Verdict:
Unforgiven is a mesmerizing jaw dropping experience.
The story is not intricate. A guy cuts up a prostitute, which does not get properly punished by the law, so the ladies decide to take justice in their own hands and put up a bounty, which a number of characters will try to come and collect. The premise is not central to the movie. It is more like the canvas upon which the characters are developed.
I wonder what if anyone else could have directed Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris besides Clint Eastwood himself. These behemoths of the acting craft are known to be quite stubborn. Either way, he did a hell of a job because this one of the best acted movies of all time. Gene Hackman’s performance as Little Bill Daggett, the conceited and violent sherif, is coourfgul and memorable, with an element of realism, cruelty and charisma. Morgan Freeman’s Ned Logan is surprisingly warmhearted, which makes this character’s past as a hardened criminal not as believable, but he provides a much-needed contrast to the brutal and cynical world of Unforgiven. Everyone is fascinating to watch. The dialogue is excellent. The film has a few memorable quotes for the ages.
Unforgiven is the Western for the modern age with an accent on gritty realism, and does not have a hero or a villain in a traditional sense. The morality is decidedly grey. It is not about who can shoot well and therefore call themselves the coolest cat. Characters are not archetypes but people with human quirks, depth of character and many many weaknesses. In fact, people’s weaknesses are possibly the main theme, as the film continuously explores how everyone’s weaknesses and strengths are not what they first seem.
There is something really freeing about watching a Western like this, where there are no bad or good guys. Something about everyone just being human makes it easier to relate.
My only issue is the plot with Richard Harris’ character. He plays a clean guy with British civility on the outside and a deadly criminal core on the inside. The movie spends some time developing this character, but in the end, he doesn’t do anything and exits stage not long after his appearance, as if the original script called for him to be a much larger participant, but those parts had to be cut.
The movie is exceptionally well-shot. Being a western, it delivers the beauty of the grassy plains and the snowy highlands. It feels cold and sobering.
There is not much music. Eastwood’s presence already causes so much tension that there is no need to drum it up even further. The one memorable tune is a heartfelt central theme consisting of a lonesome guitar tune in memory of the main character’s dead wife.
Unforgiven is a masterpiece of filmmaking from an experienced master and is rightfully seen by many as one of the greatest movies of all time and is highly re-watchable.