The Outlaw Josey Wales
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Movie Reviews of The Outlaw Josey Wales
Movie Review: A Western Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Unhappy with the director, Eastwood replaced him while continuing as the lead in what has proven to be one of his most entertaining films. (Five years earlier, he launched his career as a director with Play Misty for Me in which he also starred.) This is one of my favorites among Eastwood's several dozen films because it combines very effectively so many elements of a great story: historical significance, a crisp but unpredictable plot, generally excellent acting, a substantial element of humor, all manner of conflicts and tensions, magnificent scenery, and lots of action. By then (1976), Eastwood had also developed his skill at creating moments of intimacy and tenderness between and among the actors he directed (his interaction with Chief Dan George is especially effective) and is in top form near the end of the film when he finally avenges the deaths of his family members and Confederate comrades, only to be confronted with the possibility of being arrested to stand trial, be convicted, and then imprisoned, if not hanged. The scene in the barren barroom is brief but indelible. I agree with others who are critical of Sondra Locke's acting, not only in this film but in several others. She plays a skittish, jittery, self-conscious young woman named Laura Lee. Fortunately, she has no greater significance in the narrative than do the furniture in the cabin and the wagon that hauled it. What Eastwood accomplishes in Unforgiven (1992) probably would not have been possible had he not developed his skills as a director in this film and in Pale Rider (1985). In my opinion, the best of Eastwood's work as a director of westerns is the equal of Ford and Hawks in their prime.Movie Review: Almost as good as the book
Summary: 5 Stars
It's rare that I enjoy the movie adaptation of a book as much as I do this one--actually I can't think of any off hand. Eastwood did change the story around a little, but not really in a bad way. In the book Lone Watie was just as ruthless and cunning as Wales, rather than the feeble, grandfatherly character Chief Dan George made him into. Both versions of Watie work very well though.
The only real disapointment I had was that the movie had to get Josey Wales on his way to Mexico much quicker. In the book, the first few chapters paint him as a Confederate soldier turned bank robber. The reason he was being hunted down makes more sense when you consider this. The movie has him going from farmer, to bushwhacker, to bank robber so quickly that you miss a lot of insight into whats going on.
It also helps to know a little background into that whole Missouri-Kansas dispute, which was actually a border war that had been heating up for years prior to the Civil War. In reality it had very little to do with the actual Civil War, which only served as a justification for the two territories to pillage and pluder each other. My copy of the book has an introduction that delves into this, as well as a little background info on Jesse James, whom it's assumed was the model Forrest Carter used to create Josey Wales.
It is a shame that Eastwood never got to make the sequel. The book version was almost as good as the original, though it was totally different.
Movie Review: One of the great westerns
Summary: 5 Stars
Until Dances with Wolves and then Eastwoods own Unforgiven this was the best western post 1970. Eastwood plays the title role who is a certainly a match for the man with no name, but unlike that character Josey Wales is not amoral, in fact quite the contrary.
This is the first movie that Eastwood directed that made people sit up and notice him as a filmmaker rather than an action hero. Some classic trademark Eastwood lines are in this film, perhaps the best of which is:
Bounty Hunter - "You're wanted Wales"
Josey Wales - "Reckon I'm right popular. You a Bounty Hunter?"
BH - "A man's got to do something for a living these days"
JW - "Dyin' ain't much of a livin' boy"
The difference with this film (over say the spagetti westerns) is that Eastwoods character gradually becomes part of a family like gang of people. Most noteably an aging Indian (played by Chief Dan George) which makes for some wonderfully understated comic moments. One of the strengths of this film is you do care what happens. Yes there are gun fights and people are killed but in the end there is a sort of reconcilliation.
Already by this stage of his career Eastwood had a regular team around him to make the film. Standout amongst which is Bruce Surtees cinematography. This really is beautiful looking film.
Movie Review: Spittin' On The Dog!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is simply an extremely entertaining story with two lead characters - played by Eastwood and Chief Dan George - who were fascinating to watch. Also, as in most westerns, the photography is good - and will look better once a good Blu-Ray release of this comes out.
George has always been a favorite Native American actor for many people. He gets choice roles playing likable guys, and his "Lone Watie" character here is no exception. Eastwood, as " Josey Wales," reverts successfully back to his "Man with no name" persona: you know, the strong silent and somewhat mean type. He's a lot like the characters John Wayne played late in his career. He best portrays this with scenes like the one in which he spits tobacco on his dog!
In addition, there are some solid actors in minor roles, people like John Vernon, Sondra Locke and Bill McKinney, Will Sampson, Sheb Wooley and Sam Bottoms, among others. I was surprised Locke, Eastwood's girlfriend or wife at the time, didn't have a bigger role. With her youthful looks and great big eyes, she looked prettier than I've ever seen her.
At 136 minutes, this is a bit long but it never drags. This is one of the very few movies I ever watched twice within two weeks and enjoyed it immensely both times....and each time since. This has turned into one of my all-time favorite westerns.
Movie Review: Buzzards gotta eat...same as worms
Summary: 5 Stars
As a boy, my uncle was the ticket taker at the local one screen theater. On Saturdays I would get dropped off for the double feature, sitting in the front row with my best buddy. I must confess that the films we loved the most were the Godzilla movies. Hey we were kids. Then one day my mom was busy and could not get to the movies to pick us up. We had to stay for the adult movie. No fun, but we made are way back to the front with a 55 gallon drum of buttered popcorn and kiddy pool sized drink. Minutes later we sat transfixed, unable to take our eyes off the first non-kid movie we saw without parents. That movie was Josey Wales. There are certain things in life which bring comfort, one is curling up with a good film and this on still does it for me...thirty years later.
I can't watch many movies more than once they have to be exceptional. Josey Wales is one of three DVDs I own. Over the years I have seen it many times and it is still a good movie, every time. I can't say enough good things about it. If you have seen it you know what I mean. If you haven't I urge you wait no longer get the DVD! Place a Horned Toad down on the case..."the horned toad can show you which way to go. I used to know such things before I was civilized... the toad says we go to Mexico"