Clint talks about westerns and what appealed to him about the Unforgiven screenplay which he purchased in 1980 but rested on until 1992.
The opening visual style of Unforgiven is humble as the camera immerses us in the impoverished life of William Munny (Clint Eastwood) and his two children. Munny used to be different to how he is now, he used to be a cold-hearted killer, but as an audience we see him first as a hog farmer and a father who remains steadfastly faithful to the wife that changed him from his old ways, when he met her 10 years. We are told in an opening script that his wife died from smallpox 3 years ago and this leaves us primed to engage with William Munny's loneliness just like the loneliness of the single tree that stands in the glow of a sunset as the prologue continues to scroll.
Here we see a man trying to reconnect with his old self. Set to undertake a final score so that he can benefit his family (classic western fodda). Munny's children have no idea of the man their father used to be, and at this point in the movie neither do we, but we see something of the character's determination, and we're encouraged to like him for that.
A reward has been set of $1000 to kill two cowboys who attacked a whore called Delilah, they left her face all cut up, meaning that she can no longer can work, and the whores see themselves as more than just whores, they are strong-willed women who stand up for their rights as people, and as a result the whores at the tavern in the town of Big Whiskey put all their money together so that they are able to pay this reward out to whoever kills these men for what they've done to their friend. This sense of loyalty and friendship adds a real depth of emotion to the notion of 'settling a score' - And it is partly the money which drives Munny to assist the lone stranger who came to his home asking for his help (based on his past reputation) but also the nature of what ills the cowboys at stake have done.
Whilst in the town of Big Whiskey Munny has a run in with the power-tripping Sheriff 'Little Bill' as played wonderfully wickedly by Gene Hackman. Little Bill has done little in the line of punishment in regards to the two cowboys who harmed Delilah, instead he ordered the cowboys to bring a number of ponies as a way of paying the tavern owner 'Skinny' for his troubles. Little Bill upholds the law in Big Whiskey with an iron fist, but he is far from fair. Munny suffers under his temper and in his weak state he leaves the town for the outskirts in a state of fever, where it is he is tended to by Delilah. On Munny's awakening from his fever 3 days after the event in town, he awakes to see Delilah taking care of him.
There is a moment of dialogue between the two of them - Munny and Delilah, as they sit on the porch of the hut where Munny is staying, as a sort of safe house - Little Bill is in the knowledge of thinking that he has headed back South.
This moment of dialogue is a confession from Delilah meaning that she cares for Munny, for what he is doing for her, and it is a grateful Munny being sincere to his heart and with whom it still belongs to.
Delilah Fitzgerald: Are you still goin to kill those men?
Will Munny: I reckon so. The moneys still available, aint it?
Delilah Fitzgerald: Yeah. Your two friends have been taking advances
on the money.
Will Munny: What?
Delilah Fitzgerald: You know, free ones. [Will looks confused] Alice
and Silky been givin them free ones. Would you like a free one?
Will Munny: I reckon not.
Delilah Fitzgerald: [Misunderstanding Will] I didnt mean with me.
Alice and Silky would be glad to give you one.
Will Munny: I meant I didnt want a free one with Alice or Silky.
Because of my wife back home. I reckon if I was to want a free one,
it would be with you.
Again we see the loyalty that Munny has to his dead wife, and we also observe the sensitive nature he has to Delilah's looks. From the way they are together you can sense a certain warmth between them. It is tender moments like this throughout this movie which make it a truly brilliant film.
We see an isolated Munny towards the end of the movie, alone and seeking vengence, and we see that old Munny that we keep hearing so much about creep back to the fore, as Munny takes himself back to the town of Big Whiskey, to settle a more personal score.
Unforgiven is a moving western with a badass ending - excellent, excellent casting, and a reminder of why it is that we should adore Clint Eastwood.
Read this great review of Unforgiven by movie critic Roger Ebert
Another excellent review here
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