UNFORGIVEN

1992 ***** 131 mins.

This Oscar-winner for Best Picture is, in my opinion, the best western of all time. Clint Eastwood fully deserves the Best Director Oscar for this superb film in which no one can be trusted. Eastwood plays an ex-outlaw (a reference to his old films with Sergio Leone, perhaps?) who is called back for one more hit. He reluctantly takes the job so that he can earn the money he needs to help raise his two children, as their mother died some time before. He calls upon his old buddy (wonderfully played by Morgan Freeman) and they set out to do their duties. After watching this film and Million Dollar Baby, I feel that Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman constitute one of the best pairings captured on film. The two just light up the screen with genuine comraderie that is hard to find. Gene Hackman won an Oscar for his performance as the sheriff who takes his power a bit too far. The cinematography and music in this film just seal the deal on a western that breaks conventions and sets a new standard for film greatness.
Rated R for language and violence, and for a scene of sexuality.

• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Premiered in Los Angeles on August 03, 1992

• ACADEMY AWARDS: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Gene Hackman), Best Director (Clint Eastwood), Best Film Editing (Joel Cox), Best Picture (Clint Eastwood)
• ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Clint Eastwood), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Henry Bumstead and Janice Blackie-Goodine), Best Cinematography (Jack N. Green), Best Sound (Les Fresholtz, Vern Poore, Rick Alexander, and Rob Young), and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (David Webb Peoples)
• GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS: Best Director - Motion Picture (Clint Eastwood) and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Gene Hackman)
• GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD NOMINATIONS: Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Screenplay - Motion Picture (David Webb Peoples)