Review of Unforgiven (1992) by Filipeneto — 27 Nov 2020

One of the best westerns ever.

I will begin my review by saying that I have never had western films in high regard or esteem. It's not the kind of movie that I really enjoy watching. However, I decided to give this film a chance because I heard about it very well. And I saw him thinking, "If I don't really like this film at all, I'll never see a western again in my life." When I finished, I realized that I had really enjoyed the movie. It is not the best film I have ever seen and it will never be one of the favorite films, but it is really good and has changed the way I see western films.

The film revolves around a brutal aggression against a prostitute: after a very embarrassing situation, a man attacked her with a razor and cut her face in an attack that made the other girls in the house cry out for blood. It turns out that the sheriff of the small town decided to be soft with the men and leave it at that. Given this attitude, prostitutes put the head of the attackers at a premium, and a series of bounty hunters is beginning to emerge, much to the dismay of the sheriff, who will have to brutally chase them away.

For me, there are three essential characteristics that make this film truly great. The first is the effectiveness and credibility of the script, that is, the stripped-down, brutally realistic perspective that the story told gives us about the Wild West, which is a far cry from the epic and western-spaghetti. The script does not make idealizations and the characters are multidimensional and have many psychological nuances: violence is daily, brutal, ugly and the violent attitudes of the characters are motivated by cowardice, interest, greed or pride.

The second characteristic that makes this film great is the exceptional work of each actor and, particularly, Clint Eastwood, who accumulates the roles of protagonist and director. He has an innate charisma and an overwhelming talent, and his character (a former brutal killer who regenerated out of love and lived a peaceful life with his children before being called for a final crime) is the richest and most difficult, as well as the gradual transformation she experiences throughout the film. On the other side of the law is the chameleon Gene Hackman, who brings the sheriff to life. He is perfect for the role and was able to fill his character with credibility and brutality. Much less pleasant was Jaimz Woolvett, but I think this is due to the fact that he plays a young, impulsive and boastful character. The film also features extraordinary contributions by Morgan Freeman, Saul Rubinek and Richard Harris.

Technically, it is an impeccable film on several levels. Clint Eastwood is an excellent director and is very meticulous in his work. He makes good use of his long experience as a western film actor and uses it in a film he directs and where he acts. Cinematography is excellent, and the filming work was very well accomplished. The color, the light, the use of the shadows closer to the end, are details that give the film an artistic note. The editing and post-production work was excellent: the film has the right rhythm, there are no dead moments or scenes that arise out of place or seem out of place. The sets and costumes are also excellent and show some care and respect for the historical rigor and the reconstruction work of the time. The action and shooting scenes were very well done and will delight fans. Finally, I must leave a brief note to the soundtrack, very discreet but effective and totally in line with the tone and ambience of the film.