MovieChat Forums > Unforgiven (1992) Discussion > Best picture, overrated??

Best picture, overrated??


I remember watching this movie back in 1992 and not being very impressed. I re-watched it a couple days ago, still not impressed. Best picture, I don't know. The only real action happens in the last 25 minutes of the movie.

Morgan Freeman's character, Ned is a big disappointment really, all talk, then he cowers out at the end, gets caught, doesn't put up any kind of fight before they kill him. The kid was all talk, then cries after killing a guy, then he ditches out, His character was just plain annoying.

Thoughts?

reply

It's not really an action picture like most Westerns; more of a slow burn character study. Probably one of the most realistic genre films ever made next to McCabe and Mrs Miller.

The Schofield Kid did kind of annoy me, as it was obvious from the beginning that he was a phony. I wonder what it would have been like if they'd cast someone more imposing in the role, so that you actually believe he's really an experienced bounty hunter only to then find out he's blind and a liar. Then again, I found his banter and bickering with Ned and Munny to be funny, and I thought the characters built up a believable relationship and mutual respect for each other by the end.

Ned was an interesting character because he wasn't a killer like Munny was, or at least didn't have the heart for it anymore. It was clear by the end he wanted to turn his back on the whole enterprise and go home to his wife, as his conscience was bothering him. Ned is a bit of a tragic figure.

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

reply

Truly worthy of the best picture Oscar. In sad you didn't feel the same

reply

It was pretty good, but not best picture good in my opinion.

reply

IT's realistic. For it's time.

reply

Besides the godfather and the godfather part 2, this is my favorite movie to win best picture. I think it has a great story, wonderful acting and a very powerful message. Sorry you weren't a fan of it.

reply

If the old standard of an Eastwood western is expected with action as the force driving the movie, it won't meet the same expectations one would have with other westerns. But Eastwood went out of his way to make the most anti-Westetn he could and said as much. In interviews, he was far more concerned about the psychological impacts of pulling a trigger a man as opposed to the sport of it, the latter which defines the mythical West as Hollywood had depicted for so long. So yes, I'd say the ethos of how the heroes/villains/anti heroes were affected by gunplay trumped the gunplay itself.

As far as my personal feelings on the film being 'Best Picture', that's completely subjective. For me, it gets better with age. Eastwood outdid himself, as did Hackman as the antagonist. Morgan Freeman, although less charismatic than what he usually pulls out, performed with ease as the most conscious and self-aware of the group. The Schofield Kid was extremely annoying, but I think the end result was meant to relate to most viewers - I certainly did. As much as I want to imagine the old West as something from Bonanza or Gunsmoke, I'm certain this film presents a fairer picture by underscoring the damage to the human psyche killing can wreak upon it.

If I want action and Eastwood, I don't know if it gets much better than Josey Wales.

reply

I'll just quietly nod my head in agreement with outhouse-barista. I was going to add my own opinion, but this is basically it. Well-said.

reply

Word.

reply

I saw it in the theater and then watched it again. Totally worthy of Best Picture award. Truly great film that stands the test of time. Not everyone is going to agree on everything but this film is a masterpiece.

reply

I've tried watching it from the beginning and gotten about 30 minutes into it and gave up. And I've seen the last 30 minutes of it and was not impressed either.

And I generally like westerns, but I could not get into this one.

reply

Like the dollars trilogy?

reply

I agree. I put it off for a long time, finally saw it a couple months ago, didn't care for it. Wanted to shut it off but stuck out the last 40 or so minutes

reply

I have to agree. Have been meaning to watch it for awhile. Finally did and although good, not worthy of Best Picture I think.

reply

The only real action happens in the last 25 minutes of the movie.


Your argument is invalid.

http://letterboxd.com/guccipix/list/my-top-100-favorite-films/

reply

Great rebuttal with nothing to back my quote.

reply

Movies don't require action to be good.

reply