Program – Outlaws

There's something about Clint Eastwood's movies [those he directs, more than the wide variety of those in which he acts] that reminds me of international "art house"movies from the 1950's and 1960's. He holds up against Antonioni, Bergman, Goddard, or Truffaut in having a thoughtful and meaningful vision and style. Watch this movie at the same time as Bresson's "Pickpocket", and you'll see.

"Unforgiven" may be the best serious western since "Red River". It beats "The Searchers" and the westerns of Sergio Leone and Sam Peckinpah, in its maturity and depth. Among the many themes [so as to juxtapose this with the next movie], is that of identity, behavior and motive. It's very violent, it moves at the same measured pace as other Clint Eastwood movies -- that is, slow -- but you need to see this.

Paced about the same, and with the same reserve as the Eastwood movie, Robert Bresson's "Pickpocket" (French) is a good introduction to his movies. He shows us the soul of a young, amoral man, who wants to hone his technical skills as a criminal rather than use his talents for some more elevating activity. I can't describe the movie well, but you will be a better person for having watched it.