Review of High Plains Drifter (1973) by Olli G — 01 Jun 2010
When I made my best Westerns list I didn't put this on and was criticised for it. Not really fair criticism because I hadn't seen it. It's a massive cult favourite and a lot of people love it, I wanted to know what the hype was about so I saw during the Eastwood week on ABC2 they were showing this. So I recorded it and watched it. And I gotta say it was one of the best Westerns ever!
It's about a drifter who arrives in the small town of Lago. He is hired by the town to help stop three criminals who are on their way back to the town to destroy it. The town decide to give him whatever he wants in order to stop them and he may take what he wants as a reward.
This is Clint Eastwood's second film as director and he seems to have taken inspiration from Sergio Leone and Don Siegel, the guys who directed him as an actor. It's the first Western I can ever describe as eerie. It's sorta this mysterious gothic atmosphere that keeps you wondering who this high plains drifter is, and where he's going in all these unorthodox preparations for the big shootout.
The artistic merit behind this film is quite complex and subjective and very hard to discuss but overall this film is a well acted, well scripted, creepy, humorous, brutal, violent and highly entertaining film.
I wish I could discuss it in more depth but it's far too complex, I give it 5 stars, I recommend you watch it.
This review of High Plains Drifter (1973) was written by Olli G on 01 Jun 2010.
High Plains Drifter has generally received very positive reviews.
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