High Plains Drifter (1973)

High Plains Drifter (1973)

Before I started this blog, I had an appreciation for Clint Eastwood as an iconic actor. I've made my views clear about how much of a shame it is that The Dark Tower Series is being made into film and Eastwood isn't in his prime to play the tragic Gunslinger.

Since I started this blog, I have branched out to some of Eastwood's movies I am less familiar about, and the most surprising thing I have found is how I have never before thought of the western genre to incorporate so much of the supernatural into some stories. Pale Rider and High Plains Drifter where I would never presumed that the supernatural was so integral to the story. Both films, while vastly different in style and story, are at their core, ghost stories hellbent on revenge.

Eastwood's characters however similar are also diametrically opposite. In Pale Rider he is dubbed as the Preacher as his character aids a small community, and in High Plains Drifter he is like a tornado force of revenge against the community that stood by and watched him die.

These questionable acts are what shocked me most of all about this film. Case in point: within moments of entering this veritable town of sin, Clint takes a woman who instigates a trivial offense against him; and forcibly takes her to a barn where he proceeds to have his way with her. As a guy who held Eastwood up to a high standard throughout his life as the epitome of good. Even if he is gruff, or his means questionable, he gets the bad guy in the end. Never was he so bad that I worried he was irredeemable for his actions. The arguable sex act depicted can be argued amongst film critics everywhere whether it was full on rape or not, but it was definitely an uncomfortable moment to witness. The film then goes to great length to justify that the whole town was implicit in the death of Marshal Duncan and that their evil is simply being reflected back unto them.

This was Eastwood's also first real foray into the world of directing and seeing him tackle such a complex story only makes me more fascinated with him and shake my head with frustration that he couldn't have been born 40 years later to make quality films as a youthful actor in this day and age. Oh well, he's still making quality films regardless, and that is a blessing.

The story is, as mentioned, a ghostly revenge tale, with several theories behind what actually occurs on screen. the villains are more than just the few bad guys that the town is preparing for, because almost everyone in the town is curse marked for sins committed. The return of the "bad guys" is only a catalyst to literally paint the town red, marking the town and its people as all having blood on their hands. It would be easy to dismiss it as conventional western genre fare where the bad guys get what is coming to them, and the hero rides off into the sunset, but I would encourage you to delve deeper and question what actually transpired.

The Good: Eastwood as always. The little person. The complex story.

The Bad: Not bad per se, just that fine line the story walks, might keep you jumping from side to side, depending on how which side of the bed you wake up on in the morning.

Final Thoughts: Any western film enthusiast may not feel this film is up to par with most conventional films in the genre. People who think John Wayne is the archetype to aspire to for westerns, will not appreciate Eastwood's turn here. People who enjoy films that push the envelope... check it out.

Add to the Vault? As much as I love Eastwood, and as much as I liked this film, I don't know if it needs to be added to the vault. It is a great flick, and I appreciate having watched it and look forward to the opportunity to discuss it with others who may feel differently, but it is a one off for the most part. Maybe in another ten years or so, I will re-visit it, but I am good for the moment.

Here's the trailer, enjoy!

Hang Em High (1968)

Hang 'Em High (1968)

Man I do loves me some Clint Eastwood. By far not as incredible as the Man With No Name trilogy, Hang Em High is another wonderful addition in Clint Eastwood's incredible resume.

The thing with this film though that sets it apart from others in the western genre is how incredibly heavy and dark some of the material is that we witness on screen. The story seems like a straight forward revenge flick, but truthfully there is a lot more going on beneath the surface than you'd expect. Conventionally westerns like to pursue the revenge angle, or the lawless bowing down to the law of the west and such. Greed, villainy and such run rampant and the tall, dark, and mysterious leading man must save the day.

In Hang Em High, we are thrown immediately into the fray as we witness Clint Eastwood's Jed Cooper trying to start his new life as a rancher, but due to an unfortunate series of events came into possession of illegally obtained cattle. None the wiser, a lynch mob finds him and without listening to how he is innocent, they treat him to "good ol' fashioned frontier justice". Strung up and at the end of his rope, he is narrowly saved by a lawman who is nearby and cuts him down to be tried properly by a judge. The judge though is known as the hanging judge and it's a well deserved reputation but thankfully Cooper is spared the gallows again and in turn recruited to be a marshal and hunt down the men who did him wrong. The catch... he can't kill any of them, as they are all due for proper judicial proceedings.

Things go askew, more plots develop and Cooper finds a few snags in his quest for revenge. I love this story because it is complex. It isn't straight forward (as much as I love other westerns) and there are real conflicts in the pursuit of justice, which turns out to be varying shades of grey rather than the black and white some see it in. Bad folks aren't bad because they are evil, they are bad because of the decisions they make, and the resolution to follow those decisions through to completion. Multi-dimensional characters in a western. What will they think of next?

The other thing that surprised the hell out of me was the dark themes touched upon. Themes such as juvenile punishment, rape, lynching, the absolution of the law, cowardice, sympathetic villains, the spectacle of public execution and so much more. This is a great film and definitely one you should endeavour to watch if you haven't taken the time to appreciate Clint Eastwood's repertoire of films.

The good: Clint, the judge, the plot. Special mention goes to Inger Stevens, a tragic beauty who graced the screen and played Clint's love interest. In reviewing this film I looked up her resume and unfortunately saw that she had a short life, battling many personal conflicts before dying from an overdose of barbiturates. Sad.

The bad: The pacing was off a couple of times, and dragged a bit. It ran a very fine line for having one too many plots introduced, and the lack of any serious resolution which can be arguably a plus and a minus.

Final Thoughts: Clint Eastwood is a god amongst men. I cherish the fact I developed an interest in his films, having ignorantly for many a year dismissed them as old fashioned lame films. I had my epiphany with the Man with No Name trilogy a long time ago and have revered Eastwood since. The greatest shame is that we are subject to age and Clint is now too old to be the one role destined for him since the beginning... namely Roland the Gunslinger in the Dark Tower series. How I would have loved to see Clint in his prime, with today's technology tackle that series.

Add to the vault? Anything Clint does can be added to the vault. Just putting that out there.

Enjoy the trailer for Hang 'Em High!