Outlaw Josey Wales: Eastwood's movies in one

[bledstein]

Probably Eastwood's entire career summed up in one movie. It's as if the character Leone made him play was Josey Wales: A peaceful man turned vengeance who goes on a killing spree for those that massacred his family, but redeems himself in the company of others. All that was missing between the two characters is that one had a name and the other did not. Now, take the films in his later career like the fourth Dirty Harry movie Sudden Impact. First, Outlaw was when Eastwood and then girlfriend Sondra Locke appeared onscreen together. Sudden Impact was the last time they appeared together. Both directed by Eastwood and both revenge films. Josey took revenge on those that killed his wife and son. Locke's character takes revenge on those that raped her and her sister. Both movies have flashbacks of the violence. Then he made Unforgiven. The opening when we first see William Munny get back into being a gunslinger is like an echo of Josey Wales. The opening of both movies has Eastwood using a variety of guns for target practicing. Could William Munny be an aged version of Josey Wales, even though Josey lost his wife and son and William only lost his wife? The action scenes and main storyline are exciting, but the story wanders sometimes.

[AKA23]

Interesting post. I've often found it pretty remarkable how consistent Eastwood films often are thematically, and your post seems to speak to that. I don't know if it's conscious or not, but Eastwood throughout his career has definitely developed particular themes. I can't really think of any other actor/filmmaker that has done that to the same level, but that may be because I am far less familiar with anyone else's work.

[bledstein]

I did a similar write up on High Plains Drifter and Sudden Impact being in common of each other. It's under General Discussion, but you can find it on my posts under my username.