Rating: 
Summary: Great Performances!
Review: Great performances, but the story is contrived and silly. Gene Hackman and Richard Harris steal the show. Hackman as the tyrannical sheriff and Harris as a famous gunslinger, who Hackman tears down to size. Eastwood floats through this one in somnambulistic fashion. "High Plains Drifter" meets "Tombstone." In the end, everyone makes Eastwood's day. The film came across as a pastiche of Western themes, it doesn't have the same clarity of vision as did "Pale Rider."
Rating: 
Summary: Sinners and Saints..
Review: This review refers to the Two-Disc Special Edition(10th Anniversary) DVD(Warner Bros)....This may well be the greatest of Clint Eastwood's works. I am a big fan of both his work in front of the camera as well as his work as a director and producer, and this is my personal favorite.As well as the many international awards bestowed on this film and Eastwood as the director and star, it recieved four Academy Awards including Best Picture(1992) and Best Director. Warner Bros has bedazzled us with this outstanding transfer in every way of this fine film. The story revolves around a group of prostitues living in the little western town of Big Whiskey. They are appalled that the town Sherriff does little in the way of punishing a customer that has cut up the face of one of the girls. They put up their own reward to any man who kills the offender(and his partner). Word of the crime(albeit exaggerated)and the reward spreads through the west and brings to town an array of killers.The tension grows throught the film as the Sherriff and his men brutalize these predators. The Sinners: William Munny(Clint Eastwood)... an ex alcoholic notorious killer, now an unprofitable pig farmer, trying to raise his motherless children. Older and with less vengance flowing through his veins,now straps back on a gun and is going for the money.We watch him shed the pig farmer image and return to the vengeful killer.
"Little" Bill Daggett(Gene Hackman)...Don't let the nickname "Little" fool you. He is the biggest and meanest man in Big Whiskey. He has a sadistic streak that keeps the town in check, and does NOT intend on anyone collecting that reward.
"English Bob"(the late-great Richard Harris)...A gunmen after the money who's own greatness is self exaggerated. He does not fare well against Little Bill.
"The Scofield Kid"(Jaime Woolvet)...Billy the Kid wanna be, who enlists the help of William Munny to help gain him a reputation.
And of course the prostitutes (led by Francis Fisher)who perpetuate the killings, and the offending customer and his buddies. The Saints(There aren't many): Ned(Morgan Freeman)...He was Munny's partner in the early days(so he's not really a Saint), and rides off with him this one last time. I call him a Saint because he seems to be the only person with a conscience.
The writer(Saul Rubinek)..not so much a Saint, more of an innocent. He writes the old dime novels about gunfighters and is scared out of his wits by what he witnesses but like any true jouranlist hangs around for the story. I kind of got a chuckle out of him.
Munny's dear departed wife who is not actually in the film, but is HIS conscience,and Delilah, the prostitue whose face was cut up, is like an angel as she watches over a sick Munny and is horrified by the events triggered by her misfortune.I might also add to this list the partner of the customer who cut up Delilah, as he is just a bystander and tries to make ammends. As I mentioned above the DVD has been given an outstanding treatment. Both the picture(Widescreen) and the sound (Dolby Dig 5.1 Surround) are perfect in every way. The cinematography breathtaking across the western vistas as they ride. The indoor and nighttime scenes may seem dark, but everyting distinguishable and it it meant to be this way. The storm with it's thunder and rain, the horses, and gunshots, the dialouge all crisp an clear. This is a 2 disc set and has special features on both discs. There is commentary By Richard Schickel which you can have on during the film. He gives an in depth analysis of the story and the figures in it. There's also an old Episode of Maverick that Clint was in, documentaries, and more. Subtitles in English, French and Spanish. The features alone will keep you busy all day!If you love this film you'll love the DVD. If you havn't seen it, it's a must see for any Eastwood or Western fan. "We all got it comin"..Munny to the Scofield Kid....Laurie
Rating:
Summary: All Is Unforgiven
Review: UNFORGIVEN is, without a doubt, Clint Eastwood's finest hour. Retired outlaw now family man, William Munny (Eastwood) and his friend, fellow former outlaw, Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) decide to pick up their guns one more time. They plan to collect a bounty on a group of men who raped and cut a prostitute. Another hitman, English Bob, (The Late GREAT Richard Harris) heads out to try and collect the money too. Little do they know that a brutal town magistrate, Bill Daggett (Gene Hackman), has ideas of his own on how to deal with the bounty, and anyone who rides into "his"town carrying a gun. The cast is just amazing in the film. There isn't a bad performance given by anyone. Eastwood's experience in all of his other westerns over the years, is put to good use, he knows what works in the genre. The fine script from David Peoples has everything that a western should, while at the same time, taking the story in unexpected directions. Hackman deserved his Supporting Actor Oscar for sure, as did Eastwood, for Best Picture/Director and editor Joel Cox who also won for his work. The film is as perfect as it can be for a motion picture. A 5 star movie no doubt about it. The 10th anniversay edition DVD has solid extras, however, they could have been better (hence my rating of 4 and a half stars for the entire package). Film Critic and Eastwood Biographer, Richard Schickel, offers a fine audio commentary. But I would have liked to have had another commentary track by anyone of the filmmakers invoved. As for the quartet of "marvelous" documentaries promised, only one of them is new, the remaining 3, will be familiar to anyone who knows anything about the film or Eastwood. As nice as it is to see one of Clint's early television roles in a Maverick episode on disc 2, it still seems out of place here. The themes of the movie may mirror the episode but so what? Oh well, these quibbles about the extras aside, this film is a must own
Rating:
Summary: The Darkest Film Ever To Win Best Picture
Review: Unforgiven you realize, a few minutes in, is not your typical westen. Nor is it your typical Clint Eastwood movie. And it probably surely isn't your typical Best Picture Oscar winner. Telling the story of Willam Munny (Clint Eastwood), a retired bounty hunter who goes on one last job, to kill the men who slashed a prostitute's face. Now doesn't that sound like a fun movie! Whoppee! Errr... Not really. Actually it sound's downright depressing. And it is. Along the way Willam meets up with his longtime partner played by Morgon Freeman. Together they set out to kill those above mentioned men. About this time we switch over to the late Richard Harris's character. Who also is after the reward money offered up by the town prostitutes for the killing of those men I've mentioned twice already. He isn't after them long as he gets beaten and kicked by the towns people, mainly thier crooked sheriff, Little Bill (played suberbly by Gene Hackman).
He isn't the typical bad guy, either, in fact he's almost good in comparison with other bad guys in other movies. All of this leads up to a spectacular climax with a showdown between Willam Munny and Little Bill. Unforgiven also convienently managed to snag 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (For Clint Eastwood's terrific directing), Best Supporting Actor (For Gene Hackman's marvelous Little Bill). All should see Unforgiven, whether all would enjoy it is another matter. But who can forget Little Bill's words "I'm just trying to build a house!"
Rating:
Summary: Great Film And A Lost Actor
Review: This is a film I have enjoyed many times, but this time I went back to see a memorable performance by a brilliant actor that all lovers of film will miss. I speak of Richard Harris who recently passed away, and the massive void his death has left. Different generations of filmgoers have extremely different views of this man, and I think that is to his credit. For most of his life many knew him for his varied roles, but the final films of his career garnered him the largest audience, and for that we can thank his granddaughter and J.K.Rowling. I don't think many would have expected that his role as the wise and kindly old wizard of children's books would have left an impression on the largest audiences of his career. I had read an interview that he did not want to take the role for it required a long-term commitment to possibly 7 films. His granddaughter threatened him with silence if he passed, and the rest is history, history that has been stopped short. In, "Unforgiven", Richard Harris was a part of a legendary group of players that made this film one that will endure, not only for the talent they brought to the screen, but for the message they delivered as well. Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, and Gene Hackman presented a western with all the romance removed, a place where firing a gun at another for money or any manner of profit is what it always has been, murder. This is not about noble gunfighters and lawmen defending their towns. This is about killing for hire, killing for amusement, or killing in an alcohol-induced fog. Justice is not served when the crime comes at the hands of assassins for hire, men who kill not to punish but to profit. The power in this film is when former killers, once without a care for pulling a trigger can no longer do so, even when many would agree the victim was deserving of such summary judgment. In the end there are many who are killed, some who are paid, and none who benefit. This is a brilliant film about a period in US History that should be remembered with pride for many reasons, but not for the behavior that most westerns place on the screen. The latter are entertainment at best, and pure historical fabrications at worst. Rest in peace Richard Harris.
Rating:
Summary: Grab a Fistful of Dollars and buy this DVD
Review: Let me begin by acknowledging that I am not a huge Clint Eastwood fan. I have liked some of his movies but have nenver made a habit of having to check out the latest Eastwood thriller at the multiplex. Given that, it is even more remarkable that I really loved this DVD. Unforgiven is a great film that deserved its Best Picture Oscar. Eastwood, Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman are all terrific in this movie about facing up to your past and the cost of violence to society. Hackman won the Oscar for best Supporting Actor and watching the movie again just confirms what a great choice that was. Everything about this movie is top notch- the acting, the writing, Eastood's direction. This is the best western of the past twenty years and one of the best ten ever made. The movie shines on this disc, it was a great transfer. The extras on this two disc set are delightful. There is a classic Maverick episode featuring a very young Eastwood, along with some documentries and some other wonderful extras. This belongs on any movie buff's shelf and would make a great gift for anyone who is aEastwood fan, a fan of westerns, or a fan of the movies.
Rating:
Summary: Western Classic
Review: At the time of Unforgiven's release in 1992, Clint Eastwood was a movie icon with most of his most memorable films being westerns. This film though would become his most acclaimed and honored movie. It is a classic western tale of a man with a terrible past who struggles for redemption. Mr. Eastwood plays William Munny who was one the most ruthless and cold-blooded killers of his day. As the film opens, he is now just a lowly hog farmer who is widowed with two young children he can barely afford to feed and care for. Along comes a young stranger known only as the Schofield Kid (played by Jaimz Woolvert) who propositions Munny to join him on a mission to avenge a prostitute who was beaten by some men. Munny reluctantly agrees and the journey back into his former life is a revealing and sobering experience. Along the way they join up with an old cohort of Munny's Ned Logan played by Morgan Freeman and a strange bounty hunter English Bob played by Richard Harris. Gene Hackman is brilliant as a sadistic sheriff Little Bob with whom Munny has a final showdown that strikes at the heart of the film. It reveals the impact that a violent life has on a person's conscience and soul. The film won the 1992 Oscar for best film, best director for Mr. Eastwood (who won his second Oscar of the year as producer of the film) and Mr. Hackman won his second Oscar as best supporting actor twenty-one years after his best actor Oscar for the French Connection.
Rating:
Summary: Great DVD for a great movie
Review: I have been a big fan of this movie for some time. And that is saying something because I hated the John Wayne type westerns. But this is a different and riveting movie, ably directed by Clint Eastwood and extremely well acted by all. The DVD sets has lots of extras and I really enjoyed the 20 minute or so feature on making the movie and the interviews with Clint and the rest of the cast. It was very interesting to see how they did some of the shots - even dispensing with horses in some scenes and perching the actors on stools to get some of the dialog without the movement of the horses. If you are a fan of the movie as I am, this is the DVD to buy.
Rating:
Summary: BREATHTAKING!
Review: In the years since it's initial pressing, Natalie Cole's UNFORGIVEN has not only been acknowledged as one of the greatest pop albums ever made, it's also become an unforgettable flashpoint in the landscape of modern popular culture, a beacon to a tempest full of bitter naysayers who refuse to believe that love ultimately conquers all.
Rating:
Summary: Striking at the Dark Heart of America's West
Review: This film is the exact opposite of High Noon. In that movie, there was one hero anyway, well maybe 2 if you count Will Kane's wife when the story ends. At the end of this violent Western epic, everyone has blood on their hands. It tells the truth of violence, legal or illegal. There are no heroes when one is dealing violence and death. The entire cast is one of the finest ensembles ever brought together. It is surely the equal of the cast of The Wild Bunch, and maybe even superior. Gene Hackman is brilliant as the psycopathic bully of a Town Sherrif. Richard Harris is chilling as a murderous Bounty Hunter. He is traveling with his own personal so-called biographer who is writing his exploits for the pulp novels. Then there is Morgan Freeman, one of his finest most complex performances in his career as Eastwood's friend and partner in murder. In the end, though, this film is about Clint Eastwood. We first meet him as a sod buster farming the ruins of a life, caring for his two children and mourning his deceased wife. He can barely speak above a whisper he is so gentle and cowed. But we soon learn he is a man of violent past deeds of mayhem and murder. He admits to killing one of everything that ever walked on the earth and more. Hired on by a young wanna-be gun slinger, he and Freeman head off to avenge the stabbing, not fatal, of a prostitute on a frontier town. The film is incredibly violent, and matter of fact about it as well. It is filmed with a very dark palette, with dark night scenes and dimly lit interiors that add an almost palpable sense of the times. This is a great piece of cinema, and must be watched by anyone who is serious about American film as an art. In time it will surely be looked back on as a classic of world cinema as well.
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