The Outlaw Josey Wales

release year: 1975
genre: western
viewing setting: home DVD, 10/19/09 and 11/21/06 and 3/4/01 and other times in the past

synopsis: Missouri farmer Josey Wales loses his family and home to murdering Confederate soldiers, and becomes a killing machine...until he starts collecting good people with no place else to go, and heads south in search of peace, but followed by trouble.

impressions: This was a good mix of cool action and good drama. At first, Josey kills everyone who gets in his way; then he takes the role of protector for these refugees and other random people. The backdrop of the Civil War (and the violence and treachery that came with it) is well-done and realistic.

things to watch for: The way Josey spits tobacco juice on a wide variety of living things (salesman, scorpion, guy he just shot, dog (twice.)

something this movie has that no other movie has: A dog who fetches firewood.

acting: This is Clint Eastwood's movie all the way. Though it's never really explained how he went from farmer to lethal gunfighter, I found that I didn't really care. Chief Dan George is good as a quiet, noble old Indian who befriends Josey. Bill McKinney and John Vernon are former enemies who end up chasing Josey down. Paula Trueman is a stubborn old woman who knows when it's time to fight. Sondra Locke (who I despise in all movies, for some reason) is a childlike waif of a girl who says some silly things but ends up firing a rifle just like everyone else.

final word: One of the best westerns ever made.

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