4.0 out of 5 based on 4 reviews. – Customer review on 23/10/2008

With his beloved wife deceased and his mad dog days behind him, William Munny (Eastwood) has fallen upon hard times as a pig farmer on the outskirts of Big Whiskey, Wyoming in what may be the darkest of Clint Eastwood's (admittedly pretty dark) Westerns. For a share in the thousand dollar reward and against his better judgment he accepts the offer of a cocky young upstart (Jaimz Woolvett) to help him kill the man who mutilated a local prostitute. Munny's return to the dubious pursuits his wife had turned him from sees him joined by neighbor and old friend Ned (Freeman), a peaceable type who wonders if they've still got the goods (or bads) to complete such a job.

The show-boating sheriff of Big Whiskey, "Little Bill" (Hackman), however, has heard all about the bounty and is hell bent on keeping the town free of the characters it attracts.

Unforgiven's revisionist introspection isn't quite as original as its more fervent admirers claim, and its cynical treatment of old West hero-worship, loyalty, cock-sure ambition and male self-destruction will be familiar to anyone who has followed the Western since 1960. In fact, one of the film's most apparently subversive suggestions, that the victimized women are really as ruthless as the villains but lack the agency or self-regard to put their fury in motion, had already been communicated, and better, by Henry King's The Gunfighter from 1950. Unforgiven's great strength, however, is not its ceaseless, often too clearly spelled out revisionism, but the tremendous sense of desolation it brings to its vision of the West and the failed rushes at identity made by the men who live there. Like Eastwood's other films High Plains Drifter (1973) and Pale Rider (1985), there is something deeply foreboding—apocalyptic, even—about Unforgiven, duly indicated by the religious overtones of its title. Although it is a bigger success than those films for the effectiveness with which it is able to communicate both the humanity and bloodthirst of its fascinating, fully realized characters.

The storm finally breaks toward the film's conclusion, and the final encounter between grizzled gunslinger Munny and the no-nonsense sheriff provides one of the most poignant, dreadful and exhilarating scenes in the genre's history. A powerful, thoughtful film and essential viewing for Western devotees and casual viewers alike.



*to read my original review, and for reviews of more Western films, visit:
http://www.western-review.com

5.0 out of 5 based on 4 reviews. – Customer review on 12/02/2008

After a long gap, Clint Eastwood returns to the western genre, as both actor and director, and the results are exceptionally good, and not necessarily what you might expect. The tone is muted, weary and somewhat elegiac for a time long since past. The acting is excellent (is there anyone better than Gene Hackman?) and the story enthralling and thought provoking. A new western classic.

4.0 out of 5 based on 4 reviews. – Customer review on 22/01/2007

An awesome deconstruction of the western myth... Eastwood as Will Munny is brilliant... he goes from teary, unconfident & useless pig farmer to ruthless killing machine... Gene Hackman is brutal as the Sheriff... Richard Harris represents the lies that were often spun around western mythological figures... but Munny is the real deal - better than the rumours... I loved it; it's gritty, brutal, unforgiving and harsh - but well worth it, and worthy of its oscars...

3.0 out of 5 based on 4 reviews. – Customer review on 15/09/2006

unforgiven one the best picture oscar and also a bunch of best supporting oscars as well. i can see why the awards were handed out for perfromance but the movie itself is not as good as an award for it would suggest. has some very poignant moments and has some great scenes with morgan freeman but overall a very trite movie which seems to be liked.