Clint Eastwood is 93 Years Young Today!
Clint Eastwood is 93 years young today!
He was born 93 years ago today, on 31st May, 1930. He truly defies age, and has been an inspiration not only for filmmakers, but people of generations from X to Z. He is modest and himself accepted that it takes time for him to learn film-making. He began direction only after spending a significant proportion of his time on acting. A recipient of four Oscars. Happy birthday auteur, a rebel #ClintEastwood.
Clint Eastwood, is my father's favorite hero and director. And, for me as well.
WaltKowalski: "Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn't have fucked with? That's me." - Gran Torino (2008)
Why is Clint Eastwood my father's and mine's favorite actor and director? Because no one can handle pain and death as much as he does. I watched #MillonDollarBaby in early 2006 around 1am in the midnight, when it was over around 3 am, I couldn't sleep. The pain the film created that night is still persisting. #ClintEastwood again proved in this film that there is more to say in defeat, failure than the artificial victory.
Million Dollar Baby (2004) original theatrical trailer and synopsis:
"I don't train girls," growls boxing trainer Frankie Dunn. But something's different about the spirited boxing hopeful who shows up daily at Dunn's gym. All she wants is a fighting chance.
Clint Eastwood plays Dunn and also directs, produces and composes music for this controversial and acclaimed, multi-award-winning tale of heart, hope and family. Eastwood received an Oscar nomination for his acting, an Academy Award for his directing, and the film also captured the "Best Picture."
Oscar winner #HilarySwank plays resilient Maggie, determined not to abandon her one dream. And #MorganFreeman (who grabbed his own Oscar) is Scrap, gym caretaker and counterpoint to Dunn's crustiness. Grab your dreams and come out swinging.
My father took me to all of his films exhibited in Madurai 'Mappillai Vinayagar' and 'Manicka Vinayagar' theatres (Sri Mappillai Vinayagar) through the 80s and 90s.
Clint Eastwood driving his Triumph motorcycle on the sets of world war II epic drama 'Where Eagles Dare' (1968).
If I were to answer the question, why am I obsessed with war films?
Reply would be simply,
'Do watch Clint Eastwood's Flags Of Our Fathers, Letters From Iwo Jima; Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List; Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket.
If you wholeheartedly do so, you would never be the person you were.'
Then, I'd graduate you to more of such films, which would make you an advocate of them. Decide wisely.
I've read somewhere that "Clint Eastwood as a director has more to say about defeat/failure than victory/success". Its indeed true, being defeated or having failed, keeps one in full strength to continue to fight so as to further sacrifice but not win. His war epic about Flag of our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima deal about it in great detail. Nevertheless, Million Dollar Baby is a masterpiece about defeat. Perhaps, Clint Eastwood's (93 yrs old) unique style has made people of last two generations admire him.
I'd say very few are brave enough to deal with defeat as people are falsified with positivity or success. Clint Eastwood does it well, same as many of us in reality. Seldom, people realise the fact that there is more in being defeated than in being successful.
One can derive this unique blend of happiness mixed with sadness, when you watch movies directed by Clint Eastwood. It impacts. It pains. And, yet you feel special. Gran Torino is one such movie like Million Dollar Baby.
Father Janovich: [eulogizing Walt] Walt Kowalski once said to me that I knew nothing about life or death, because I was an over-educated, 27-year-old virgin who held the hand of superstitious old women and promised them eternity.
[the congregation chuckles politely and somberly]
Father Janovich: Walt definitely had no problem calling it like he saw it. But he was right. I knew really nothing about life or death, until I got to know Walt... and boy, did I learn.
Addiction to On Sound Track (OST):
'Where life had no value,
Death, sometimes,
Had its price.
That is why the
Bounty killers appeared.'
Film: For A Few Dollars More (1965)
Composer: Ennio Morricone
Director: Sergio Leone
Lead: Clint Eastwood
https://youtu.be/mLXQltR7vUQ
I watched the series in late 80s and 90s in our Mappillai Vinayagar theatre. My father took my brother and me. This sound track I listened to 25 years back at the theatre, still resonates in my memory.
No wonder they call him "Dirty Harry", always gets the shit end of the stick. #DirtyHarry (1971). #DirtyHarry series: Clint Eastwood as a ruthless, assertive cop, who has his own way of dealing with injustice, which is not preferred by the jurisdiction. This series inspired many directors all over the world to create cop franchise of their own. In an interview, Tamil director Gautam Vasudev Menon said his lead character of "Yennaiarindhal" is an inspiration of Dirty Harry and needed to become a franchise like Dirty Harry.
"I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well to tell you the truth in all this excitement I kinda lost track myself. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and would blow you head clean off, you've gotta ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?"
Some say Clint Eastwood has more to say in failure than victory. His movies demand more thought and work from the audience to be comprehended. American sniper will definitely be one of his masterpieces.
I grew up watching his movies where eagles dare, for a few dollars more, the good, the bad, and the ugly repeatedly at madurai mappillai vinayagar theatre decades back.
Authored by Balaji Thangapandian aka #BT - a spacefarer, who is also curious about film-making, connectivity technologies and military history.
mindofbt.blogspot.com
tbalajiocha@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/balaji.thangapandian
https://www.facebook.com/FilmTheorist/
The article is about: Clint Eastwood, Where Eagles Dare, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Dirty Harry, Million Dollar Baby, Flag of our Fathers, Letter from Iwo Jima, American Sniper, Madurai Mapillai Vinayagar Theatre, Manicka Vinayagar Theatre, Balaji Thangapandian, BT's Mind
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