Unforgiven: A Western Film

According to the film critic, Phillip French, “The Western has always been about America rewriting and reinterpreting her own past,” if this is indeed the case, then the two most popular Westerns of the early 1990s reveal that many Americans had rejected the traditional interpretation of the Old West. The critically and commercially successful, Dances with Wolves and Unforgiven, repudiated the patriotic frontier myth that had characterised the Western when it was the preeminent genre in American cinema. Informed by new Western historiography, itself an expression of political concerns that had been moving into the American mainstream since the 1960s, the movies display a complex and nuanced understanding of the frontier experience. Dances with Wolves rejected the traditional narrative of the inherent superiority of the Anglo-American hero conquering both Native Americans and the wilderness, and also focused on the environmental destruction that accompanied the ideology of Manifest Destiny. Unforgiven would similarly reject the frontier myth, replacing the democratic, civilised frontier town, with a brutal regime in which white men’s property rights prevail over any sense of justice. The film is noted for its self-reflexive nature, with a writer documenting and embellishing the tales of the Old West before the viewer’s eyes. This self-reflexion indicates that Americans were re-evaluating the myths of the frontier, and seeing them for what they were, creations by the

This movie was pleasantly surprising. It was an enjoyable watch and told a story that kept the plot line and details close to the real history of the Sioux Indians’ lives, starting with The Battle at Little Big Horn.

I thought this film was very unique because it shows the true Native American perspective of everyday life, not the usual phony stereotype of Indians such as teepees and bow and arrows. It also showed how much Native Americans are not much different than other cultures. Instead of singling other cultures out or judging people that are different from

Throughout the years, there has been an abundance of movies depicting the wild west during the nineteenth century. One of these films includes Tombstone which was released in the year 1993. Based on real events, this movie is about a man named Wyatt Earp, played by Kurt Russel, who is a retired officer that settles in a town called Tombstone with his two brothers. Later, they encounter a group of outlaws called the Cowboys which was led by Curly Bill and Johnny Ringo. Due to some conflict between the opposing sides, it causes a massive gunfight called the O.K. Corral in which the Earp brothers and long-time friend Doc Holliday, played by Val Kilmer, ultimately win the battle. As a result of the fight not ending in the Cowboys favor, they ambush the town in which leads to Virgil, played by Sam Elliot (Tombstone, 1.), becoming handicapped and Wyatt’s younger brother, Morgan played by Bill Paxton, dead. This infuriates Wyatt which then leads him to seek vengeance for his brother’s death. While Wyatt kills Curly, Doc and their posse attack the remaining Cowboys. After the ambush, Doc’s tuberculosis progressively gets worse and is left on bed rest. As Wyatt and the posse continue to meet up with Johnny and the Cowboys, Doc has already arrived and murders Johnny legally.

Will knew it is wrong to mistreat a woman, especially having lost his wife and stuck raising their two children by himself. Will in a hand acted went out on this bounty because he felt like he needed to act as a protector. If it was not a woman who got cut up, Will would probably never went to Big Whiskey and the situation of a bounty would of never

I really like the movie and the story was very different than any other movies. Sherman’s way of writing the stories seems very unique and could not tell what would happen next in the movie. When Victor knew about his father’s death I was thinking he would not go to Phoenix to get his remains since he had hatred towards him but he decides to go which was surprising. It was always funny how Thomas kept telling stories about different stuffs to Victor even though he knew Victor don’t like to hear them. The author has tried to show the culture of Indians, the thoughts of people, how they dealt their life through his stories which I really found interesting and something different to learn. The author has showed how life was back then and I liked the fact he tried to show what impact it can have to a child’s mind if he sees his father drinking alcohol and tormenting his mother

In this movie, one may observe the different attitudes that Americans had towards Indians. The Indians were those unconquered people to the west and the almighty brave, Mountain Man went there, “forgetting all the troubles he knew,” and away from civilization. The mountain man is going in search of adventure but as this “adventure” starts he finds that his survival skills are not helping him since he cant even fish and as he is seen by an Indian, who watches him at his attempt to fish, he start respecting them. The view that civilization had given him of the west changes and so does he. Civilization soon becomes just something that exists “down there.”

Two men meet alone in a dusty town, facing off in one final gunfight or there is a line of cavalry men on horses waiting for the Indians to crest the hill that faces them. These are two visions of the Western film that has long been a staple of this genre. There are those that see the Western differently and their interpretation is just as intense or thought provoking, even comical. Unforgiven directed and starring Clint Eastwood and Blazing Saddles directed by Mel Brooks are two such films that took the Western to another level and envisioned the wild west in a new light. Their versions still held onto the some of the true Western themes and revered the scenic visions of the frontier and the mystery of the immense landscape while changing the view of how a Western film should be filmed. Both directors reexamine the typical Western characters, reenvisioned the role of violence, while still celebrating the beauty of Western frontier.

Hollywood movies have shaped perceptions of North American culture through the storytelling of facts, fiction, history and myths. For a time there was no other genre that has become more important to Hollywood in a culture-driven industry fueled by formulas. As a film genre nothing was so adaptable towards American sensibilities as the Western. Set in the nineteenth century where a large section of the United States was still undiscovered; it is known as the Wild West. The central plot of a western film is the classic goal of maintaining law and order on the frontier in an action, adventure story.

In the film Stagecoach (John Ford, 1939) the Western characteristics of this film are that the cowboys in the film are resourceful and restricted to no one. They are fully competent of roaming the frontier on their own without having to rely on the securities of civilization. Yet they also have a code of honor; although they are ruggedly independent, the cowboys respect the rules of society and is unwilling to exploit others or to condone the careless disregard for human life exhibited by outlaws or stereotypically Indians.

In the western Unforgiven staring Clint Eastwood we embark the journey of a legendary gunslinger coming out of retirement in order to provide for the one’s he loves and holds dears to his heart, his kids. Throughout the film the idea of killing and the justification of doing so is continuously questioned in the minds of each of our three gunslingers. As in all westerns the use of violence is displayed to solve and extinguish any conflicts that arise. Violence is incorporated within this film in order to powerfully portray and strengthen the way in which we depict and understand the morals of each of the key characters. We start with the Schofield Kid, after all if it wasn’t for him Will Munny would have never even thought or questioned the idea of coming out of retirement.

Shortly after his return an indian tribe, the Comanches, raided his family’s home and took his niece. This movie shows the year long journey Ethan took to find his niece and retrieve her from the indians who took her away. There are many ways that this film fit itself into the Western film genre. One of the most common components of western film is the the concept of good versus evil.

The filmmakers use similar techniques to depict the struggle between right and wrong. Both are extremely violent and both have artistic scenes of death, often referred to as bullet ballets, but these effects are used to the filmmaker’s advantage. At first glance, this may seem to glamourize death and violence, but in reality it does the opposite. There is a scene in Bonnie and Clyde where Clyde shoots the bank manager in the face. This was not glossed over lightly and was appalling to the audience.

Western Essay Alannah Jones When you think about film genre, you may ask yourself questions such as, how has it evolved over time? Why has it evolved over time? How has it shaped popular culture? Film, regardless of the genre, consists of elements, in which makes it a film. In a western genre, you may look for elements such as costumes, effects/editing, and narrative.

Django Unchained is a unique movie which could be classified as a western, a “Spaghetti Western,” if you will. It could also be called a “Southern” because it is set in the deep south pre-civil war rather than the wild west. Until about half way through the movie when it becomes a violent, revenge melodrama. The film follows the story of a slave named Django who is freed by Dr. King Shultz; who is a retired German dentist who just so happens to now be a bounty hunter. Dr. Shultz makes Django an offer that he couldn’t refuse. Dr. Shultz and Django travel the South recovering a few bounties and a friendship between the two men blossomed. Their friendship continues to flourish throughout the winter and into the spring when the two men make the journey to rescue Django’s wife from a sadistic plantation owner.