Grab your whisky and six-shooter, because we're going into the Wild West with this one, as I review one of my favourite Westerns of all time - Unforgiven.
I still love that line: “You cowardly snake, you just killed an unarmed man.” “Well, he should have armed himself if he was going to decorate his bar with my friend.”
It wasn't until the fourth time I saw this film that I heard the second half of Eastwood's line. The first three times, the audience was laughing so hard I couldn't make out a word of what he was saying.
The best part I think of the unforgiven is that Clint Eastwood purchased the rights to the story and sat on them for over 10 years waiting until he was old enough to properly play the role. no BS of "lets put wrinkles and false wrinkles on." No lets wait a decade until I am an old fart and then lets make the movie about an old man. Guy is a bloody legend!
Because he knows it's not just about wrinkles on your face. To really play that character, to make an aged, past-his-prime, former legend who just wants to be left alone, and atone for his past man, you can't just look old, you have to BE old. You have to let life kick you in the nuts a few times, just so you can learn how to get back up from it. To believably show real pain, and loss, and sorrow, you have to have gone through it.
Sorry for the screenwriter who had to wait. Hope he got the full screenplay purchase price and not the cheap option price until Clint wa finally ready.
When they kill Morgan Freeman, stick his body on the porch of the bar and they're all like: "Na it'll be fine..." and then Clint turns up and shoots the landlord and Little Bill is all like: "Well sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch. You just shot an unarmed man." and Clint's like: "He should have armed himself....... if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend." Fucking awesome.
I completely agree with you brother that was my favorite scene in any Western I've ever seen!! Gene Hackman's character got off easy compared to what I would have done to him in the same situation. I would have found him in his house and cut him into little bitty pieces while he screamed his brains out. He tortured Morgan Freeman's character to death and I would have done the same to him. Nothing worse than a piece of s*** corrupt lawman. And they think they're righteous in the other guy is not. I love how God can find use for even the worst devil. Not that I think God had anything to do with that but you know what I mean
My biggest memory of this movie is Eastwood repeatedly saying "I ain't that kind of man anymore", until the climatic fight where he was that kind of man again.
Remember that country song I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was. Get half a bottle of whiskey and a man who's been sober for over a decade, and for about 20 minutes he's just a kid again.
Call me a nihilist (don't worry, I have no problem with that... "pronoun"), but that line essentially sums up life. Whether you lived like a monk, whether you lived like a beast, found redemption or not... when you take your last breath, "deserving" has nothin' to do with anything...
I will never forget when munney realises his mate is dead, and picks up the whiskey. You know from that point onwards that shit will hit the fan. 10/10
Agreed, it was such a foreboding moment I was immediately filled with dread. That point to the end of the movie is one of the greatest cinematic experiences of all time imo.
I noticed that to, most people seemed to have missed that shot? He reaches over, takes the bottle from the kid, and you know all hell is about to break loose.
the ending where clint is issuing his threats and the lightning is illuminating his face,he is literally the embodiment of the angel of death.serious goosebumps every time
@@ColonelRoge It is invigorating. He is drinking "Tennessee Whiskey" while talking about an American Western. I wish more actual Americans had his sense of our culture. Technically he should be drinking scotch, but let the guy role-play as he knows his shit! :: draws revolver and fires from the hip, hitting target with impeccable accuracy :: :: toasts to you with mutual shots of Bourbon ::
@@Nesseight 🤣 Well i can't argue with that, however i'll pit your Tennessee Whiskey against a single malt any day of the week. (opens a bottle of Tennessee whiskey to test claim is true)
The Schofield Kid: _refusing to take back his gun_ "You go on, keep it. I'm never gonna use it again. I won't kill nobody no more. I ain't like you, Will." So many awesome moments of character clarity in this movie.
The best part of that scene for me was watching The Schofield Kid's expression change as the girl described all the killings that William Munny did when he was younger.
A fairly mundane line, transformed by the simple phrase: 'I ain't like you, Will'. F'kin craft. Can I hijack here to recommend to The Drinker and others 'The Proposition', a not well known but very well written and made film from 2005, exploring some comparable themes.
*The Kid, finally understanding how badly out of his depth he is:* "I guess I'd rather be blind and ragged than dead." *Will:* "I ain't gonna shoot you, Kid. You're the only friend I've got." _Unforgiven_ is one of my all-time favorite films; it's the movie that convinced me to give Westerns a chance after dismissing the entire genre as my father's "boring brown movies" when I was growing up. I don't know if it's a perfect movie - I don't know that the perfect movie exists, or even *can* exist - but it's incredibly well-written, directed, acted, and edited. It doesn't waste a moment of screen time: every image that appears and every word that's spoken serves the story. I watched it four times in the theater, and for the last almost 30 years it has been one of the first films I re-add to my collection every time I upgrade my home entertainment system. A great movie, even by the standards of an era when great movies were far more common than they are today (seriously, check out the Oscars class of 1993 - it was a good year).
@ZARDOZ HASPOKEN Indeed I do. Bear in mind that I've had almost 30 years now of *not* dismissing all Westerns as "boring, Brown movies" - I've done some catching up on that span.
The best quote in this film, though there is many: "I'll see you in hell, William Munny." "Yeah." The final scene is more tense than most horror films.
One of my favorite aspects of the film is how Little Bill explains the actual technique of gunslinging. It's not being fast that's important, it's being calm and accurate, which is actually how the best of the gunslingers were. The guy who won was usually the one who took that extra critical second or two to aim properly when his opponent fired wildly from the hip. And that's exactly how Munny is victorious in the shootout at the end. Little Bill was unnerved, understandably so, before Will misfired and he fired first when he had the shotgun thrown at him because he panicked. Will kept his head, crouched low, and took his time to aim, one bullet for each man while Little Bill's deputies fired wildly in fear. Excellent setup based in real facts. Phenomenal film.
Watching that scene for the first time, I was immediately reminded of an old "60 Minutes" (?) interview with author Louis L'Amour. That guy busted Old West myths for me much like Little Bill did for Beauchamp. Edit: Holy crap, I found it! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0da3C2BLCro.html&ab_channel=ManufacturingIntellect
Real historical examples are few, but maybe the best true lines about this comes from Wyatt Earp. He wrote about gunfighting maybe the best line ever written “Fast is fine but accuracy is final. You must learn to be slow in a hurry." On a related note, Earp lived long enough to take part in early western movies as a consultant. It could correctly be said that the entire genre is largely based on Earp.
To me that scene with Little Bill explaining how to actually handle yourself in a gun battle is one of the best examples of foreshadowing in any movie. The movie in general has so many layers to it that most movies can only dream of having.
@@imperialbricks1977 Yep. I heard his son say that on Joe Rogan's podcast then found an old interview where Clint said he waited till he was older to do it
Yeah, it was originally called "The murderer William Mundy" or something like that. Several actors were interested in it, including Morgan Freeman and Kevin Costner. Clint bought the rights and shelved in for over a decade, and Morgan freeman was thrilled to get the call from Clint.
@@MegaDcmp Freeman was on Sesame Street. He didn't get his first real acting break in movies until he was approaching 50. As I recall about 45or 46. He is not a youthful-looking black man. So even when he was in his late 40's he looked older. I'm 55, suffered a heart attack and no one believes me about either. It's all in the genes. A healthy diet and working out helps. I had oily skin and acne when I was younger. It was horrible. Still have oily skin. An older woman told me when I get older I will glad I had oily skin. I think she was right. It never hurts when people....black people... think I am 10 years younger than I am. :)
@@JohnDoe-yi4xd To be a nerd , I think he was on "The Electric Company" first and that show and Sesame Street shared alot of actors/actresses, besides their connection to Mississippi Educational TV/PBS , which Jim Henson also a native of Mississppi like Freeman brought all that together and made made really memorable with his Muppets.
One of the cowboys they assassinated actually attempted to make amends to the prostitutes beforehand, and the way his death is portrayed rather differently (not in a good way, if you know what I mean). Various characters felt remorse for having killed a man after that...... whereas the audience have the additional knowledge that the dude probably doesn't deserve to die.
@@Seven_Leaf Not a huge Kevin Costner fan, but it was a surprisingly good movie. I had to be dragged into it as I wasn't expecting much. Glad to be wrong.
@@Seven_LeafI love Open Range, though I've always thought the pacing is a bit off. But that's a minor gripe. The friendship between Costner's and Duvall's characters is electric and a real joy to watch, and that overshadows any flaws.
@DillyDyson007 There's a bit of sarcasm in there for sure :) the advert people went "nah, it'll be fine" but it wasn't. "P&G reported a net loss of about $5.24 billion - or $2.12 per share - for the quarter ended June 30, due to an $8 billion non-cash writedown of Gillette,"
"She was a comely young woman and not without prospects. Therefore it was heartbreaking to her mother that she would enter into marriage with William Munny, a known thief and murderer, a man of notoriously vicious and intemperate disposition. When she died, it was not at his hands as her mother might have expected but of smallpox. That was 1878." Claudia Munny saved her husband, and in a sense she saves him again by the end of the movie. Munny embraces his old darkness one last time to avenge his friend, but his love of his wife and their children is absolute.
I just watched an interview with Scott Eastwood and Joe Rogan, and Scott said that Clint actually sat on the script for this movie for ten years because he didn't feel he was old enough yet to make the movie. That is dedication to telling a good story.
For my dad and I it was sci-fi, and the first Predator film. I miss him, like he just left the room. When they're not in the room we only have our memories to prove that they existed, we only know they existed somewhen. Apparantly all time is happening at the same time, we just don't experience that way. Even before your father existed he was always part of our universe and always will be.
Speaking of lies, I really love how English Bob drops the posh accent for a cockney one whenever he's too preoccupied by other things to care. It adds another level to his personality where not only are his actions bullshit, but even his posh british identity is as well.
Bill Munny: Hell of a thing, killin' a man. Take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have. The Schofield Kid: Yeah, well, I guess he had it comin'. Bill Munny: We all got it comin', kid.
@Mrmonkeyhanger Bill Munny and Bill Murray look similar enough in my head I guess that I just read that in Bill Murray’s Voice. Then I started thinking of what he would have been like in the movie instead of Clint Eastwood. Kinda fun to this about Bill Murray in other classic rolls.
And Hackman turned the role down out of hand, saying he didn't want to do another violent film. Eastwood told him "that's not quite what it is" and sent him the script.
I love how the woman starts explaining what they did to ned and u can see how munney just lets it go and starts sipping on that whiskey and becomes what he sought to leave behind
To this day, I consider this the end of the Dollars series. Blondie becoming old, reflecting on his past mistakes as an outlaw, and just wanting to live out the rest of his days in quiet. With the cinematic goggles taken off, the ideals thrown off, and the curtains drawn back to show how things really were. And in the end, showing that he could be that type of man again if shoved. It's honestly one of my most favorite movies, and glad to see others enjoyed it as well
The Good the Bad and the Ugly is one of my all-time favorite movies, and Eastwood is one of my all-time favorite cinematic heroes. Consistently outstanding films one after another. “I have a very strict gun control policy: if there’s a gun around, I want to be in control of it.” -Clint Eastwood
Spaghetti Westerns in general are awesome. Lee Van Cleef was a badass on par with Eastwood, maybe even tougher. Look at his intro in For A Few Dollars More - ice cold. LVC made some amazing films in Italy and later featured in "The Master" (a great guilty pleasure).
This was one of my father's all-time favorites. He passed away about 3 months ago, and I've been revisiting some of the movies that were special to him. Thanks for this, Mr. Drinker. My dad loved the clips of yours that I showed him over the years
I knew The Schofield Kid (Jaimz Woolvett) back after he’d finished Unforgiven. He was working as a waiter at a steak house in my home city. It was always kind of weird to see him serving tables after just being in an Academy Award winning movie with Clint Eastwood.
No way - Eastwood has his own talent to look after. If any character that emerges from the hell that we created isn't worth their salt, then we still have better role models that still stand to the test of time. Good memorable movies and shows do exist for a reason.
I'm perplexed, whether we either burn down all the "Hollywood" studios or to block all access to them, slowly turn around, walk away, and ignoring them while they fall into disarray.
@@trevorgrubb3608 it's meh. lots of questionable shits. for example how he not hear those big truck and tank noises right after he loses his friend. just two soldiers standing near!? if he heard them he could have requested immediate help for his friend. lots of little questionable stuffs bothered me lot.
I loved how when Eastwood was told that Freeman was captured he simply, with no hesitation at all, asked for the whiskey bottle as he listened. I was like, "oh shit just got real..." That was a John WIck "you killed my dog" moment but more subtle and effective seeing how firmly he was refusing alcohol throughout the movie
@@zmajodnocaja5088 Naw, they have their hands full discriminating against males. I say "males" and not "men" because they also discriminate against males below the age of consent.
@@flingmonkey5494 Yep guilty by birth apparently. Stop acting and behaving to your nature here take all these prescription drugs to behave in a more acceptable manner. ^_^
@@Minervastouch Have you ever seen the sci-fi movie "THX1138"? I saw it a couple of times and also read the book. In that story "drug evasion" was a capital crime.
Perhaps one of the most powerful scenes is when Munny takes to the bottle. Up until that point the film was just a job he took on to help his family out and he largely stayed the same as when we first see him. By the end it got personal and the old Munny came out and he was fuelled by the desire for nothing but cold hard revenge
“I’ve killed women and children. I’ve killed everything that walks or crawls at one time or another. And I’m here to kill you, Little Bill, for what you done to Ned.” One of the few movies I own a physical copy of.
well , find me a western gunfighter /outlaw who did kill women and children. This movie went over the top on that line. Ask any hardcore criminal what they think of killing children or people that do. Such people dont live to retire, not in America now or back then
@@chrisperrien7055 Did you miss the point where the Drinker went on about how it's not romantic, or cool, or nice, but jaded, evil, harsh and dark? It wasn't glorified, it was just stated.
@@chrisperrien7055 he was most likely a soldier that killed indians or mexicans before becoming an outlaw gunslinger. back in those times there were less codes of war than there are today, they could basically do anything to anyone
It's definitely in my top ten all-time favourites. But then, I'm not sure it would be number one in my top ten list of favourite Clint Eastwood westerns, (I'd probably go for The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Or Josey Wales...).. The man is a living legend.
Because of this review I watched Unforgiven. That final scene where he's leaving town; my emotions were everywhere and my mind was imagining a thousand different scenarios of how it was going to play out, yet it still quietly surpassed my expectations. Thank you Drinker you quietly over-competent champion of iconoclastic ideas, inquisitional imagination and occasional idolatry. (Feel free to quote that)
That begs the question, would the Last Jedi have been better if at the end Luke showed up and was just like, “everyone who don’t want to die, better leave out the back”
@Jethro Derp Ah, a masterfully veiled criticism of American colonialism in a Middle East, with a sudden lack of fuel reminiscing Oil Crisis and problems of our environment then. 11/10 Dildobrain von Dangerhair
In one scene , you can see the “smoke” of a stream train , that in fact is our asphalt plant . We were paving close to their shooting location ... they had to add the train whistle in post production
Eastwood had the midas touch when it came to western movies: Unforgiven, Pale rider, the outlaw Josie Wales, the man with no name trilogy...all first class productions.
"Unforgiven" is actually the only movie where the "aging" Hero was handled perfectly. Unlike Indiana Jones 4, Rambo and Rocky 5,6 or whatever and so on.
I would agree, with the exception of Rambo IV. The last one wasn't a bad movie, by any means - and refreshing, considering the average manure, that is being served in cinema nowadays. But it was unnecessary. Rambo IV summed up the character and went full circles with the first film (in a way, one could almost call it a prequel). "First Blood", in a way, was the story of what became of the character; "John Rambo" gives us a hint, of how he became that character...
@@fenriz218 In Rambo IV John really felt like John...but sadly i couldn´t stand the altered face of Sly and the CGI Blood...both distracted me way too much.
@@antraxxslingshots Yeah, the CGI occasionally distracted me too, but apparently the budget was very low, and Stallone paid parts of the production costs himself. But still it conveyed the core message: that war is both messy and ugly. When we watched the second and third Rambo as teenager, those were considered "cool movies". Rambo stabbing and shooting some Russian hulk-soldier, pushing him down a tunnel and THEN blowing him up... these films were almost like comic books. But Rambo IV didn't glorify anything. Had that been the final chapter, it would have been just perfect. The reason I don't agree with some people's sentiment, the Eastwood should do another Western. More movies..? Sure, as long as he's fit and capable, but, imo, he wrote the final chapter with The Unforgiven. Can't top something, that's pretty much perfect...
I remember when this movie came out. I really had no love for violent movies. So, I didn’t have any desire to see it. However, about two years later; I was reading an interview with Gene Hackman, and he was talking about how he had retired because he was sick of the glorification of violence in movies. So, when Clint came along; he told him “hell no,” but Clint told him to read the script and he would realize that it spoke the truth about violence and it’s repercussions. I saw the movie with that in mind, and loved it. By the way, my own writing now contains tons of violence, but I try to make it so that it’s never gratuitous.
“Unforgiven” was arguably the best film of 1992. I was 18 when it was released and it make quite a lasting impression on me. Now you all know what an old git I am. Go away now!
18 in '92 and he calls himself old... Son, you really don't have a clue what old really is. It begins in having to gear yourself up to put your socks on and ends in diapers.
Unforgiven also got a pretty solid adaptation/re-telling in 2012 with a Japanese version (also called Unforgiven) starring the bloody great Ken Watanabe.
I thiught it was really good. Watch Uzama Twilight, another great samuri movie about an extra in Samurai drama. Wonderful editing and subtle. You don't have to be hit over the head and shown what has happened. Superb film.
If only Kurosawa had lived longer - we could have returned the compliment for "Seven Samurai"/"Magnificent Seven" (both great movies of course, as Unforgiven is).
Re-watched it for the first time in years. Clint Eastwood is great, but for me, the big draw is Gene Hackman. His smug but tired smile, his effortless slime is endlessly watchable. Always entertaining, in everything. Never seen him just phone in a performance.
"I was lucky in the order, but I've always been lucky when it comes to killin' folks". I just love that line for some reason, so simple yet it hold such gravitas.
Don't forget the epilogue - adds a whole new layer - he gets away with everything: During the epilogue, a title card states that Munny left the pig farm with his children and is rumored to have moved to San Francisco, prospering in dry goods." He does change in the end. This was his last hurrah.
i think the end of the movie is that he had, indeed changed... the problem is that's not the same as redemption. He's not the man he was, but he still has to live with what he was. Some people don't get forgiven.
It the total opposite. He had changed even though he had to go back and do it one last time and even drink the whiskey. But he returns with his family and confirms what he had been saying during the entire film..his wife had changed him long ago, he wasn't that man anymore.
@@papayaman78 I mean he spends the entire movie saying he’s changed, and then proceeds to murder an entire room full of men, including one who wasn’t armed and then joked about it. And then we hear Little Bill’s final words: “I’ll see you in Hell, William Muney.” Muney agrees and then murders him. But the line that got me the most was when the kid tried to convince himself that the men “had it coming,” to which Muney replied, “we all have it coming, kid.” It’s beautiful and tragic. He knows there is no redemption for him, as much as he’d like to wish there could be.
Best ending to a film I have ever seen. His whole persona changes on the hilltop. You learn the full extent of his past, the Schofield Kid is afraid of him. I literally cannot put in to words how completely awesome that scene is. You know something bad is coming and it doesn't let you down. His final words to the town is frightening and in total contrast to the William Munny we've seen for the majority of the film. I wish I could forget it so I can enjoy it for the first time again. 10 out of 10 for sure and my all time favourite film
''I am riding out of town and if any of you so much as give me a dirty look,i will kill every man, woman and child in this shithole,and then i will kill all your pets'' was that the line?
@@davidlyon1899 not quite. Let's call it a paraphrase. "All right, I'm coming out. Any man I see out there, I'm gonna shoot him. Any sumbitch takes a shot at me, I'm not only gonna kill him, but I'm gonna kill his wife, all his friends, and burn his damn house down." --Will Munny
I just found out about you 3 days ago and have been binging so hard. You're amazing and this level of narration and brilliance is akin to shit i think so it's like finding a random friend you never knew you had. Thank you.
The contrast between the writer and the actual gunslinger is such an awesome commentary on Clint's previous characters and cliches. When he kills everyone in the bar and explains with "I guess I got lucky with the order. I was always lucky when it comes to killing folks" or something like that. Its just perfection
I saw this notification and immediately rolled my eyes, "Who hasn't seen unforgiven? It's a classic Eastwood-western!" Then I felt old...because young people.
This delivery of Unforgiven has created a poignant question in my mind: What is the antithesis of a Mary Sue? Here, it seems that Clint Eastwood's character embodies that antithesis. This is the same type of character we see in movies like Logan, where the hero whom we remember as being nearly unstoppable is now a broken person just struggling to survive . Drinker, would you consider doing a youtube video montaging "anti" Mary Sue characters? Something to consider, thanks for your awesome channel so far.
Avatar:The Last Airbender has an anti-Mary Sue:a girl who is shown practicing and being perfectionistic, Any friends she has act that way because they fear her,she had the potential to be the strongest bender in the world,but she loses everyone,and even her sanity.
Saw this a couple of times upon release - i considered it an instant classic that I immediately put up with my favourite westerns of all time (most predating this by 20+years) - a few months later and Clint is rightly holding a gold statue in each hand. I cant think of a major realease since that has achieved such commercial aclaim whilst also being a genuine masterpiece for the ages.
Unforgiven came out around the same time as Silence of the Lambs which was pretty much the same thing: instant classic, universal acclaim, pile of oscars, etc
A lot of Westerns were adapted from Samurai films, and in 2008 the reverse happened with Unforgiven when Clint's classic was adapted into a sword flick.
Probably missing the point a bit but I love how the movie spends the majority of its run-time trying to convince us that Munney is washed up, out of his league, and committed to burying his past. But when shit hits the fan and work needs doing, he reverts back to the savage killer he was, and has a whole town quaking in fear of him. Such a powerful moment, and whilst I know there are other themes the title of the work is "Unforgiven", and so that climactic sequence has stuck with me long after I first saw it. Character arcs are wonderful narrative devices, but this sequence says that people don't really change.
Real underrated scene with Ned and the kid discussing/planning next steps when Will's sick. The kid asks what were they gonna do if Munny dies. Ned simply replies, "we'll bury him."
"If he's faster, he'll be in a hurry and he'll miss." "and if he doesn't miss?" "...then he'll kill ya...that's why there's so few dangerous men around like Old Bob...and like me"
I felt like when it came to Munny, that even though the sensationalism of his past was fake. The movie depicts that he was somehow worse. They talk of him killing women and children. Logan tells him that the story the kid told him about how he gunned down 2 men, he remembers that it was actually 3. So throughout the movie we're hearing about this badass but seeing something different till that final gunfight. And we see that he had to be drunk in order to do it. We get to see the horrible man that we heard about throughout the film. And then find ourselves rooting for a monster. He asks for skinny and then tells the people in back to clear out of the way. Making it clear what he's about to do. None of them can believe it. Like, there's no way he's going to shoot an unarmed man in front of the entire sheriff's posse. Then that line. "Well he should have armed himself. If he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend." It was chilling.
Don't forget his threat to anyone that took a shot at him when he was leaving town "I won't only kill him, I'll kill his whole family and burn his house down". Will Munny wasn't a nice guy, brilliant acting from Hackman and Eastwood to make us root for Munny over Dagget, even though one is a law man and the other a murderer
@wargent99 I missed it, you are right. That might be there to sink in the whole idea: Bill was never good or skilled at anything, the guy could not win the only "duel" of the film or even repair his roof. He was threatening enough to be respected and had a steady enough hand to execute people. They call it at the beginning, "never seen him afraid..." He was willing to do a dirty and risky work no one else wanted to do because he had the balls to do it, not because he was good at it.
@@cstlbrvo5615 Exactly--look at the Cowboys in Tombstone. They were actually - and the movie depicts this accurately - *deputized* by the sheriff to hunt down Wyatt Earp and his group during the Vengeance Ride
"Did he fire six shots or only five'? Well to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, i kind of lost track myself. But being that this is a . 44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?"
Hackman positively bristled in every scene he was in. Even the first time I watched the movie, not knowing what was to come, the man radiated unrealised violence, just in his bearing.
The cast doesn't get much stronger, and the genre is definitely appealing, but I'm most impressed by how well the roles and actors were paired here. Nice work, casting director 👏.
The true mundane reality that this movie shed light on is. for me, that Clint's character was never romantic, he was a cold blooded psychopath who was fueled by booze and rage. Dynamiting a train killing women and children isn't how the bandit character was ever played. Eastwood was pure genius here, completely deconstructing the heroic outlaw.
I agree. There is never any attempt to show that Eastwood was a any sort of heroic figure. Like you said, even though he had mellowed out and was trying to live a different life, the brutal violence that he was capable of was always there, just below the surface, just waiting for the right circumstances to bring it out. When those circumstances were there, he blew an unarmed man away and gunned down half a dozen others without blinking an eye. I always remember how he casually shot the last deputy while he was laying on the floor groaning like he was killing a bug.
Clint's face and eyes, in that scene (under that tree, beneath that grey sky) when he's talking to that kid.... That's one of the best scenes in cinematic history! "We all got it coming, kid..." Awesome line! Perfect delivery!
One of best lines ever - after Clint shoots the bar keeper Gene Hackman says “that was an unarmed man”! Clint replies “well he should’ve armed himself if he’s going to decorate his bar with my friend (the dead body of Morgan freeman), or something along those lines, I haven’t seen it in a while but I always remember that part. Bad ass!!!!
That was a great line, but the best was "It's a hell of a thing killin' a man. You take away all he's got, and all he's ever gonna have." There's a lot going on there when you think about it
This is one of my favorite movies of all time. So damn good, so well acted, so well put together, and so damn honest about itself. I miss movies like this.
The Shootist is one of my favorite movies. “I won’t be wronged. I won’t be insulted. I won’t be laid a hand upon. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”
@Rob Irvine What part of The Shootist says it’s a just world? The main character is morally grey at best and the people wanting to take advantage of his legend are scummy. The main character gets shot in the back by the bartender in the end even though he stacked the deck against himself with people who wanted him dead for their own reasons in order to die before his cancer could get him. He’s just saying his rule of thumb when it comes to dealing with other people. Me thinks you don’t know what you’re talking about.
But that's the point - for all his brutality he was the only character in the film who does not engage in self-deception (except of course about his carpentry skills - a bit of comic relief, which the film has some moments of). As Drinker pointed out. He's certainly Munny's antagonist, but I don't think you can call him a true villain. A marvelous multi-layered performance by Hackman.
I was never big on Westerns, but I saw this movie when it came out, immediately loved it, and have watched it several times since. I loved it because it's not just an exceptionally good Western; it's an exceptionally good _movie_ -- one that invites repeated viewings.
