The Oulaw Josey Wales

Note: This review gives great detail about the plot that some may wish to see for themselves.

When his family is savagely butchered; his house is burnt to the ground by 'Redlegs' (Rebel Union soldiers), Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood) puts his sharp-shooting skills to good use by joining up with rebel Confederate soldiers fighting to rid the land of them. When the soldiers exhaust and decide to pledge their adherence to the Union, Joey Wales stays behind, and sees that the Redlegs have set them up. As each of the men are being shot down, Josey rides in a kills off many Redlegs and flees. With a price on his head, he rides in the direction of Texas, fighting off anyone who stands in his way.

Also directed by Clint Eastwood, "The Outlaw Josey Wales" is a lengthy and often tedious post-civil war western. It contains exciting (yet brutal) shootouts and situations, and is supported with a very likeable performance by Chief Dan George, who plays an introspective indigenous fellow and Sondra Locke. The film is hurt somewhat by dryer stretches and often silly dialogue.

Overall rating: 3.7 stars (rounded to 4)

Rated PG: Contains fierce graphic violence including a rape scene with nudity, occasional rough language, and frequent tobacco-usage. Not recommended for children under 13.

Deserves 10 stars!

What can you say about Clint Eastwood's westerns except, great! His movies (acting and directing)changed the whole look and feel of this genre. This is definitely my favorite western, heck it's probably my favorite movie...period. Josey Wales is based on the novel by Forrest Carter, "Gone to Texas". After reading the book Clint knew he had to make the movie and he did an excellent job of capturing the spirit of the novel. The DVD transfer is very good. It was like watching it for the first time when I saw the DVD after the VHS version. This is what westerns are supposed to be so... "are you gonna get this video or whistle Dixie"? BUY IT!

Eastwood has the union army surrounded

Director: Clint Eastwood
Format: ColorRated:
Studio: Warner Studios
Video Release Date: September 2, 2003

Cast:

Clint Eastwood ... Josey Wales
Chief Dan George ... Lone Watie
Sondra Locke ... Laura Lee
Bill McKinney ... Terrill
John Vernon ... Fletcher
Paula Trueman ... Grandma Sarah
Sam Bottoms ... Jamie
Geraldine Keams ... Little Moonlight
Woodrow Parfrey ... Carpetbagger
Joyce Jameson ... Rose
Sheb Wooley ... Travis Cobb
Royal Dano ... Ten Spot
Matt Clark ... Kelly
John Verros ... Chato
Will Sampson ... Ten Bears
William O'Connell ... Sim Carstairs
John Quade ... Comanchero Leader
Frank Schofield ... Senator Lane
Buck Kartalian ... Shopkeeper
Len Lesser ... Abe
Doug McGrath ... Lige
John Russell ... Bloody Bill Anderson
Charles Tyner ... Zukie Limmer
Bruce M. Fischer ... Yoke
John Mitchum ... Al
John Davis Chandler ... First Bounty Hunter
Tom Roy Lowe ... Second Bounty Hunter
Clay Tanner ... First Texas Ranger
Robert F. Hoy ... Second Texas Ranger
Madeline T. Holmes ... Grannie Hawkins
Erik Holland ... Union Army Sergeant
Cissy Wellman ... Josey's Wife
Faye Hamblin ... Grandpa Samuel
Danny Green ... Lemuel
Kyle Eastwood ... Josey's Son
Richard Farnsworth ... Comanchero

Josie Wales' family was murdered and his home burned by union redlegs, so he joins Bill Fletcher's border raiders on the confederate side of the war and does his share of getting even. When Fletcher turns in his men for money (except Wales) and they are all killed, Wales becomes an outlaw on the run from union authorities. They hunt him clear into Mexico, where things come to a head. Josie Wales single handedly surrounds the entire union army and the Indian nations.

This is a good story, well acted by all concerned, and very well directed by Eastwood, as are all of his films.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books