Movies

In the Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns of the 60s, Clint Eastwood rose to fame playing the man with no name. In 'Pale Rider', Eastwood creates his own variation of this character. Eastwood plays a mysterious gunfighter who is given the name 'preacher' because of the preacher's collar he wears. When the 'preacher' arrives at a gold mining community, he helps them stand up against a callous landowner.Eastwood cuts deep into the film's characters in what is a rather standard script. Particularly, in the scenes involving the preacher and a gold-mining family. Eastwood also succeeds in giving his film a dark atmosphere which only adds to its intensity.'Pale Rider' may not be as good as the director's best westerns, 'Unforgiven' and 'The Outlaw Josey Wales', but it can be regarded as a strong effort in what has been an illustrious career for Eastwood.Rating: (8/10)

A group of small time goldminers are harassed once again by thugs from big goldminer LaHood. In desperation, Sarah Wheeler (Carrie Snodgress) prays for a savior. Just in time, a preacher (Clint Eastwood) rides into town like one of four horsemen of the apocalypse. Sarah's mother has long been abandoned by her husband. They are living with Hull Barret (Michael Moriarty) the leader of the mining camp. To run the miners off their land, Coy LaHood (Richard Dysart) gets some hired guns.It marks the return of Clint Eastwood's man with no name. It is classic western with the small guy fighting back against the big guy. Michael Moriarty creates the personal space and the humanity for the story's center. There is clear dividing line between good and evil. The action is relatively small, but quite satisfying.

A mysterious preacher (Clint Eastwood) protects a humble prospector village from a greedy mining company trying to encroach on their land.Let us just be honest... this is the movie "Shane", except with Clint Eastwood in the starring role. Sure, there are some key differences, but from the very beginning the similarities are overwhelming. The outsider with a gun-fighting past coming to save the day...I love Michael Moriarty. Oddly, although I know he is a great actor, I know him primarily from cheesy films (particularly those of Larry Cohen). After seeing him in "Q", "The Stuff", "Pick Me Up" and others, it is odd seeing him play someone serious.We also have a nice, young, thin Chris Penn. Sadly, he always was in the shadow of his brother. Why? I have no idea... he is just as good here as anyone else could have been.