In the pantheon of iconic Western films, there are plenty that tell stories meant to subvert the tropes, expectations, and structures they are expected to adhere to. Shane is one of the earliest and classic examples, with the film deconstructing the tropes and violence of Westerns to tell a morally ambiguous story about a famed gunslinger, not mythologizing his story but making him very human and flawed. A more modern example would be Clint Eastwood‘s 1992 feature Unforgiven, which he both starred in and directed. 33 years later, the film ranks among the best in the genre and stands as one of the greatest films ever made.
The movie tells the story of an aging former bandit trying to forget his violent past and became a career milestone for Eastwood. Unforgiven would earn him the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Gene Hackman. It’s a combination of deliberate pacing, an incredible script, and all-time performances from its cast that help to make Unforgiven such a phenomenal film. Moreover, it’s the way the film leans into the brutality of the Western frontier and deconstructs the romanticization of gunslingers that makes it so engrossing, whether you’re seeing it for the first time or rewatching it.
Clint Eastwood Subverts the Western Genre in ‘Unforgiven’
The Film Is Filled With Powerful Performances
Right from the setup of the film, it’s clear that Unforgiven is taking a much more methodical and precise approach to its story. Reminiscent of Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West, Unforgiven takes its time with its characters and plot, both films using their slow pacing to symbolize the Western frontier’s slow crawl toward death with the arrival of modernity. Since Unforgiven is dedicated to Leone and Don Siegel, Eastwood intentionally mirrors Leone’s structure and directing style, which makes the movie even more special.
In reality, the most important themes of Unforgiven rely heavily on its deliberate pacing. Eastwood, both in character as Will Munny and as a director, absolutely refuses to run into violence or spectacle. Instead, the film invites viewers to reflect alongside its characters, examining the bygone era, the romanticization of violence, and the brutal consequences for those who briefly engage in it. There are no clear “good” or “bad” guys. Hackman’s genius turn as Sheriff “Little Bill” Daggett is the perfect example of this.
The character is meant to be the authority figure of Big Whiskey, Wyoming, but abuses his power to quickly and savagely dispose of anyone who could be a threat to him. Even Munny and his partner Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) aren’t necessarily heroes thanks to their pasts as outlaws. The moral landscape is complicated, offering no clear answers about who, or what, is good or evil. It’s all incredibly convincing thanks to the authentic performances.
Violence Lives With Every Character, and Comes With a Cost in ‘Unforgiven’
With the dichotomy of Munny’s fear of going back to his life of violence and Bill using his power for cruelty, a showdown feels inevitable. It’s with that tension that Unforgiven thrives the most. Hackman’s Oscar-winning performance makes viewers uncertain about when he’ll have another burst of violence, like when he and his crew beat one “legendary” gunslinger, English Bob, senseless. Little Bill’s utter lack of awareness of his abuse of power and his belief that he is genuinely bringing order is a fascinating and stark contrast to Munny’s self-awareness and his recognition that he has committed terrible acts of violence and hates himself for it.
All of these fascinating components of Unforgiven come together to make it one of the greatest movies ever made, becoming a revisionist Western that uses its director and lead actor’s long-spanning legacy in the genre to its fullest advantage. The film explores the psychological effects of killing, showing different responses through its characters. With Munny, viewers see not just another cowboy, but echoes of all the Western heroes Eastwood played in his younger days. Jaimz Woolvett as the Schofield Kid shows one of the most intense aspects, when, as soon as real human lives are put at risk, he decides not to want to be a killer and gives his gun to Munny.
Even cinematographer Jack N. Green’s work serves as commentary, bringing the gritty realism to life with the bleak landscape that he captures on camera. Mud and rain are incredibly prevalent in Unforgiven, showing the inherent dirtiness of the characters and giving the movie a cold tone. When gunfights finally erupt, they feel neither triumphant nor glamorous. They’re quick, methodical, and agonizing for the characters. The final confrontation is the bold crescendo Eastwood uses to both reinforce what makes Westerns great and showcase the actual consequences of a violent life.
‘Unforgiven’ Stands Tall as a Great Western
It’s Also Arguably One of the Best Movies Ever Made
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More than 30 years after its release, Unforgiven remains as complex and powerful as ever. The movie works on multiple levels, which is why it could easily be considered one of the greatest ever made. Its subversive use of Western iconography, an impressive double duty performance from Eastwood as actor and director, and an all-timer cast make the movie worth watching multiple times. Posing questions about morality, redemption, and the myths we decide to believe in (whether about ourselves or others), Unforgiven is brutal and nuanced in a way that few other movies are.
The movie forces both its characters and audience to confront the violence that is so often used for entertainment in Hollywood. Eastwood didn’t go for nostalgic bait and attempt to re-live the glory days of the roles that propelled him to stardom. Instead, the actor/director peels back the layers of mythology, revealing the loneliness and uncertainty at its center. Redemption for Eastwood’s Munny isn’t through more bloodshed, but instead recognition at the cost of the cycle of violence. It’s with these profound musings and excellent filmmaking that Unforgiven stands as one of the greatest movies ever made. Unforgiven is available to stream on MGM+.
- Release Date
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August 7, 1992
- Runtime
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130 Mins
- Writers
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David Webb Peoples