Unforgiven

Watched Unforgiven last night. I had seen it in the theater when it came out, but I had forgotten how good it was and how much I enjoyed it.


Although I'm, if anything an anti-triumphalist, I've always liked westerns. Naturally, then, I've always loved the anti-westerns (if that's the right term). The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly is my favorite (Eli Wallach steals the show).


Unforgiven is a classic. There are, unbelievably for Clint Eastwood, elements of feminism in it, as well as derision and mocking of the masculine character Eastwood has played in so many movies.


Unlike what we've been shown in westerns before, the guns don't work well (sorry HDPM), the "heros" are anything but heroic, Eastwood has trouble mounting and riding his horse, the "kid" has bad eyesight, Morgan Freeman loses his nerve, Eastwood only gets his when he drinks, and people are, well, just people, not larger than life figures.


Gene Hackman's performance is electrifying. He won the Best Supporting Oscar over Jack Nicholson's performance in A Few Good Men. IMO, Hackman deserved it.


A great movie. If you haven't ever seen it, do. If you haven't seen it in a while, see it again.