Review of Unforgiven (1992) by Vincent C — 02 Sep 2011

Being that I consider myself a huge Clint Eastwood fan I find it embarrassing that I only now have seen "Unforgiven". It really is a classic of the Western genre and it stars other great actors such as Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman. Before watching this film I wasn't sure what I was about to watch and I think I got everything that I could have wanted. This film is gripping, it's brutal and it's unlike most westerns could ever dream of being. Where to begin? I guess the biggest thing to mention is that there are really no good or bad guys in this film, although you'll definitely find yourself rooting for William Munny, played by Eastwood, and Ned Logan, played by Freeman. The reason I say that there are no heroes or villains is because every character in this film is far from innocent.

Munny is an ex-killer and so is Logan. Little Bill, played by Hackman, is a sheriff that abuses his power in order to create democracy. The film deals with themes such as redemption and the reoccurring nature of violence. Munny has tried to escape his disgusting past but this one last job he takes brings him back into the circle of violence. Munny, along with Logan and a young man named the Schofield Kid go after two men who cut the face of a prostitute. Their reward is $1,000 dollars that they will split three ways. The film does raise some questions and it certainly re-invented the way westerns are made. This film spares no one and because of that it leads to an epic finale that not many other western films could ever top.