Taylor Sheridan’s Favorite Western Movie Is the Classic ‘Unforgiven’

Taylor Sheridan has comfortably handled a wide range of genres in his career, but he’s particularly adept at crafting sophisticated, tightly woven Westerns. However, he isn’t just a creator. He’s a fan, too. A few years ago, after making Wind River, Sheridan revealed his five favorite films in an interview with Rotten Tomatoes. His list has some obvious choices, like The Godfather and Platoon, and interesting choices like Michael Mann’s The Insider and the divorce movie, Kramer Vs. Kramer. And when it comes to Westerns, Unforgiven is his top pick.

Produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, Unforgiven boasts as capable a duo of heroes as we could ever hope to see in similar Hollywood fare, and they have a lot of chemistry, too. Eastwood stars as William Munny, an aging gunslinger who has now settled for a peaceful life raising his two kids. Soon, he has the chance to help get justice against an outlaw. Initially hesitant, he eventually accepts the job and recruits his friend Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman). The problem? Sheriff “Little Bill” Daggett (Gene Hackman) doesn’t want any heroes in his town.

Taylor Sheridan Thinks ‘Unforgiven’ Is a Unique Western Movie

Warner Bros.

Taylor Sheridan had plenty of nice things to say about Unforgiven, stating that “Clint Eastwood demystified and destroyed our notion of a Western.” Indeed, in the more boisterous Westerns served up to audiences decades ago, the protagonists were tough, healthy, skilled, and righteous. Rarely did we ever see an amoral gunslinger as the avenger. Contrarily, Munny struggles a lot in the early stages of the movie. He falls off his horse and can’t even shoot straight. John Wayne must have turned in his grave, considering that he and Eastwood never got along.

Sheridan also praised the performances in the movie, and it definitely has better acting than what we saw in many Western movies. Even though only Gene Hackman won an Oscar (for Best Supporting Actor), everyone had a great day at the office. Eastwood fully immersed himself in all the challenges and frustrations that come along with aging. Elsewhere, Freeman carries with him the kind of dignity that fans have seen in his performances throughout much of his career.

Sheridan’s praise went even further. Regarding Eastwood’s filmmaking skills, he touched on the star’s clever use of monologue and dialogue, noting that he infused the “kind of talk that doesn’t ever take place in Westerns.” He’s also right about this. Ned’s line during the climactic confrontation is a good example. “‘I’ve killed women and children… And I’m here to kill you, Little Bill, for what you done to Ned.” You would never hear that in a ‘60s Western. It’s almost as if Eastwood had a point to prove.

‘Unforgiven’ Is Perfect for Fans of the ‘Yellowstone’ Universe

Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven aiming a shotgun at someone off-screen

Great creators draw inspiration from several of their favorite works, and Taylor Sheridan is no different. When he was shopping for a network, he is reported to have pitched his hit Western series Yellowstone as “The Godfather in Montana.” By watching the Paramount+ show and its spinoffs, one can also spot Unforgiven’s DNA. The Duttons and their associates appear to have been cut from the same cloth as Munny, adhering to the “anything goes” model. They commit atrocities to preserve their legacy and ensure their survival.

There’s also the land factor. The Duttons are driven by the desire to protect their land at all costs to ensure future generations don’t suffer. Munny, too, offers to go all out after realizing that his hog farm is failing and his kids’ future is in jeopardy. He understands that it’s his responsibility to ensure his children and his grandchildren have a peaceful life. So, fans of the Yellowstone franchise will like Munny a lot.

Yellowstone fans who have seen Clint Eastwood’s Western might also have noticed how Sheridan gives nods to the film from time to time. For example, in Yellowstone Season 1, Episode 6, Sheridan uses “Claudia’s Theme,” the iconic piece of music from the ‘90s Western. Sheridan told Cinemablend.com that he initially approached the famed actor/director, thinking he would refuse to grant his permission. Surprisingly, he approved it. In the same interview, Sheridan credits Unforgiven as “the film that made me decide that’s what I want to do for a living.” That’s an even better reason to watch it.