Review of Unforgiven (1992) by Ryan K — 07 May 2013

Clint Eastwood is distant as he is in the majority of his roles, but here he is a family man with young children and a need to support. It wouldn't come across as 'badass' usual Eastwood to have to kill because he has dying pigs and a far from prosperous business, but here he is real.

The storyline is completely original and stunning in how it was written out. No western before or has ever been like it. Eastwood is not a common hero but a mourning husband with financial responsibilities.

He can barely ride a horse or shoot a gun sober and after the loss of his "dear departed wife." Richard Hariss was outstanding and devilish in his ways, brilliant performance. Hariss seems to have control over the casts masculinity up until about ten minutes after being on screen Hackman's character 'Bill' unleashes his true fury.

The relationship between Eastwood's and Freeman's characters are classic in a way of business mixed with friendship. Their interaction is like old high school friends sharing a beer except they are retired killers going on one last journey.

The incorporation of the book 'The Duke of Death' was nothing short of genius. Little Bill shatters the image of English Bob by telling the true encounters they experienced. The character Boshant gives Little Bill the ability to narrate his manhood and prove his superior attitude.

If Hackman wasn't the villain he was on screen long enough to be up against Pacino for Best Lead Actor as opposed to Eastwood in 92'. In my opinion if Denzel Washington was able to be nominated none the less win Lead Actor for his role in Training Day, Hackman should have been in contending for Unforgiven as well.

Bill's attitude and overview of his past life show the guilt he feels and the unworthy life of a killer. When he meets the brutalized whore Delilah, he mistakes her for 'an angel', reflecting the memory of his wife in such a near death experience he was in.

You understand Will as a changed man when he refuses Delilah's "advance on the payment", due to his "wife back at home watching over his kids" who is truly deceased. There is no other film with such shortly lasting relationship that portray such strong morals and points of human interaction.

The scene when the woman brings news of Ned's death displays the utmost on screen poetry when she says "the same William Munny who killed woman and children" as he drinks out of the bottle of whiskey.

You knew William to be a killer but not such a ruthless cold hearted one, so he drinks for the first time in over a decade after being reminded of his past and hearing of his partners death. Then in the last showdown he uses this knowledge of his cold past to put fear into the hearts of all those he is facing.

Genius. Most simple way of putting it, no other movie like it, in regards to revenge, guilt, morals and life and death.