A Look Back at Acting Legend Gene Hackman in “Crimson Tide” and “Unforgiven”
- Matt Palmer
- Mar 25, 2025
- 2 min read
For last week’s edition, I checked out a couple films featuring the late great Gene Hackman - “The Firm” and “Runaway Jury” (both John Grisham adaptations). Now, to wrap up my little Gene Hackman series, I wanted to look at a couple more amazing films of his - “Crimson Tide” and “Unforgiven.”
In “Crimson Tide,” after the Cold War, a breakaway Russian republic with nuclear warheads becomes a possible worldwide threat. US submarine Captain Frank Ramsay signs on a relatively green but highly recommended Lt. Cmdr. Ron Hunter to the USS Alabama, which may be the only ship able to stop a possible nuclear Armageddon.
When Ramsay insists that the Alabama must act aggressively, Hunter, fearing they will start rather than stop a disaster, leads a potential mutiny to stop him.
This 1995 Tony Scott-directed thriller delivers a great, intriguing premise that can be both thought-provoking and tense. ”Crimson Tide” also has an incredible, well-acted cast, led by two powerhouse performances from Denzel Washington and Hackman.
The suspense really builds as the film goes on, which makes the tension between Washington and Hackman’s characters more effective. Their scenes together become more tense after the different philosophies of Ramsay and Hunter are revealed and that’s when Hackman really shines.
Now, let’s get to one of the best films in the Western genre out there - “Unforgiven.”
When prostitute Delilah Fitzgerald is disfigured by a pair of cowboys in Big Whiskey, Wyoming, her fellow brothel workers post a reward for their murder, much to the displeasure to sheriff Little Bill Daggett, who doesn’t allow vigilantism in his town.
Two groups of gunfighters, one led by aging former bandit William Munny, the other by the florid English Bob, come to collect the reward, clashing with each other and the sheriff.
This was the first time in awhile that I’ve seen the highly acclaimed Clint Eastwood-directed “Unforgiven.” And, this film can still draw you in and hold your attention from beginning to end.
The entire cast of this film are perfectly suited to their roles and what a cast - Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris - all of them just simply incredible. The film is quite simply one of the greatest stories in the Western genre.
Everything from the incredible cast, to the visually great cinematography, to the rich storytelling all gel together to create a truly unforgettable film. Hackman’s outstanding, award-winning performance as the sheriff is also truly unforgettable. One scene of Hackman’s that really stands out is when he’s talking to a writer and the conversation goes from light banter to life threatening seriousness and back to light banter.
Critics also praised Hackman’s performance as he seamlessly shifts from being friendly to being menacing at times, creating a complex and unsettling character. That right there is what made his character and Hackman’s performance truly memorable.
You can find both “Unforgiven” and “Crimson Tide” at various PVOD rental platforms and let me know on my Wyoming County Press Examiner reviews page on Facebook what your favorite film is from the late acting legend’s extensive filmography.
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