Unforgiven - 1992

This was the best picture winner of its year and it's tough not to compare it to the more recent 'Million Dollar Baby', also directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Both films present people in difficult situations that have to make their way through ethically murky situations. It's tough to cheer on the protagonist in both cases, though condemning them is also dificult.
The striking piece of this movie was how it changed the landscape of western movies. Eastwood made his name in westerns in the 50's and 60's when the good guys and the bad guys were more easily told from each other. This movie made the picture much muddier. It shows a very rough frontier town. A place where the sheriff is the law and his judgements are final. It also shows that shooting a man can be emotionally devestating.
A few things that struck me during this watching: Sheriff Little Bob (Gene Hackman) makes two early punishments in this movie. After the cowboys cut up a whore he declines to whip them. Instead he fines them an amount of ponies to be paid to the saloon owner to recompense the expense of the cut up woman. Under the law, the actual victim of the crime is given nothing. The next alottment of punishment comes when English Bob (Richard Harris) comes to town with a few weapons. He gets the crap kicked out him. Yes, there are extenuating circumstances but the contrast is vivid. Punishment must be in step with the severity of a crime. That's the only route to justice.
Another thing that struck me about the movie is the relationship between Eastwood and the woman who was cut. The happy ending would have Eastwood take her for his wife. But that would have been too pat. Eastwood has convinced himself that he is beyond redemption and drawing a her in would have been wrong. Certainly wrong to the memory of his dead wife. Also the first time I saw this I got chills when he takes the whiskey back and starts to drink again. Watching it again, I still do.
This is the first movie of this project that I actually own. Coming up, I may post the review schedule in case anyone wants to follow along. This has been enjoyable and I'm glad that I'm doing it.