Unforgivin-MR

Revisionist westerns emerged in the mid 1950s and questioned the traditional western genre entirely. These westerns began to show the questioning of many of the intrinsic values, characters, and actions that western films encompassed. The film, Unforgivin, is one of these films. Where a once alpha male cowboy has grown old, and attempts to restore his alpha status. William Munny, a historically notorious killer and criminal, resides with his two children on a farm on the frontier. Munny's wife has passed and he appears to be a changed man, crediting his wife with his transformation from a ruffian to an ordinary citizen. This role that Munny plays is traditionally against the alpha male cowboys traditional role of being a loner and refuting the home life. Munny, however, is entised to once again live by the traditional law of the gun, as he sets out on a job to kill again. He brings along his friend, Ned Logan, who happens to be African American. Traditionally Ned would have never been in this position as he would have been considered an "other," and would have played a substantially smaller role. The two men struggle to adapt to their old ways, which signifies the importance of time and the changes that it brings. Finally, the largest depiction in this film is the downplay of violence that is traditionally inherent on the western frontier. Munny and Logan shows great hesitation to get involved in any kind of violence. The traditional alpha male had no second thoughts about using violence to solve problems, but the two men in the film show that alpha males also can grow old and become weaker men.