The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was a movie I’d only seen once, over a decade ago, and at the time I remember preferring For a Few Dollars More. Revisiting it now, I was surprised by how much more I enjoyed it. The two films share a lot of DNA, but where FAFDM feels more personal, TGTBTU is much larger in scale. It’s an epic treasure hunt set against the backdrop of the Civil War.
What I remembered as long, dull desert stretches turned out to be carefully created character moments. The film takes its time, but it never felt like it dragged on. The character introductions are incredible, especially Angel Eyes’ entrance, which immediately establishes the stakes and his cruelty (and clearly left an impression on later filmmakers. I’m looking at you, Quentin Tarantino).
Despite Clint Eastwood’s top billing, this really feels like Tuco’s story. Blondie may be “the Good,” but Tuco is the emotional core of the film. Eli Wallach gives an unforgettable performance. He’s funny, desperate, and volatile. The scene with his priest brother adds surprising depth, showing a man who would rather cling to a comforting lie than confront who he’s become.
I also didn’t remember how prominent the Civil War was in the film. Rather than just being the setting, the Civil War and its effects are used to craft a focused anti-war statement, highlighted by several scenes showing wounded soldiers and a drunk captain who reduces war to logistics and liquor. “Whoever has the most liquor to get the soldiers drunk and send them to be slaughtered, he's the winner”.
Technically, this film is a huge step up from the earlier entries. The visuals are more grounded, less cartoony, and Sergio Leone’s style feels fully realized here. Ennio Morricone’s score is easily his best of the trilogy. Of course, the final standoff is legendary. My favorite Dollars standoff is still the one from FAFDM because of the personal stakes involved, but the one from TGTBTU is a master class in building tension.
In short, this was far better than I remembered and absolutely earned its reputation. I’m glad I finally gave it the rewatch it deserved.
“You see in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend. Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."