very straightforward, as Munny and Logan set off to kill the men and collect their final bounty but it was done in such an authentic way that made this story feel like two best friends going on one last adventure more than anything. I could really feel the sense of bonding between the two characters and how even years after they had retired from being old west assassins, they shared common wants and needs out of life. What stood out to me the most, however, was the dialogue and how it characterized these heroes and villains incredibly well. One thing that I feel is often missing from westerns is believable, human dialogue and Peoples absolutely knows how to write it. Unforgiven felt so personal and genuine due to its dialogue and I loved how much I began to care for these characters. It might be the classic trope of good vs. evil and the audience obviously choosing a side, but the depth of backgrounds and world-building that Peoples delves into is impressive. Peoples also touches on a lot of dark material, such as regret over killing people and facing the fact that everyone gets old. So many moments throughout this movie were made so emotional due to these realizations and the pain that Munny and Logan felt in their hearts was portrayed very well by these two leads.
The performances from Eastwood and Freeman were almost exactly as you would expect them to be. They are both fantastically talented and renowned actors who are great in their own rights: Eastwood as a hardheaded and stubborn cowboy fighting with no end in sight and Freeman as the more levelheaded friend who is always the one to bring some humanity and sense into the world. Freeman, in particular, is incredible in this film and his character's arc really pushes his acting to his limits. This is one of the few roles I have seen him in which I get visibly emotional watching him perform and while I have always known of his talents, it is just so refreshing to see him in such a suiting role. Gene Hackman's performance in this film as the antagonist "Little Bill" Daggett is wonderful and seeing him take on a villainous role was astounding. He really dramatizes the actions of "Little Bill" with a strange sense of humor and understanding and his contribution to this film just solidifies the fact that Unforgiven is a showcase of acting prowess. The violence depicted throughout this film can be very hard to watch at times, including Ned's death and the point-blank shooting of "Little Bill" but it all serves its purpose incredibly well. This might not be a typical shoot-'em-up western or even an elongated reflection on the human spirit, but Eastwood balances those themes with perfection. When the violence hits in this film, it hits hard and really drives home the points Eastwood and Peoples were trying to make. My only issue with this film, and most westerns in general, is that it follows a very formulaic style and Eastwood's pacing did not really offer anything new. Most films of the genre follow these beats and this movie was not quite different. It had a lot of potential to be darker with its themes, but I did enjoy how Eastwood demonstrated his self-awareness, knowing when and when not to be lighthearted.
Unforgiven is an unforgettably exciting western that showcases some of the best talents from its cast, as well as smooth and to-the-point direction from Eastwood. Even though this movie has everything that makes a classic western so enjoyable, the dialogue and its characters are really what stood out to me the most. I never would have expected Hackman to play such a convincing villain and the revenge arc that Eastwood decides to take these characters on was done so incredibly well. I would definitely recommend this film if you are a fan of the genre and even if you are not, there are loads of elements to appreciate.
My Rating: ★★★½
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