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Highway 61 wrote:Did Eastwood rush this into production before or after Spike Lee's charges of racism?

This was already in production before Spike's spikiness.

Good to know since I'm positive every review will approach the movie as if Eastwood is responding to Lee's accusations. And because Lee's remarks seem to have backfired and contributed to the blah reaction to Miracle, I wouldn't be surprised if many critics praise this movie for the sake of crafting a pat conclusion to the feud.

The character seems more like his character from Heartbreak Ridge, with a little Harry Callahan thrown in. All around, this looks like it could be good.

Highway 61 wrote:Did Eastwood rush this into production before or after Spike Lee's charges of racism?

He didn't 'rush' anything into production. Variety announced GT some time before Spike Lee decided to smear Eastwood as a cynical PR ploy for his dreadful WW2 movie. If you have any grasp of Eastwood's career over the decades you'll know that charges of racism are quite ridiculous.

flyonthewall2983 wrote:The character seems more like his character from Heartbreak Ridge, with a little Harry Callahan thrown in. All around, this looks like it could be good.

I agree, the trailer is pretty interesting but be prepared for charges of racism against Clint for this film. Someone is bound to write, "Clint has made at it's core a racist film about an angry white man protecting incapable and defenseless 'Others' against cruel and sadistic 'Others'.... 'Gran Torino' is a neo-pseudo-imperialist-post-colonialist-pro-Vietnam War piece of drivel that shows the 'Other' as being a threat to the stability of the White Man's World. Zero stars. Plus it's fascist!"

I'm really looking forward to Gran Torino, because I really like Eastwood as an actor and it has been 4 years since Million Dollar Baby. His character in the trailer reminds me of his part in Heartbreak Ridge, too.

Roger_Thornhill wrote:Someone is bound to write, "Clint has made at it's core a racist film about an angry white man protecting incapable and defenseless 'Others' against cruel and sadistic 'Others'.... 'Gran Torino' is a neo-pseudo-imperialist-post-colonialist-pro-Vietnam War piece of drivel that shows the 'Other' as being a threat to the stability of the White Man's World. Zero stars. Plus it's fascist!"

People who write stuff like that have better use for a soapbox then a pen. And frankly I have no use for them all. I, like pretty much everyone else here, am pretty liberal but I hate it when critics show political allegiances of either side and make broad claims like that.

Gator wrote:

Highway 61 wrote:Did Eastwood rush this into production before or after Spike Lee's charges of racism?

He didn't 'rush' anything into production. Variety announced GT some time before Spike Lee decided to smear Eastwood as a cynical PR ploy for his dreadful WW2 movie. If you have any grasp of Eastwood's career over the decades you'll know that charges of racism are quite ridiculous.

Lighten up. If you've read my posts on this forum, you'll see that I'm an enormous Eastwood fan. I only asked because I'm interested in how the feud affects the marketing and reviews of the film.

Out of curiosity is Heartbreak and Pale Rider worth shelling out the ten bucks for?

knives wrote:Out of curiosity is Heartbreak and Pale Rider worth shelling out the ten bucks for?

Haven't seen the former but the latter certainly is.

Highway 61 wrote:

Gator wrote:

Highway 61 wrote:Did Eastwood rush this into production before or after Spike Lee's charges of racism?

He didn't 'rush' anything into production. Variety announced GT some time before Spike Lee decided to smear Eastwood as a cynical PR ploy for his dreadful WW2 movie. If you have any grasp of Eastwood's career over the decades you'll know that charges of racism are quite ridiculous.

Lighten up. If you've read my posts on this forum, you'll see that I'm an enormous Eastwood fan. I only asked because I'm interested in how the feud affects the marketing and reviews of the film.

Well I answered your question. He didn't rush it into production as a response to Lee's comments. As for how the row affects the marketing, I would imagine not at all, although the spat may be noted by a few reviewers. If anything such reminders - 'Spike called Clint racist, yet here is making a film about a prejudiced old man bonding with Asian immigrants' - should likely only help Eastwood's film with the Academy, certainly if Gran Torino is perceived as Oscar-bait. My apologies if I came over as a bit harsh. I have a low tolerance for what I perceive (sometimes unfairly) as dumb remarks about Eastwood.

knives wrote:Out of curiosity is Heartbreak and Pale Rider worth shelling out the ten bucks for?

Heartbreak Ridge definitely is. The story is your standard one about a grizzled Marine whipping a bunch of slacker recruits into shape for combat. But it has a terrifically enjoyable performance by Eastwood & the script is chock full of hilariously profane one liners. It's not a great movie just an entertainment but I think it's a pretty good one. Pale Rider for me is too much under the shadow of Shane. It's okay but IMO one of Clint's least interesting westerns. Then again I haven't seen it in a long while so I may be doing it a disservice.

that trailer leaves me thoroughly uninterested in ever seeing this.
could they fit any more crotchety old man cliches in it?

Thanks Roger and Gator. Love war movies with trash talking old guys, Now to see if Back to the future is any good.

Two new TV spots that do little to reassure that this isn't Grumpy Old Man Dirty Harry.

People were previously saying that Eastwood had a good shot at a Best Actor nod, based on seeing snippets of his performance. The film has now screened for critics in its entirety though, and apparently it sucks. Hard.

The trailer is one of the worst I've ever seen--those other "actors" can't act, and Clint needs some Halls Mentho-Lyptus. Is he at least euthanized in the end? [-o<

Jeff wrote:People were previously saying that Eastwood had a good shot at a Best Actor nod, based on seeing snippets of his performance. The film has now screened for critics in its entirety though, and apparently it sucks. Hard.

Wow, between the two Eastwood films and Australia stopping Oscar buzz immediately upon first review, this year's award season is up in the air a bit. Milk is really the only Best Pic nom I'm 100% on right now

domino harvey wrote:

Jeff wrote:People were previously saying that Eastwood had a good shot at a Best Actor nod, based on seeing snippets of his performance. The film has now screened for critics in its entirety though, and apparently it sucks. Hard.

Wow, between the two Eastwood films and Australia stopping Oscar buzz immediately upon first review, this year's award season is up in the air a bit. Milk is really the only Best Pic nom I'm 100% on right now

Not Slumdog, Button or Revolutionary Road? I'd be blown away if they're not included.

No one's seen Benjamin Button yet, and in this year, that's not a horse I'd back right now

domino harvey wrote:No one's seen Benjamin Button yet, and in this year, that's not a horse I'd back right now

I don't want to take us too far off topic, but most press have seen Button at this point. The reviews are mixed to positive.

Jeff wrote:The film has now screened for critics in its entirety though, and apparently it sucks. Hard.

That NY Times link only takes you to the trailer, and the Tapley link goes nowhere.

The Razzie sweep is now complete with Clint Eastwood singing the theme song.

Antoine Doinel wrote:The Razzie sweep is now complete with Clint Eastwood singing the theme song.

Sounds like a Patty & Selma duet.

Jeff wrote:

Antoine Doinel wrote:The Razzie sweep is now complete with Clint Eastwood singing the theme song.

Sounds like a Patty & Selma duet.

That song matches Ford's current economic state perfectly.

domino harvey wrote:

Jeff wrote:People were previously saying that Eastwood had a good shot at a Best Actor nod, based on seeing snippets of his performance. The film has now screened for critics in its entirety though, and apparently it sucks. Hard.

Wow, between the two Eastwood films and Australia stopping Oscar buzz immediately upon first review, this year's award season is up in the air a bit. Milk is really the only Best Pic nom I'm 100% on right now

Opens the door for Wall-E and Dark Knight.