Hang 'Em High (1968)

Idealic. Dramatic. Misleading. (IDM)

Final Verdict: An ex-marshall (Clint Eastwood) is wrong-fully accused by eight of his peers and unlawfully lynched. He miracuously survives however, to avenge the atrocities committed against him and bring justice to his persecutors. Or so you would think. It's advertised as a revenge film, but it's anything but that. In fact, most of the film is centered on themes of truth, justice, redemption, and forgiveness. It's an interesting take on a western movie, one I did not expect, but at times it felt anti-climatic and tangential. Fortunately, there is some great dialogue and some powerful exchanges between Eastwood's character and Judge Adam Fenton (Pat Hingle) that more than make up for the lack of action. Not a bad western by any means, but there's much better out there.

Spoiler(s): In olden times, peoples' veins were filled with ketchup. Thick, hearty, Heinz Ketchup.
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
"You think I judged him too harshly? Used him for kindling my fire of justice? Well, maybe that's inevitable when there's only one man, one court, with the power of final justice over a territory that's five times the size of most states. Mistakes? Oh, I've made 'em, Cooper. Don't you doubt about that. Don't you doubt, either, there are times sitting up there in that judgement seat I wished, I prayed, that there was someone standing between me and God Almighty - someone with the power to say, 'You're wrong, Fenton. You've made an error in law - that this man deserves another trial, this man here a reprieve, this man is innocent.' But until this territory becomes a state with a governor and a state court of appeals, I am the law here - all the law. If you don't like that, you can cuss me till hell freezes over... or you can join me, Cooper; even fight me. Help me turn this God forsaken territory into a state where no one man calls himself the law." -Judge Adam Fenton