Review of The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) by Jordan P — 23 Jan 2010
A powerful western that stuck with me. The Outlaw Josey Wales takes a lot of familiar western scenarios and either turns them on their heads or reinvents them, injecting freshness into ideas that were already cliche by the 1970s.
The acting is no small part of it--especially good was John Vernon as the conflicted ex-commander of Eastwood's Wales, who finds himself forced by circumstance first to surrender his men, whom he then see butchered in front of him, and then to hunt down an old friend.
Most of the performance is in Vernon's eyes--he understands what's driving Wales and sympathizes, but with Bill McKinney's murderous Yankee guerrilla there to make sure he toes the line, what can he do? In this respect, the movie is a study of how different kinds of men react to the same pressures and changes in life.
Eastwood and McKinney are good, Chief Dan George is a bit wooden but that suits his character, and the rest of the supporting actors are good to great. This deserves multiple viewings.
This review of The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) was written by Jordan P on 23 Jan 2010.
The Outlaw Josey Wales has generally received very positive reviews.
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