Saturday, January 24, 2009

Clint Eastwood got snubbed.


I watch the Oscars but I don't take them seriously. Not since Dances with Wolves beat Goodfellas.

But I still like to bark now and then about who got left off the list.

I thought Clint Eastwood was tremendous in Gran Torino. I know that Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn are locks, but surely there was a place left for Clint. He is one of the few truly iconic actors left and this might have been his most personal, powerful performance. I suppose you can dismiss Eastwood for not having the range of a Sean Penn, a Phillip Seymour Hoffman or a Robert Downey, Jr, but nobody is a better Eastwood than Eastwood.

I'm pretty ticked about this. If I get an invite to the show, I might not attend.
at

12 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2009 at 12:37:00 PM PST

    Brian, are you insane? Clint was better in ANY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE than this movie. Let's see ... he growls, he snarls, he squints. Basically he recycles William Munny from UNFORGIVEN, except without that character's depth or anguish.

    I sincerely hope you're joking with this post. People should not receive Oscars simply for being old or respected.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2009 at 12:48:00 PM PST

    I'm not joking but I could possibly be insane.

    I do agree on one point. There are elements of William Munny in his character. I don't think Eastwood should win, but I think he deserves a nomination.

    I haven't seen Any Which Way But Loose for years. I'll check it out again and give you my thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2009 at 1:06:00 PM PST

    http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/reviews/la-et-torino12-2008dec12,0,2314630.story

    ReplyDelete
  4. RCJanuary 24, 2009 at 3:33:00 PM PST

    I think the Academy's winds are shifting...perhaps there a little less intersted in Woody Allen & Clint Eastwood then they used to be...even earlier this decade.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2009 at 3:36:00 PM PST

    That L.A. Times review is a joke. Did they even see the movie? Any reviewer who, after seeing this movie, says "it combines sentiment and shootouts" is a liar and completely wrong. This movie doesn't have any shootouts ... although it has plenty of sentimentality. The sticky, gooey kind that makes you want to take four showers.

    The movie sucks, and Eastwood's performance is by-the-numbers. I'm so glad it's not up for anything major.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2009 at 3:49:00 PM PST

    Ray, I see you feel strongly about it.

    I won't try to convince you otherwise.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2009 at 4:00:00 PM PST

    http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/2009/01/22/clint-eastwoods-gran-torino-oscar-roadkill/

    ReplyDelete
  8. PIPERJanuary 25, 2009 at 6:07:00 PM PST

    Jeez, I go away from the weekend and all hell breaks loose.

    Brian, it's nice to see that you've discovered how to upload pictures.

    I can't weigh in on this, but I have heard you either like this movie or you hate it. It's either brilliant, or laughable. And I think both sides are well represented here.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2009 at 9:25:00 PM PST

    @ Piper - I want you to disassociate yourself from anyone claiming this film is brilliant. Afterschool Specials have more realistic plotting and character developemnt.

    Anyone telling you that this film is brilliant is actually the Devil taking on human form in order to deceive you. Do not be fooled by their lies!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2009 at 6:14:00 PM PST

    Ray,

    I didn't say it was brilliant. I said Eastwood deserves an Oscar nod. The fifth slot.

    I liked the movie. You didn't. So what?

    Brian

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2009 at 6:25:00 PM PST

    Every Which Way But Loose lyrics

    I've always been the kind of man
    Who doesn't believe in strings
    Long term obligations are
    just unnecessary things
    But girl, ya got me thinkin
    While I'm drinkin one more beer
    If I'm headed for a heartache
    Then why the hell am I still here?

    I'm testin my resistance
    And it's wearin mighty thin
    I've got the feelin I should leave
    Before the roof caves in
    My mind tells me to move along
    But my body begs me stay
    And now I feel the need
    to hold you close
    And love the night away
    While you're turnin me

    (chorus)
    Every which way but loose
    You turn me
    Every which way but loose
    Inside the fire's burnin me
    In my mind you just keep turnin me
    Every which but loose
    Baby there's no excuse
    To turn me every which way but loose

    When the sun comes up in the mornin
    It should find me some place new
    But right this minute all I want
    Is to lay here next to you
    Those memories still keep callin me
    From somewhere in my past
    Better hurry if they want me
    'Cause I can feel me fadin fast
    While you're turnin me

    (chorus)

    ReplyDelete
  12. PIPERJanuary 27, 2009 at 7:37:00 AM PST

    Misa,

    You again?

    You still look sleepy. Why don't you go away and get some rest and stop coming around here.

    ReplyDelete