Warner Bros
Clint Eastwood, the Hollywood icon, started his journey in the film industry in 1955 with a minor, uncredited role in Jack Arnold’s “Revenge of the Creature.” Later in 1964, discontented with his status as a midlevel TV star in the CBS Western series “Rawhide,” Eastwood ventured to Spain to experiment with a unique Western style under the direction of Sergio Leone. The outcome, “A Fistful of Dollars,” revolutionized the Western genre and paved Eastwood’s way to becoming a renowned filmmaker.
Eastwood’s career took an interesting turn with the suspense-filled thriller “Play Misty for Me,” where the rugged, charismatic actor known for “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and “Dirty Harry” portrayed a tormented Bay Area disc jockey. This unexpected move by Eastwood was followed by his venture into diverse genres including a film about jazz legend Charlie “Bird” Parker, a touching adaptation of the sentimental novel “The Bridges of Madison County,” and the sci-fi comedy “Space Cowboys.”
Since the release of the 1992 revisionist masterpiece “Unforgiven,” Eastwood has continually pushed his boundaries to present his complex worldview to audiences. His political stance may seem clear, particularly after his appearance at the 2012 Republican National Convention, but his films suggest a more nuanced perspective. His latest film, “Juror #2,” promises to continue this trend with its classic courtroom drama narrative and an intriguing twist.
Eastwood has expressed a profound appreciation for films such as John Ford’s “How Green Was My Valley,” William A. Wellman’s “The Ox-Bow Incident,” and John Huston’s “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” However, his all-time favorite film is not a Western, although it does feature a shooting.
Mr. Eastwood is ready for his close-up
Paramount
In an interview with Esquire alongside his son, Scott Eastwood, Eastwood senior revealed that his all-time favorite movie is Billy Wilder’s “Sunset Boulevard.” This dark comedy, doubling as a film noir, features William Holden as a hapless screenwriter working for a washed-up silent film star (Gloria Swanson). It doesn’t seem to have a direct influence on any of Eastwood’s films, except perhaps “Black Hunter, White Heart,” a fictionalized Hollywood drama about the making of “The African Queen.” But what about it makes it superior to all the Ford Westerns and detective films that influenced The Man with No Name and “Dirty” Harry Callahan?
According to Eastwood:
“Two different styles: the style of the silent-movie actress, and then with William Holden’s character, someone more contemporary. The two styles working so well together. And I always liked Billy Wilder.”
If you’ve ever watched Eastwood discussing films or his craft, you’ll know this is as introspective as he gets. There’s no doubt he loves this film, but don’t expect him to reveal much more. What makes “Sunset Boulevard” special to Eastwood will remain his secret. And for a good laugh, he recommends “Tropic Thunder.” Truly, the man is an enigma.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
