Produced and Directed by
Clint EastwoodWritten by
David Webb PeoplesExecutive Producer:
David ValdesDirector of Photography:
Jack N. GreenProduction Designer:
Henry BumsteadEdited by
Joel CoxMusic by
Lennie NiehausStarring:
Clint Eastwood / Gene Hackman / Morgan Freeman / Richard HarrisStory
William Munny was a notorious outlaw in his youth, and ruthlessly has murdered women and children. But he forswore his criminal ways through the influence of his wife. One day, a cowboy named Schofield kid approaches his farm. He tells Will about a reward and asks to cooperate with him to kill cowboys who slashed a prostitute's face. Munny firstly refuses his offer because he doesn't want to break his swear. But he considers his financial problem and his children. 3 years ago, he lost his wife. So he decides to cooperate with the Kid just for the reward. He recruits his former partner Ned, and they head to the city...
Cast
Clint Eastwood........William Munny
Gene Hackman........Little Bill Dagget
Morgan Freeman.....Ned Logan
Richard Harris........English Bob
Jaimz Woolvett.......Schofield Kidd
Saul Rubinek...........Beauchamp
Frances Fisher........Strawberry Alice, prostitute
Anna Levine............Deliah, face slashed (as Anna Thomson)
I never doubt this movie deserves to be a winner of Academy Award since I watched it at first. But first time I couldn't understand who is unforgiven and why. A week ago, I watched it again, and finally found the meaning of that.
William Munny
I didn't know how brutal and vicious William Munny was at the first point. He looked just an old man who is either not a good farmer, or a good horse rider. Clint Eastwood in the movie is tasteful in contrast to "Dirty Harry." Dirty Harry is very militant. But William Munny is not like that. Though he was a notorious outlaw, now he has understood what he has done in his youth is vicious. But he changes into what he was by having his friend killed cruelty. When he revenges, I've found that killing needs ruthlessness. It doesn't matter whether he is young or old, either whether he is strong or weak to kill a man. This movie has several violent scenes, but never affirms the violence.
Little Bill Dagget
Little Bill Dagget is a sheriff who rules the city by his own method. He hates outlaws, and cruelty punishes them. His violence is unacceptable. But he is not so much hateful. He seems to be a tyrant of authority, but he is not a good carpenter. He is clumsy, and his house that builds on his own is leaky so that even timid Beauchamp honestly points it out. That's why Little Bill Dagget is not so much hateful.
Little Bill Beats English Bob
After English Bob had his hair trimmed at the barber, he and Beauchamp are detained by Sheriffs lead by Little Bill. Little Bill disarms Bob, and beats him ruthlessly in front of the townspeople. This scene is very painful. Little Bill kicks Bob's stomach and face several times. This scene is very devastating, but is better that endurable to see. Nobody could stop his violence. The townspeople are very frightened of course. Even his men are also frightened.
Little Bill, English Bob, and Beauchamp
Little Bill incarcerates English Bob and Beauchamp. But he releases Beauchamp, and defies shoot ing him. Beauchamp timidly points a gun at him. But he can't instead he timidly tries to give it to English Bob lying in a cell. His timidity is hilarious while Little Bill prepares to draw a gun. English Bob cautiously approaches to the gun. But he doesn't grab the gun. Next day, English Bob is kicked out of the city, and takes his twisted gun. Then he curses the townspeople terribly. At this point, his turn is over.
Will Beaten by Little Bill
Will, Ned and the Kid arrive at the saloon. Will gets sick and has a nightmare. Ned and the Kid go upstairs with leaving him alone. At this time, Little Bill enters the saloon, and approaches him. Little Bill as did to English Bob, disarms Will, and ruthlessly beats him up. Will shamefully but desperately crawls to run away from him. Little Bill ridicules his crawling. Will barely gets out of the saloon, and is saved by Ned and the Kid. At this point, Will still looks just an old man. Ned is better.
Will Kills Cowboy
Will, Ned and Schofield Kid are waiting in ambush for the cowboy, and Will shoots him to death. Will looks dissatisfied because he didn't want to kill him, but had to. Ned realizes that he can no longer have a stomach to murder, and decides to head to his home. But accidentally, later he is captured by bounty hunters. This scene is sentimental. It's a vanity of violence. At this point, I've realized this movie doesn't affirm the violence.
Revenge and Unforgiven
After Will and the Kid killed the other cowboys; they are given a reward from a prostitute. But they face to know what they don't want to expect. They accidentally find that Ned was captured, and was brutally tortured to death by Little Bill. This enrages Will, and he decides to revenge on Little Bill. They break up and Will heads to the city. He takes a look at Ned's corpse decorated at the saloon. He enters the saloon quietly, and aims a gun at Little Bill in front of the people. But he firstly kills unarmed Skinny whom he supposes decorated Ned's body. Next he shoots Little Bill, then the other sheriffs. He seemed once to be ruthless in his youth, but he didn't kill Beauchamp, the prostitutes, and the other passive people. He seems to show mercy at innocent people. He strongly drinks a whisky. Then he finds Little Bill is still alive. So he finishes Little Bill off. After killing him, Will slowly gets out of the saloon, and threatens sheriffs on outside. He rides on the horse, and leaves the town. The Prostitutes, Beauchamp, and the sheriffs see his leaving. Nobody could shoot him. But they seem to be in owed of him as a legendary hero. This scene is impressive. William Munny comes back to be unforgiven. The definition of unforgiven in this movie, it's him, and the reason why is that he once forswore his criminal ways, but he came back. So he is unforgiven. I've found how much wonderful this movie is. This movie doesn’t affirm either the violence or the revenge, and is an artistic drama though it isn’t so much thought-provoking.
Doubtful Points
I wonder why Ned isn't distinguished for being black, and why Will has acted with Ned in his youth. Perhaps Will might have thought that black man is easier to do with than white people. But I still wonder why the prostitutes never looked down to him. Perhaps they might not cared races to find a bounty hunter. Actually Morgan Freeman often plays a black man who isn't distinguished whenever he is.
Memorable Quotes:
"Deserve's got nothing to do with it" --- Will Munny
Academy Awards, USA, 1993:
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Gene Hackman (Won)
Best Director: Clint Eastwood (Won)
Best Film Editing: Joel Cox (Won)
Best Picture: Clint Eastwood (Won)
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Clint Eastwood (Nominated)
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: Henry Bumstead and Janice Blackie-Goodine (Nominated)
Best Cinematography: Jack N. Green (Nominated)
Best Sound: Les Fresholtz Vern Poore Rick Alexander(as Dick Alexander) and Rob Young (Nominated)
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: David Webb Peoples (Nominated)
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Directed and Produced by Clint Eastwood
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