directed by: Clint Eastwood
written by: Philip Kaufman, Sonia Chernus + Forrest Carter (book)
starring: Clint Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sam Bottoms, Will Sampson
comment: 19th September, 2016
The novel structure seems very prominent in the film itself as well, but I wouldn't dare to complain to Clint Eastwood's face about it. I've also recently realized that I tend to perceive his work as a personal political statement, while he considers it to be a personal political commentary, and there's a difference and I need to keep that in mind.
In the meantime, I'm crying in awe about the bunch of side characters shaping the final form of this film. Wounded Jamie, monologuing Watie, and proudly tall Ten Bears are my clear favourites, for said reasons. Josey himself complicates it a bit for me - he's an unusual combination of Clint's famous man with no name and a regular bloke from any character driven character film. Unlike with the man with no name, we know his origin, his background, his circumstances, but he still manages (and mainly off camera) to develop quasi supernatural abilities and magnetism of someone who doesn't have to abide by the same laws as regular people who drink the same water and fight the same fights as he is.
My heart inclines towards the tightness, articulacy and self-confessed magic of "High Plains Drifter", but we'll see how time will change my mind. My father watches "The Outlaw" at least once a year, so there should be plenty opportunities for revision.
