Unforgiven (R, 1992)
common sense media says
Violent Oscar winner shatters myths of the Old West.
parents & educators say
- 67% say violence is an issue
- 33% say sexual content is an issue
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie contains multiple scenes of point-blank gunfire, vicious close-up beatings (including bull-whipping a man's bare back and repeatedly kicking a fallen man in the face), slashing of a woman's face, and a man shot dead while sitting in an outhouse. The language is coarse throughout. The women at the center of this film are prostitutes who are depicted as "property" rather than human beings. One scene shows a sexual act, though the participants are mostly clothed. Other suggestive scenes show the men negotiating for sexual favors. Alcohol is consumed in several sequences.
Violence:
Graphic killings, beatings, knifings, and mayhem throughout. Opening sequence shows a prostitute being slashed in the face. Men are ambushed, shot at point-blank range, beaten ferociously, kicked, and whipped. Men and women are hit with fists, knocked to the ground. A man is shot multiple times while sitting in an outhouse. A dead man is shown hanging on a sign. A sheriff loses his temper and is seen as violently out of control on several occasions.
Sex:
Primary female roles in the film are prostitutes. The action is precipitated by an angry "client" graphically slashing one of these prostitutes during a sexual encounter. Several scenes show the women negotiating for and in the early or late stages of sexual activity with randy cowboys. These women are treated as "property" and have few rights as citizens. They live in fear and are greatly disrespected, but strive to find some dignity and worth. There is no nudity.
Language:
Harsh swearing and cursing throughout: many forms of "f--k," "ass," "piss," "hell," "bitch," "dick," "hump," "whore," "pecker," "for Christ's sake," "goddamn it," "Jesus," and more.
Consumerism:
Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Numerous occasions in which men swig liquor directly from a bottle; drinking whiskey is seen as an integral part of the culture of the Old West. There is much discussion of drunkenness and the resulting immoral, often violent behavior.
More on Unforgiven
Review It
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
- 67% say violence is an issue
- 33% say sexual content is an issue
- 33% say there are positive role models
- 33% say there are positive messages
- 33% say language is an issue
Most useful reviews by all members
who3697cares
teen, 18 years old
teen, 18 years old
e.g. Perfect for older kids, but not for tweens
It's quite great, and one of Clint's best films (only Million Dollar Baby is better).
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bananalover
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
unforgiven
i asolutly love movie, i saw it at the midnight pemere and it was so awesome
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Sinfoniarc
parent
parent
The Evil Of William Munny
I'm going to attempt to review this movie as if I'm writing to adults, since I'm assuming that no parent in their right mind would allow a child under the age of 13 to view this picture. If you haven't seen the film, let me say that Eastwood announced in 1992 when the movie was released, that this movie would be his last western. And what a way to go out--with his boots on, so to speak.
First and foremost, there are no good characters in this movie. Every character in this movie is a bad person of some sorts, whether it be a murderer, prostitute, corrupt sheriff, pimp, etc. Eastwood has not portrayed a more evil man in any other film he's been in--including Gran Torino or The Outlaw Josey Wales. William Munny, an ex-outlaw and "man of intemperate disposition", attempts to make a better life for his kids after his Christian wife dies of small pox in 1878. In order to do that, he joins up with The Scofield Kid and Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) to chase out of a group of prostitute-assaulting cowboys. Although the movie is not sexually graphic, nearly every female lead is a prostitute looking for revenge on the brutal cowboys.
This is a fine film and at the age of 12-13 years old, I first saw this in the theaters with my own father. But it's not a movie for kids younger than teen age. Even some teens may not be able to fully grasp the evil of the people in this movie. It's one of my favorite films of all time and eons above Bronco Billy and Pale Rider (which I'm also fond of). I would not hesitate to put it in the same category (or above) as the Segio Leone films. Teens and adults enjoy the best picture of 1992. But if you're going to let someone younger than that view it in order to avoid paying for a babysitter, think twice.
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StepMomSterToo
parent
parent
A true Western Classic. I love this movie, and one to share with progeny when old enough to handle life and death.
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Plague
parent
parent
Unforgiven
A stunning movie that the gods would even have to bow down too. Definantly Clint Eastwood's best western so far (next to Pale Rider). I would give this movie 100 stars if I could, but I guess I have to limit myself to only 5.
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