Happy Halloween! I know today’s movie review should be a scary movie, but I’m rubbish when it comes to planning. You would think I would be better with dates since I was a history major, but I’m not.
Today’s movie, Unforgiven, is a western starring Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman, and Richard Harris. It’s the third western I’ve watched from AFI’s top 100 list. The other two were The Wild Bunch and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I wasn’t a fan of the first and loved the second. Before I give my verdict on Unforgiven, here’s the IMDb synopsis:
Retired Old West gunslinger William Munny reluctantly takes on one last job, with the help of his old partner and a young man.
Well that doesn’t say much. I remembered watching this film when it was released in 1992 and I hated it. I couldn’t accept a docile Clint Eastwood. Of course, in 1992 I was a teenager and hadn’t really experienced much in life, even though I was absolutely convinced I knew everything.
When I popped the DVD in recently, I wasn’t expecting much from my second viewing. The movie is 131 minutes long. At the time, though, I didn’t notice that. What I did notice was how I couldn’t take my eyes off the film. Trust me, my dog was unhappy that I wouldn’t play tug-o-war while watching. Maybe I’ve matured since 1992 or more than likely I now have more experiences, including many regrets. I could relate more to Clint’s character. In case you are wondering, no I haven’t killed anyone.
It’s not your typical western; however, I’m not sure what a typical western is since I don’t watch many. Sorry Grandpa—I know you love John Wayne. Considering I thought I would hate this film, I’m happy to report that it’s good. Really, really good. Unless you are a know-it-all teenager and want Clint to blow everyone’s brains out and not feel guilty about it. Was I really that stupid back then?
This movie won four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director (Clint Eastwood), Best Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman), and Best Film Editing. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it.
Up next is Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, a movie I have never seen and to be honest I’ve avoided it. I’m not a fan of couples who yell a lot and from the clips I’ve seen that’s all they do.
50 Year Project 
i like unforgiven, too.
it’s been years since i last saw virginia woolf, and i look forward to your take on it. my memories are fuzzy except for all that yelling
I really hate yelling. Grew up with yellers and I’m kinda dreading it.
i’m a sometime yeller myself and don’t generally mind it, but these yellers yell embarrassing things in front of company. ick.
I can be a yeller, but it’s something I’m working on. In front of company–uh oh.
I loved Unforgiven, though I’m not generally a fan of Westerns. Or maybe because I’m not generally a fan of Westerns.
I look forward to hearing what you think of Who’s Afraid – definitely in my Top 5 movies of all times. Both central performances are brilliant – both Burton and Taylor showing that they had pure acting talent rather than just ‘star quality’…
That’s good to know. Your top five. What are the other four?
Twelve Angry Men, Casablanca, Key Largo, To Kill a Mockingbird, Rear Window, Strangers on a Train, A Few Good Men, White Heat, Die Hard, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, West Side Story, Notes on a Scandal, The Lord of the Rings…hmm, OK maybe I should have said Top 20… 😉
We have a lot of the same on our top 20 list. You are one of the first to agree with me about a Cat on a Hot Tin Roof–such a great flick. I haven’t seen Key Largo, White Heat, Notes on a Scandal–adding them to my rental list.
I think you’ll probably love Key Largo and Notes on a Scandal. White Heat’s a bit dated now, maybe, but I’ve always had a huge soft spot for James Cagney…my Dad’s favourite, so I was brought up on his films.
I do love James Cagney! I prefer older films. bumping that one higher up the list now.
Hope you enjoy it! I’d love to hear what you think… 🙂
Thanks. Will do.
I haven’t seen this one, but I’m a big fan of Clint Eastwood and westerns in general (thanks to my dad 🙂 ). Plus there are some other great actors in Unforgiven too..Thanks for the review and the good movie idea!
It’s a stellar cast! And I think you’ll like it. Let me know.
I can barely remember this film although I’ve definitely seen it! It is a great cast.
Lynn 😀
Well it was 20 years ago so I think it’s okay you don’t remember. I can’t remember a TV show I saw last week.
I remember hating it the first time I saw it (I was a teenager too) but I saw it a few years ago and really enjoyed it. It actually changed my mind about Clint Eastwood, I though of him as an actor rather than just an entertainer after that. It’s incredible how a few years change your taste.
I hope you enjoy Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf, I liked it a lot but now that darn song is stuck in my head again. Hehe.
Yes I’m finding that the older I get I can appreciate books and movies more. Not just looking for a shocking story, but stories that have heart and make me think and feel.
Unforgiven: One of the few truly great “realistic” films of the past twenty years.
As for Virginia Woolf, it isn’t the yelling that gets under your skin and gnaws away at you until you are an astonished, exhausted, wreck. It is, to me, a true catharsis every time I see it. Astounding acting, amazing script and brilliant direction.
Realistic–that’s a good way to put it. With all the comments I’m really curious about the next film and a little nervous.
This is a movie at the top of my ‘To be seen’ list. I watched a little bit of the beginning and then saved it for another time and haven’t got around to watching it yet. Should make plans to watch it soon.
Hope you enjoy watching ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf’. I read the play version recently and found it quite interesting. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it.
Let me know what you think of Unforgiven if you watch it. And I’m curious to see how I take to the next one. Sounds like the acting is brilliant, but the story is unsettling.
I will try to watch ‘The Unforgiven’ soon, TBM. Hope you enjoy watching ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf’. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it.
Thanks Vishy.
Big Man loves this film, don’t think I’ve seen it so now maybe I should give it a chance!
Try it. I’m surprised by how much I liked it.
I’m fairly certain I’ve seen every Eastwood film, but don’t remember this one at all.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf isn’t a fun movie to watch, but Richard Burton, Liz Taylor and Sandy Dennis are outstanding.
I have a feeling I’ll have a lot of cringing/uncomfortable moments while watching the next flick.
I saw “Unforgiven” when it was released. It didn’t rock my world. I’m not a big fan of the films Clint Eastwood’s directed. I loathed “Million Dollar Baby” and “Mystic River”, but I did like “Bird” (I’m a huge Charlie Parker fan) and “Letters from Iwo Jima” (I thought that was much better than “Flags of Our Fathers”). Back to “Unforgiven” maybe I should watch it again, but my “to do” list is so long, that’s unlikely. I did see “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” both on screen and last year, on stage, when it was revived on Broadway. Elizabeth Taylor is fantastic in the film, but I could not get her out of my head when I watched it on stage. The stage actress didn’t have Liz’s force. Richard Burton was great, too. I hope it won’t be hell for you. Edward Albee’s play is brilliant. He’s one of my favorite playwrights even though his plays vary in quality, to phrase it politely. To be blunt, some suck out loud.
I think it would be intimidating for most actors to play Taylor’s role in this movie or on stage. From what I hear, she was phenomenal in it and I think if I was an actress I would keep thinking, “They’re going to compare me to Taylor.”
Suck out loud–that’s hilarious. Sounds like something Dorothy Parker would say.
I’ve not seen Unforgiven yet. It’s on the list, maybe one day…
It’s a great flick! Hope you enjoy.
Back in the day I didn’t like Clint Eastwood either. I didn’t like Westerns, but when I got to college my Dad’s love for Eastwood influenced me and then I watched many Eastwood flicks on the VCR/DVD Player, you know when they still had VCRs. This movie in particular is awesome. Gene Hackman is so good in this. Glad you watched it again and discovered the awesomeness that is Clint.
I’m a fan of Clint and I think he showed his diversity in this film. And I have to admit, I loved him in Bridges of Madison County. Yep, I’m a secret romantic and a sucker for those films and books. Shh! Don’t tell.
I am pretty sure CH and I watched Unforgiven this summer. Summer was a blur for me. We love our westerns and CH is a big Clint Eastwood fan.
I can’t believe it’s fall now. Where did summer go?
Congratulations on the Red Sox winning the World Series!
Thanks. Sorry about your team. I’ll cheer them on next year and maybe it will be a rematch!
I’ll see if my library has Unforgiven. I typically avoid old movies. By watching them I often feel like I’m living in the past, being left behind, wasting time. But there are a few that are very good and worth seeing.
I’m the opposite, I love old movies. Interesting that they make you feel that way. I need to give that some thought.
LOVE this flick. One of my all time favourites. And I was a big “shoot em up Clint!!” fan too — but I specifically loved that this showed a different character. I liked the darker tone and the moral ambiguity.
Sometimes I still get in the mood to see a shoot em up flick. But yes, this is a wonderful flick since it offers so much more than just point and shoot.
I haven’t seen this but I might. I’ve read the play “Whos Afraid . . . ” and loved it. I’m not sure I’ve seen the movie, possible though.
I think you might like Unforgiven actually. It’s not the usual Hollywood bravado. Plan on watching the next movie soon.
I’m glad you liked the movie. I saw it when it first came out and I just couldn’t get into it. I know it is a good movie, though.
It does start off slow and that may have been one of my issue back then as well.
I saw this ages ago and I barely remember anything. Did you know that Japan remake this movie?
I didn’t know that. I should look into that. Is it about a Samurai or something?
You can see it here > http://genkinahito.wordpress.com/2013/09/14/unforgiven-taka-no-tsume-go-utsukushiki-erieru-shoshu-purasu-ataru-the-first-love-the-last-kill-miss-zombie-code-geass-akito-the-exiled-second-volume-wyvern-torn-apart-love-chunibyo-am/
I am tempted to see it as it has great actors in it although I usually avoid remake
Thanks for the link! It’s so hard these days to avoid remakes.
I loved this movie. If you are looking for a great ‘Clint’ movie…as well as a terrific ‘Kevin’ movie…this is it.
How funny! I was trying to think of the title of this movie recently, but couldn’t. All I could remember was the trick-or-treating scene. Thanks! I like this movie as well. Kevin is great and the boy is wonderful in it.