Unforgiven

A cult western with Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman. It's definitely a solid piece of filmmaking, but it's probably not a film that made me fall on my ass. This western isn't about the action, as there's only one shootout at the end and it's still not worth much. It's more about the performances and the production design, which I can't fault, but I expected something more from it. I would definitely have liked a sleazy bad guy with thugs (no, a sheriff is not enough), at least one train robbery, a more spectacular shootout or a horse chase, and all of that is sadly missing here. Still, I'll give the film 70%, as I wasn't bored and it's quite good to watch, but I can't help being slightly disappointed. (11/09/2018)

All directors who plan to make or have already made a western film should take a lesson from Eastwood because Unforgiven portrays everything as it really was, without any embellishments. I haven't seen such a gritty old-school western in a long time. The storyline was very engaging, and Eastwood's character was quite interesting (he certainly wasn't a saint). What impressed me the most, though, was the tough, old-school sheriff who doesn't hesitate to whip or give a proper beating to anyone who doesn’t turn in their firearms in his town. Hackman portrayed him so perfectly that I thought a real tough guy must have played that role. I was also pleased with the presence of Morgan Freeman, and Richard Harris in a small role as the American Bob. Perhaps other films from the Wild West boast more shootouts and dead bodies, but Eastwood approaches it differently. Everything is masterfully told right up to the epic finale, where the reckoning takes place, and let me tell you, that's when the real hell breaks loose (don’t even think about angering Clint, let alone killing his best friend). Lennie Niehaus once again nailed it with his music. For a relatively small budget, this was a brilliant result, just shy of perfection (aside from the mentioned actors, the others came across as lifeless puppets). I give it 86%. (27/07/2017)

I probably expected much more from it, but that certainly doesn't mean it's an excellent western that is on the verge of modern western understanding while still adhering to the tradition of Italian westerns. Clint's hero has his demons, but when it comes to the final showdown, he's exactly the kind of guy you want. A very good western. (08/01/2016)

Clint Eastwood has become one of the most respected American directors alongside his stellar acting career, not because he fascinated film critics and experts with his experimentation at film festivals, but because he has always been, and still is, a top-notch craftsman of the silver screen. First and foremost, he always cares about the audience and presents them with films with a strong story and interesting characters that somewhat transcend the boundaries of the given genre, but never abandon them. Therefore, both traditional genre fans and those who wanted to see film heroes and their actions more realistically or in a slightly different way found something in it for themselves. And that is precisely the case with Unforgiven. Eastwood partially demystifies the legends of the Wild West, but at the same time uses all the necessary genre props, accommodating both fans of traditional westerns and those who consider their laws naive, outdated, or not in line with historical reality. In terms of craftsmanship, there is nothing essential to criticize about the film. By the time this film came out, Eastwood was already so well-known and respected as a filmmaker that he could easily approach any top actor to act in his films. In addition, he had the doors open with producers because he was disciplined, adhered to the budget, and his films were usually highly profitable. While I'm not a big fan of traditional westerns, Unforgiven brought me joy and I have no problem giving it the highest rating. It is of high quality, professional, surprising, and atmospheric. Overall impression: 95%. (18/06/2011)

This is not the Wild West we know from old Westerns with John Wayne or the younger version of Clint. This is the stone cold reality of the late eighteenth century. The main heroes aren’t heroes at all, but ordinary people who might even miss, talk tough, fall off a horse or maybe their eyesight is just not as good anymore. Eastwood, Hackman and Freeman are great actors and the amazing finale which shatters all the Western movie clichés is just the icing on top of this extraordinary performance. (15/11/2009)