Unforgiven Movie Review

Unforgiven (1992)

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Written by: David Webb Peoples
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris, Frances Fisher
Rated: R
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Plot
Retired Old West gunslinger William Munny reluctantly takes on one last job, with the help of his old partner Ned Logan and a young man, the "Schofield Kid."

Verdict
This is a great depiction of a former outlaw that has to reckon with his past life. This movie is about morality. Each character has their own view of what's right, and for some of these characters that has changed over the years. No one is all good or all bad, we see various degrees. The movie does such a good job of building these characters and their motivations. It's the ideas in this movie that give it a lot of depth and are worth discussing.
Watch It.

Review
Eastwood was a staple in the Western revival movies of the sixties and seventies, but he came back for another Western this time, a genre he hasn't visited since. 

I watched Old Henry recently, which reminded me of this movie. Both movies feature an outlaw that's given up his misdeeds, trying to be a better person. Old Henry seemed to compare favorably, so I had give Unforgiven a watch. I had forgotten just how good this is. The themes of morality add an incredible amount of depth, making it a vastly superior movie.

Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman play William Munny and Ned Logan

The very first scene of the movie sets up exactly what this is about. Local Sheriff "Little Bill" (Gene Hackman) rules on an altercation between a prostitute and a customer. He rules as he thinks best, but counting prostitutes as property doesn't go over well. The prostitutes, disappointed with the punishment, put out a bounty to make it right from their perspective. Every character we see in this movie is trying to do things their version of right. It's easy to understand their angles.

The bounty attracts the cocky, young "Schofield Kid" (Jaimz Woolvett) who recruits William Munny (Clint Eastwood), a former killer playing at farming. Munny doesn't look like much of a farmer or killer at this point. Munny decides to take on the bounty because he's washed up. It looks like he's ready to embark on failure, but he recruits an old friend Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman). I like how the details of the attack are worse every time we hear it. Munny and Ned catch up with Schofield and that interaction is hilarious with the looks Ned gives Munny. Ned is wondering what's wrong with this kid and is her serious.

Justice is just a matter of perspective. For all the talk of how ruthless Munny was, he doesn't seem like much. Ned is clearly the most level headed of the bunch. These guys were outlaws. They haven't lost their mettle, they've just moved on with life. They have the benefit of time and life to reflect on what they've done and the sins of their past. It's an advantage many of the peers never got. Munny and Ned don't want to revisit their past lives. That's contrasted with the "Schofield Kid" who is eager to make a name for himself. He lacks skill unfortunately, despite all of his boasting.

Clint Eastwood and Jaimz Woolvelt play William Munny and the 'Scholfield Kid'

"Little Bill" runs the town, and he's rough. Is it because he's keeping order in a lawless town or is he overplaying his hand trying to convince everyone how tough he is. His brand of justice is harsh, but you can understand why. As this movie highlights, people don't always pay for their crimes. That or they pay for others' crimes. Munny heads into town to confront "Little Bill" and make the situation 'right.'

This is a sharp script with a lot of nice details that build character while expanding on the theme introduced in the first scene. Likeable or not, you understand all of the characters. Munny had left the life behind, but he's had to return. It's not out of choice. He feels compelled to do the right thing There's a book writer who scribes stories from a couple of different men, but it's clear he's only getting a version of how the men see themselves, not how they truly are. You can see that all the characters of this movie are the heroes of their own story, justified or not. Sometimes it's the wretched murderer that's upholding justice, but it's just as easy to take a step back and realize the town might see Munny's exploits completely differently. My only complaint would be that the music frequently can be overbearing.