A film that Eastwood stated would be his last western, Unforgiven is the revisionist western at its most morally grey. The film takes a brilliant look at the cycle of violence and questionable morality that few western films before or since have analyzed. It all comes together in a brutal and often melancholic story that only someone like Eastwood can bring to life.
A young prostitute has her face cut up by a couple of cowboys and the rest of the group are frustrated at how local sheriff Little Bill Daggett lets them off with a light punishment of rounding up some horses. They send out a 1000 dollar reward for the cowboy's death which draws the attention of a young aspiring gunslinger known as "The Scofield Kid". He attempts to recruit Retired outlaw and widow William Munny to partner up with him, though William is hesitant as he gave up that life, he needs the money to fix up his farm and give his kids a better life. William also recruits his former partner Ned Logan and the three set out for the Big Whiskey, while Little Bill goes out of his way to ensure no bounty is collected as he forbids firearms and bounty hunters in his town.
What the film does so masterfully deconstructs the myth of the west, in particular, the violence of the west by showing a world with no real heroes. All the characters attempt to justify their questionable choices by hiding behind their shared morality. William Muny does this constantly throughout by saying he is only doing this to secure a better life for his family, and that he is no longer the killer he once was. Despite his best efforts, his ruthless side finally comes out during the brilliant climax where we see the killer that William has been trying to contain throughout the whole film. His ex-partner Ned acts more or less as William's voice of reason and the moral compass of the film. He reminds William constantly throughout the film of his humanity and how he is not a killer anymore. He even questions William's desire to go after the bounty in the beginning when he reminds William that if his wife were alive he would not be doing this. Ned's fate however is a tragic one when he and the rest of the trio corner one of the cowboys Ned has a clear shot but can't bring himself to pull the trigger as Ned can't stand the idea of killing again. Yet despite this, he is caught by Little Bill and his posey and despite being the only one to not kill anyone among William and The Kid, he is the one who ends up dead.
The Main antagonist Little Bill believes himself above the kind of people like William. He says throughout the film he doesn't like assassins, dismissing them as a violent and cowardly sort. He leads this charge with an iron fist and often with cruelty. We see this when he brutally beats gunfighter "English Bob" who attempts to collect the reward in front of the whole town. He takes Bob in and is amused by his biographer for allowing himself to believe so many lies about the west. Little Bill's treatment of the prostitutes and the brutal crime they endured however proves that he is really no better than the killers he fights. He chops off the cowboys as simply "boys who were foolish" and his lack of action in punishment steams from his own low view of the prostitutes and property more than anything. The Scofield Kid is the one with the big arc in the film. He starts as a hopeful gunfighter wanting to make a name for himself. But after killing the second cowboy at point-blank range, he is left haunted by the experience and realizes that nothing gratifying in the act of killing. William sums it up in one line when he says, "It's a hell of a thing killing a man. You take away everything he's got, and everything he's gonna have".
The ensemble is something truly legendary. Eastwood gives a fascinating low-key performance as William Muny. Eastwood often doesn't even have to speak to leave an impact, he does it all through subtle nods and facial expressions, making for a powerful portrayal of a truly haunted man. Morgan Freeman is his usual self, which is a good thing as if you're going to have some form of morale among these men, Freeman is a great choice, with his chemistry with Eastwood being a particular highlight. Hackman's Oscar-winning work as Little Bill is something truly mesmerizing. Hackman can go from charming and quite funny to ruthless in an instant, making for a performance you can't take your eyes off. On recent viewings, I found the most compelling performance to be that of Jaimz Woolvet as The Scofield Kid. His cocky persona early on transforming into that of a scared young man being one of the highlights of the film.
With profound themes of violence and killing, a terrific ensemble, and some truly beautiful cinematography and music, Unforgiven is a winner that stands with classics like The Searchers to The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly as one of the most important films in this genre.
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