Unforgiven

The movie Unforgiven is a character-driven western that defies conventions of classical Hollywood. Unforgiven also boasts an impressive cast with Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, and Gene Hackman all playing cowboys reminiscent of Sergio Leone's spaghetti western films. The film propels viewers into a position where they must choose which side they are on, even if it could be the wrong side. These elements work for Unforgiven's advantage and give the viewer a clear reason why this film won four Academy Awards.

Clint Eastwood is a cowboy. That sentence alone should be enough to sell tickets. However, he is a cowboy with a dark past. And yet he has found peace and solitude on a small ranch with his two children. His wife has recently passed away and we are reminded that by a solemn opening shot of him at a grave. The audience gets a sense of how important his wife was to him, through Eastwood's award-winning performance and the film's talented writers.

One day a drifter rides through and offers him a deal to help track down and kill some cowboys who beat up a prostitute. Eastwood's character battles with the issue of accepting the fact that he will have to kill again. He is also unsure about the town's sheriff who does not know about the reward money that the prostitutes have placed on the cowboys' heads.

Gene Hackman plays the sheriff, and Morgan Freeman plays Eastwood's buddy on the trip. What makes the film work well on many levels is how it deals with complicated issues. The right choice is less clear-cut than in most films, and that is exactly what makes this a wonderful film to experience. The audience, which is used to Clint Eastwood being the easy choice to root for, has to sit back and watch as he murders men for something that they have already been punished for. Eastwood also takes it upon himself to take vengeance on those who have tried to stop him within the story. But there is one thing that Eastwood's morality is unwavering on, and that is respecting his wife's memory. On several occasions he turns down the chance to be with a prostitute. In a time of low morals, this speaks volumes for the direction Eastwood wants his character to take.

Filmmakers who disobey normal Hollywood convention make the movies that I like to watch. I enjoy being confused with who to pull for in a movie. I'm intrigued by characters that aren't either clearly definable as "good" or "bad." I like characters who are human, and this is exactly what Clint Eastwood has done. He has created a human story that asks viewers to not pick sides but simply watch and have their preconceived notions thrown away.