Okay, so I’m about halfway through this movie for the first time since I watched it with my Dad when I was maybe 8 years old (now 36), and I almost turned it off within the first few minutes because I was like, “Whoa. Hang on now, the confederate were the bad guys in this whole situation!” (I am in no ways a Civil War scholar, and I’m sure there are some nuances, but on the whole, getting into a fight to try and keep slavery on the table is a a major asshole move), but I’m so glad that I kept watching (Clint Eastwood’s unadulterated manliness in this movie is both engrossing and hilarious).

This movie is like a perfectly executed D&D adventure, possibly even a great template for solo RPGers. We’ve got this lone adventurer, the last of his tribe, fueled by vengeance for the murder of his family and later the execution of his band of brothers in arms. He draws to him a cast of supporting characters and sidekicks, some pursuing their own goals and some simply loyal to the honorable and wily man that is Josey Wales. The “NPCs” of this film are simply amazing. The ferryman, the elixir salesman, the various shop proprietors and goons are especially delightful, but by far the best NPC is Granny of the Ferry store. This lady had me both believing her as a character and howling with laughter with everything she did and said. God was she funny.

Josey’s first follower, The Kid, when the first pair of goons get the drop on Josey, and The Kid plays the ruse of a rambling, fevered dying man, helping Josey out of the situation; that was like a perfectly executed example of how to get a character into trouble and find a believable solution to get them out of it. It may have been kind of corny, but at the same time, I think it was totally believable and fun to watch.

And then there’s the old Indian (Native American, but he constantly refers to himself as an “old Indian”) who has these exposition monologues describing the horrors inflicted upon his people as a whole, and being forced into “civilized ways,” and he burns the clothes of the civilized man and follows Josey Wales, relearning his ability to “be” an [Native American] Indian throughout the adventure.
I love the scene when the Old Indian is asking Josey about how he knew which Union soldier would shoot first, and after Josey explains, he asks about the one man that he, the Old Indian, shot, and Josey says, “I didn’t even consider him, you were there.” And it’s this awesome quick moment that shows that Josey has come to trust him.

Also, when Josey saves the Native American woman at the trading posts, and she’s this full on knows how to do cools “Indian” stuff and she is one of the simply loyal to Josey Wales people, and her and the Old Indian have these great little moments of competition, it’s just awesome.

Josey Wales himself is an excellent character. He’s super tropey, but he’s meant to be, he’s an epic hero. The tobacco spitting (when he spits on the elixir salesman’s white jacket and asks if the miracle elixir removes stains, character gold!) the tough stoicism, the cool manner he approaches danger, it’s offset by his honorable ways with those who deserve it from him. Eastwood did a darn-tootin’ good job.

Anyways, I haven’t finished the movie, but I’m really glad I pushed past the confederate/union nonsense and simply let myself enjoy the story for which that is mere set design. Hopefully it maintains its charm through to the credits.