I think a lot of viewers read more into this film than is there. I didn't think it was all that good. For one thing, near the beginning, the Eastwood character cannot hit a stationary bucket with his six-gun at very close range; yet, in the denouement, he goes into action like Wild Bill Hickock on steroids, taking on a whole room full of bad guys and taking them all out on his own. Where did he acquire this acuity? We don't see him taking intensive target practice throughout the film.
This is an overrated film, no more realistic than the average John Wayne shoot-'em-up, yet most reviewers were drooling and falling over themselves to praise it. The more recent "Open Range" was much better. The Kevin Costner character could have had Clint Eastwood's character for breakfast.
This is an overrated film, no more realistic than the average John Wayne shoot-'em-up, yet most reviewers were drooling and falling over themselves to praise it. The more recent "Open Range" was much better. The Kevin Costner character could have had Clint Eastwood's character for breakfast.