RT "Unforgiven"

Unforgiven, a 1992 film starring Clint Eastwood, serves as a revisionist film in the Western genre. Many of the scenes are dark, major roles are taken by African-Americans and women, and the violence associated with the alpha-male is viewed negatively. The "revisionist" Western is popular for Western films produced after WWII; as Unforgiven was produced in 1992, this certainly holds true.

Morgan Freeman plays the character, Ned, a partner to Clint Eastwood's character, Will. Ned and Will have a past for violence and killing but have since retired. When placed in a violent situation towards his later years, Ned is no longer able to kill. Ned leaves to return home, away from the violence, and is captured and killed because of his involvement. Ned, an African-American, portrays a loss of morality in the town of Big Whisky and possess a major role in the film. Also, the idea of an African-American being treated with equality, never discriminated upon because of his race, is certainly revisionist for a Western film. There are no scenes within the film that the race of Ned is even brought up, never mind acted upon.

Clint Eastwood's character, Will, also serves as a revisionist character. Will is described as a man who was once "cold as snow"; an individual who had killed children and women. He has since sobered up and stopped killing, barely able to mount a horse or shoot a can. However, he takes up a job based on the money its offering and goes to kill two men. When it comes to killing he is hesitant to do so and explains he doesn't really remember much of the killings he did in the past because he was usually drunk. Will's hesitance to kill, unless drunk, is very unlike the typical alpha male cowboy in a Western who is quick on the trigger. Additionally, Will is faithful to his wife, saying that she managed to get him to change his ways and that he won't consider sleeping with another woman. The fact that Will had a wife, especially one who had such a strong influence on him, is very unlike the typical alpha male who does not give into the temptations of women. Will's loyalty to his deceased wife, sobrierty, and his hesitance to kill are very uncommon for an alpha male character in a Western film.