Posted on 06/16/2008 7:31:04 AM PDT by Apollo 13
Hi everyone - being a relative newbie, I could yet not resist this one: yesterday I saw 'Unforgiven' by Clint Eastwood for the first time. To start: I found it a stunningly good movie. It's been labelled as 'the very last western', or if you will, a revisionist version of trad western fare. I'd agree with both comments; but at the same time it's not out of step with tradional storytelling. What makes it special for me is the deep humanity in it all. Women of low standing are heroines; Clint stays true to the one woman that once saved his life spiritually; yes, he's doomed to return to his old habits, but only because of his deep friendship for the murdered Ned Logan. And Gene Hackman is a superb Little Bill, the sheriff that goes to, ahem, great lengths to keep his small town clean of thugs (irony intended). So IMHO, one to watch again. I wonder: what is the consensus at FR on this one (if there is one?). Many, many comments are welcome! Cheers, A13.
Vaquero mentioned Lonesome Dove. I’ve seen Lonesome Dove and all the prequels and sequels, and as good as Lonesome Dove is, I have to say “Streets of Laredo” is my favorite of the group. James Garner is excellent as Woodrow Call, but the guy who steals the show is Randy Quaid as John Wesley Harding. His character has the be the meanest ever (he rivals Bruce Dern at his best). And the stone cold killer kid Joey Garza is frightening.
Good list. But what about the Long Riders?
Cheers guys, your efforts really brighten my day. I’m happy to have received so many good hints for further viewing. Before, I was really asking myself what Freepers would make of a movie that is not, let’s say, entirely in line with the more popularized versions of the western tradition. I am delighted that you people often praise it for the same qualities I saw in it: how to deal with moral ambiguities (or not, for that matter), and how so many different shades of gray are there where often there was only black and white before.
And oh yes, I never doubted Eastwoods integrity, and art. I loved ‘Bird’ too, also: ‘Play ‘Misty’ For Me’, so many others to pick from. Clint is like a fine whiskey: he only got better with age. Tremendous stuff.
Close but no cigar... I am Dutch. Hello out there, by the way!
Good point. I’m kind of surprised nobody mentioned “Shane” here, either. It’s not as good as some of the others listed here, but it’s definitely an American western classic.
I have seen all the McMurtry written ‘Dove’ stories and in order of importance to me:
“Lonesome Dove”
‘Streets of Laredo’
‘Dead Mans Walk’
‘Comanche Moon’(a huge disappointment, despite Val Kilmer)
‘return to Lonesome dove’ was bogus as was some of the other TV series.
“Long Riders?”
I DVR recorded it recently and will watch it for the first time when I get a chance.
I have to agree about the Kung Fu-ness.
I did not understand the “whiskey” part.
I mean why did ‘cowboys’ drink that stuff in the first place? Anyhow, when Clint took that swig from that bottle, you knew it was getting serious.
Terrific flick. One of the best ever.
Great! Thanks.
It was on recently? Haven't seen it in years. I remember really enjoying it. I'll have to see if I can find it on rental somewhere ...
That was the best 3 seconds in Western Movie history. Too bad the rest of the movie dragged on before AND... as you said, well after that scene.
I don't...know. Are we......black?
Yesssss.
Then we are...very....confused.
Charly Waite and his amazing 12 shooter.
Clint and Morgan were solid, with the former's direction perfectly paced. Four stars here.
Little Bill Daggett: You'd be William Munny out of Missouri. Killer of women and children.
Will Munny: That's right. I've killed women and children. I've killed just about everything that walks or crawled at one time or another. And I'm here to kill you, Little Bill, for what you did to Ned.
Second best line:
Will Munny: It's a hell of a thing, killing a man. Take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have.
The Schofield Kid: Yeah, well, I guess they had it coming.
Will Munny: We all got it coming, kid.
he had one of those Sig Sauers....
load it once and shoot for Sig Sauers (six hours).
it is in my top ten best westerns
Doesn’t “Hombre” with Paul Newman make the list?
Favorite line:
Indian Agent’s Wife: “Those Indians were such savages that they actually ate dogs.”
Hombre: “You ever been hungry, Lady? I don’t mean just ready for dinner, but so hungry that your stomach gnaws at you all the time? If you were that hungry, you would eat that dog, and thank God for it.”
Later, we discover that the Indian Agent had been embezzeling the money for food for the Indians on the Reservation.
Or later, when the outlaw leader (Richard Boone) walks up the hill to talk to Hombre, and he starts making threats.
Hombre: “Just one question ... how are you going to get down the hill?” and he cocks his rifle.
Outlaw: “Wait a minute, I am here under a flag of truce ..”
He turns around, and tries to run down the steep hill, as Hombre is firing at him, eventually hitting him at least once.
It is one of my all time favorites, and finally found a DVD copy at the Walmart $5 bin this weekend.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.