OLD HENRY (2021)

In this "Unforgiven" wannabe, Henry Mccarty (Tim Blake Nelson), a middle aged, widowed farmer with a teenaged son and a mysterious past, spots a riderless horse with blood on its saddle. He finds the gravely wounded rider, Curry, with a satchel full of money, takes him in and warily nurses him. A trio of bad guys masquerading as lawmen come to Henry's door, supposedly looking to bring Curry to justice but obviously looking for the money. Henry knows it, they know he's hiding Curry, and it sets in motion a lively cat-and-mouse game, ending in a spectacular (if none-too-realistic) shootout, a betrayal, and a reveal that was obvious from early on. This movie is best for Nelson's superb rendering of Henry--laconic, brave, resourceful--for the intelligent script, and for the filming and the menacing mood it establishes. Its weaknesses are slow pace at times, an unconvincing teenaged rebellion, and clumsily handled flashbacks. "Unforgiven" it isn't (what could be?), but it's pretty good.