Unforgiven (1992)
Closing the chapter to Clint Eastwood’s westerns.
Presentation:
Clint Eastwood directs and stars in his last western as he believed there’s nothing fresh you can do without being derivative. What he delivers is a revisionist and genuinely different kind of western. This takes the lighthearted nature of so many westerns before it and turns it into something realistic with more moral weight. Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman bounce freely off one another though the Scofield character is quite weak. There is a bit more ambiguity in this film than I’d like even for a Clint Eastwood film, but it overall delivers an enthralling ride that should keep you glued to the story. Reminds me of great popcorn adventure epics like The Last Samurai.
Conclusion:
This film is less known than many westerns because it doesn’t have iconic scenes or a memorable plot to really carry mass appeal. It instead has a fascinating character backstory that makes you invest in him and want to explore his motivations. It’s not your typical western, it’s more of a character study drama that happens to also be a western. A closing footnote to Eastwood’s westerns, and one we’ll forgive because it’s a satisfying conclusion.
Recommendations
The collapse of western civilization starts with a face mask.