Review: Film: Unforgiven, by Julie Renee Phelan

Thumps from 1 to 5: Thumps of 4.5

The movie “Unforgiven” is a 1992 Western film—noir produced and directed by Clint Eastwood with a screenplay written by David Webb Peoples. The film won four Academy Awards including Best Supporting Actor for Gene Hackman, Best Director for Clint Eastwood, Best Film Editing for Joel Cox, and Best Picture for Clint Eastwood. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, Best Art Direction—Set Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Sound and Best Original Screenplay.

The film stars Clint Eastwood, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, playing William Munny. This film co-stars Gene Hackman, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, playing Little Bill Daggett. The film also co-stars Morgan Freeman, playing Ned Logan, Richard Harris, playing English Bob, Jaimz Woolvett, playing The Schofield Kid, Saul Rubinek, playing W.W. Beauchamp, and Frances Fisher, playing Strawberry Alice.

A house of ill-repute in Big Whiskey, Wyoming, offers a $1000 reward to whoever can kill two cowboys who cut-up the face of one of their whores. This upsets the local sheriff, a former gunfighter known as Little Bill Daggett who doesn't allow guns or assassins in his town.

In Kansas, the Schofield Kid pays a visit to the farm of William Munny, an aging yet notorious outlaw, down on his luck, and trying to reform. The Kid recruits Munny to kill the two cowboys. Munny recruits his old partner Ned Logan, another retired outlaw.

In Big Whiskey, gunfighter English Bob and his biographer arrive also seeking the $1000 reward. Little Bill cleverly disarm old English Bob and beats him in the street, to set an example for other reward hunters. English Bob is kicked out of town on his ass, but his biographer stays to observe and take notes regarding another legend Little Bill.

Munny, Logan and the Kid arrive in Big Whiskey they interface with Little Bill in the saloon. Logan and the Kid go upstairs to get “advance-payments” from the prostitutes while Munny stays downstairs only to receive a whipping. Like all good westerns, this one also has a love story.