Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The Outlaw Josey Wales


I have long been a fan of Clint's. Who can forget his Dirty Harry series? Who cannot savor his spaghetti westerns? I consider The Unforgiven to be the best western ever. Question is, for me, how did I miss Eastwood's early work of 1976 called The Outlaw Josey Wales?

Not one to be shy about going back and seeing a film I should have, I viewed the western. Oh my, it is SO good! Clint is pure Clint in the film. He spits to express rage. He shoots pistols with both hands. He faces danger as if it were nothing. He is courageous and strong. He is indefatigable. He is, well, the western hero par excellence!

The plot? Not very complex. The baddies have wronged Clint in a mighty way! They have killed his family! OK, this is enough of an excuse for our hero to go a-huntin' the evil men out there. He does so with zest and thus becomes one of the most wanted men in the wild west.

Great revenge stuff!

I would argue that Clint's later Unforgiven could not have been made, had it not been for the earlier Josey Wales. In both westerns, the hero is an anti-hero: rough, tough, roguish, at times very unsympathetic!

Enjoy this oldie. Be patient. It's a bit dated. But what fun!






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