"I do not like assassins -- or men of low character." Gene Hackman and Clint Eastwood face off in one of the best westerns ever made -- make that the best western ever made -- produced some 50 years after the prime of the western era. Eastwood plays a reluctant assassin trying to raise money to save his small farm, kids, and sick pigs, while Hackman's much-abused sheriff aims to stop the killing.

The dialogue is fantastic, with Eastwood utterly believable in his testifying to the evils of whisky, and Hackman totally at ease with saying he "et it." Richard Harris's English Bob is an unforgettable pansy of a villain, and the widescreen cinematography is lush during the day, ominous during the invariably rainy nights.

Powerful and gut-wrenching, Unforgiven is filled with a modern-day, anti-violence sensibility, while violence rages all around it. Even if you don't like westerns (and I don't), you'll like this one. While the DVD has few extras, the widescreen presentation is one you won't want to miss. (Check out the new 10th Anniversary special edition if you're looking for more.)