We all conscientiously form initial impressions as to how to process a movie, a book, music, architecture, clothes, or any number of things. When watching the opening sequence of High Plains Drifter I scratched my head a bit and decided this film was going to explore the dark side of human nature. That would include revenge, jealousy, lust, greed, and hypocrisy.
The town people of Lago are attempting to live in a kind of a bubble. They desire to ignore as much as possible outside their city. They want a kind of closed utopia even if the bond between the various members in the town is all fake as everyone is out for number one with their only shared desire being keeping a profitable mine open. This was solidified after a earlier visit from some dark men resulted in the murder of the Lago sheriff who knew a dark secret about the mine that could destroy the town. After taking care of the sheriff situation the town decided to hire enforcers for what they couldn't stomach themselves. These men would be the filter keeping outsiders out and, also, to protect them from the same dark men who killed the sheriff as they went to prison unexpectedly which if they ever get out could be a revenge call waiting to happen. Now it's clear we have tenuous line between law and order, moral men and those pretending to be.
Clint Eastwood's mysterious character (he isn't even revealing his name) is on the surface as bad as any gun slinging outlaw, but maybe the town can use him to their advantage as in short order the enforcers are all dead and those murderers seeking revenge are thought to be days away from being released from prison (i.e. more commentary on corrupt laws?). Thus a uneasy truce between Eastwood's drifter and the town is born. It's going to be a strange marriage to say the least.
The uneasy truce gets more strange and things, naturally, reach a critical mass. The drifter is all about what you reap you sow it would appear as what is left of Lago will have to start over. Perhaps it will be a very different town sans certain hypocrites and a hideous red paint remaining. Lago is a town that won't be the same and that's for sure. The story is the movie and the movie is the story. It's a bit surreal and dreamy at times, but it's a solid western tragedy rooted in the classics. It's the old story of evil vs. good, just not as straightforward and more cryptic thanks to Eastwood's drifter character. A newer classic is the bottom line.
The town people of Lago are attempting to live in a kind of a bubble. They desire to ignore as much as possible outside their city. They want a kind of closed utopia even if the bond between the various members in the town is all fake as everyone is out for number one with their only shared desire being keeping a profitable mine open. This was solidified after a earlier visit from some dark men resulted in the murder of the Lago sheriff who knew a dark secret about the mine that could destroy the town. After taking care of the sheriff situation the town decided to hire enforcers for what they couldn't stomach themselves. These men would be the filter keeping outsiders out and, also, to protect them from the same dark men who killed the sheriff as they went to prison unexpectedly which if they ever get out could be a revenge call waiting to happen. Now it's clear we have tenuous line between law and order, moral men and those pretending to be.
Clint Eastwood's mysterious character (he isn't even revealing his name) is on the surface as bad as any gun slinging outlaw, but maybe the town can use him to their advantage as in short order the enforcers are all dead and those murderers seeking revenge are thought to be days away from being released from prison (i.e. more commentary on corrupt laws?). Thus a uneasy truce between Eastwood's drifter and the town is born. It's going to be a strange marriage to say the least.
The uneasy truce gets more strange and things, naturally, reach a critical mass. The drifter is all about what you reap you sow it would appear as what is left of Lago will have to start over. Perhaps it will be a very different town sans certain hypocrites and a hideous red paint remaining. Lago is a town that won't be the same and that's for sure. The story is the movie and the movie is the story. It's a bit surreal and dreamy at times, but it's a solid western tragedy rooted in the classics. It's the old story of evil vs. good, just not as straightforward and more cryptic thanks to Eastwood's drifter character. A newer classic is the bottom line.