Today's Movie: J. Edgar

Released in 2011 J. Edgar is a Clint Eastwood directed film about the career of former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. The film stars a pretty good cast consisting of actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench, and Armie Hammer. It did OK at the box-office and did garner a few award nominations (mostly for DiCaprio's performance). However, it wasn't a huge hit and it received mixed reviews. As of this post, it holds a 43% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.5/10 on the IMDb.

A common complaint I hear levied against this movie is that it's too slow and, as a result, kind of boring. Now, I think the film is far from perfect but, it does have a few key elements that work for me and I think make it a perfectly enjoyable movie. First off, Leonardo DiCaprio's performance is really good. The film alternates between an older Hoover and his younger self, as he recounts the stories of his long career. I think that in both instances, as the young and old Hoover, DiCaprio does a solid job. Additionally, I think that both Hoover and the early years of the FBI are interesting topics. 

To be fair, the movie isn't all good. For example; some of the old man make-up (particularly that applied to Armie Hammer) is unconvincing and, as stated earlier, the film is a bit slow. It doesn't drag so much that it becomes frustrating but, there are some scenes that probably could've been trimmed down, reworked, or cut out completely. One thing that does bug me though is the drab color palette. I'm fine with some color correction to make a film and characters feel muted and a little cold, but why so many directors go for this 'concrete gray' look I'll never understand.

Overall, I like this one. Is it my favorite DiCaprio performance? No. Is it my favorite film directed by Clint Eastwood? No. And honestly, if you're interested in checking out a film about the early history of the FBI then I'd recommend  1959's The FBI Story starring James Stewart over this one. That being said, I think this is a solid movie and I give it a 3.5 out of 5.

Space Cowboys

Released in 2000, Space Cowboys stars Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, and James Garner. Like many of his films, this one was also directed by Eastwood. 

The film is about four former (and now elderly) test pilots who get the unlikely opportunity to fly a mission into space. The reason NASA is sending a group of senior citizens on a shuttle mission involves an old satelitte with an outdated guidance system created by one of those pilots, Frank Corvin (played by Eastwood). Frank is the only man in the world who knows how to repaire the guidance system and he is determined to get himself and his old test pilot buddies into space. The four were stripped of the chance to become astronauts some 40+ years ago by the very same man who is now incharge of this mission, Bob Gerson (played by James Cromwell). So, even though much of the characters motivation comes from the desire to go into space, it's also partially fueled by revenge. Of course, they do end up in space, the mission doesn't go quite according to plan, and one of them has to sacrifice himself to avoid a major disaster (spoilers: it's Tommy Lee Jones' character). 

Overall, I don't think Space Cowboys is a great movie... it's just ok. The acting is pretty good and the special effects mostly hold up. However, the plot is a little thin, at 130mins it feels too long and drags a bit, and a decent chunk of the dialogue is just referencing how old these guys are. If you never seen this one, and always wanted a version of Grumpy Old Men but in space, then this is right up your alley. Otherwise, I don't think it's a must-see.

2.5 out of 5

Heartbreak Ridge

Heartbreak Ridge is a 1986 war film starring Clint Eastwood, who also served as both Director and Producer. The movie is about an aging U.S. Marine (played by Eastwood) who is tasked with whipping a ragtag group of undisciplined Marines into shape, and eventually leading them into combat in Grenada.

While I do like Clint in this movie, he is playing another one of those tough, grouchy, no-nonsense characters he's known for. A lot of his dialogue involves spouting off lines like;

• "You're dead marine! You just got your legs blown off, and we have to send a search party out for your testicles."
  

• "I've drank more beer, pissed more blood, and banged more quiff than all you numb-nuts put together."
  

• "The United States' Marines are lookin' for a few good men - you ain't it."
  

-and-

• "Sergeant, get that contraband stogie out of my face before I shove it so far up your ass that you'll have to stick a match up your nose to light it."
  

As for the supporting characters, they're a mixed-bag and all of them are fairly one-dimensional. This is also a movie that suffers a bit from having a 2 hour and 10 minute runtime, but it's a story that could've been told in about 90 minutes. 

Overall, I like it and I think it is a pretty entertaining film but, it definitely isn't up there with my all-time favorite war movies. 
3 out of 5

70's Month - Day17: The Gauntlet

Another day, another 70's movie.

Today's film is 1977's The Gauntlet starring Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke. This movie, which was also directed by Eastwood, is about a grizzled cop named Ben Shockley (played by Eastwood) who is tasked with traveling from Phoenix to Las Vegas to pick up and escort back a 'nothing witness' for what he is told is a 'nothing trial'. Not long after he gets to Vegas Ben learns that this witness, Gus Mally (played by Locke) may be more important than that he was originally told. As it turns out Mally is a prostitute with mob ties and some incriminating information regarding the Phoenix Police Commissioner. So now Shockley must get Mally to City Hall back in Phoenix while avoiding the two of them being killed by both the mob and the police. 

I like both Eastwood and Locke in the film, but the story felt a little underdeveloped and, even at only 109 minutes, it felt like a padded runtime. Also, not really a critique but just something that stood out; there is a comical amount of bullets fired in this film. I give this one a moderate recommendation, it's a good but not great movie. 

3 out of 5

70's Month - Day:11 Every Which Way but Loose

Every Which Way but Loose is a 1978 comedy starring Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis, Beverly D'Angelo, and an orangutan.

Philo (played by Clint Eastwood) is a man who makes a living fighting other guys in parking lots and construction sites for money. One evening he meets and quickly falls for a country singer named Lynn (played by Sondra Locke). A few days later, after Philo gives her some money, he goes to pick her up he learns that she has left California for Colorado. So he and his buddies Orville (played by Geoffrey Lewis) and Clyde the orangutan hop in Philo's truck and head for Denver. Along the way they pick up a woman at a produce stand (played by D'Angelo) who becomes Orville's love interest in the film. While the foursome is in search of Lynn, they re also being pursued by both a biker gang and two police officers that Philo pissed off in California and all sorts of comedic mishaps ensue. Eventually Philo finds Lynn, finds out that he was being hustled, gets in one more brawl, and the movie ends.

While it is a fairly entertaining movie, I wouldn't call it a good one necessarily. I found the comedy very hit and miss and, since Philo doesn't get the girl in the end or beat the legendary Tank Murdock (who is referenced multiple times throughout the film), I find the ending underwhelming. This one is worth watching once, but probably only once.
2 out of 5

Trouble with the Curve (2012)

No one plays angry, grizzled, old man as well as Clint Eastwood... and, if you can buy into the idea that his character has the ability to hear if a player can correctly hit a curveball, then your going to have a good time with this movie. 

The plot centers around an aging baseball scout named Gus (Clint Eastwood) who is sent by the Atlanta Braves to check out a hotshot prospect down in the Carolina League. The only problem is that Gus is losing his eyesight. A friend and colleague (played by John Goodman) convinces Gus' daughter Mickey (Amy Adams) to go look after her dad. 

Mickey is a workaholic lawyer and so the film has her constantly butting heads Gus. While at a game in North Carolina, Gus is approached by a former player turned scout that the Braves drafted a few years back named Johnny Flanagan (Justin Timberlake). Johnny is now a scout with the Red Sox and also quickly takes a liking to Mickey. The plot pretty much goes exactly where you expect it to; Even after Gus warns the team he is proven correct when the Braves find out that their new prospect can't hit a curve. Mickey and Johnny end up falling for each other. Mickey doesn't get her big promotion and realizing the time with her dad was more important...

Overall, it's definitely not going become my favorite baseball film, but it's a good movie. The cast is solid and they have great chemistry, the film is well shot, well paced, and even though it hits a lot of those expected beats it still ends up being a satisfying story.

I give it a 4 out of 5. 

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Western Wednesday: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig."

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was released in 1966 and is the third film in Sergio Leone's 'Dollars Trilogy', with the others being A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More*.

This one takes much of what worked from the previous two installments and puts it all together into a 3hr epic Western. The plot really isn't too complicated; Set during the Civil War, it's essentially about three gunslingers (played by Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach) who are competing with one another to find a large sum of Confederate gold that is buried in a grave at the Sad Hill Cemetery.

So, what makes the film so good? Well, a couple of things: The cinematography is top-notch and Leone's signature style of long shots, and tension filled close-ups, not only works well in this film, but has since become synonymous with the genre. This is by far the longest of the three movies, but it clicks along at steady and entertaining pace. The score perfectly compliments and enhances the mood of the film throughout. The final showdown at the Sad Hill Cemetery is a thing of beauty, and one of my favorites in any Western. Also, like the other films in the trilogy, Clint Eastwood's performance is fantastic.

  Add all of that up and the result is not just one of best Westerns ever made, but one of the all-time great films in general. Whether you're a big fan of the genre, or just enjoy occasionally watching a Western, this one is a must-see.
   

 I give this iconic film a 5 out of 5.


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*Click here for my For a Few Dollars More review: http://onlyinthemoviesblog.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-look-back-at-for-few-dollars-more-1965.html

A Look Back At 'For a Few Dollars More' (1965)

‘Where life had no value, death sometimes had its price. That is why the bounty killers appeared.’

Director Sergio Leone’s 1965 follow up to 1964’s ‘A Fistful of Dollars’ (and second film in the ‘Dollars trilogy’) is one of the all-time great Westerns.

Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef both play bounty hunters, and both are looking to take down the wanted fugitive El Indio and claim the $10,000 reward. The two quickly form a partnership after realizing that El Indio has whole gang of murderous bandits working for him, and it would be easier to take them down if they work together.

Though not often as well remembered as ‘A Fistful of Dollars’ or ‘The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly’, ‘For a Few Dollars More’ is just as good as the other iconic films in the trilogy. From the haunting score, to Clint Eastwood’s steely-eyed glare, to the shootout at the end, to the great villain, this film is a perfect example of everything that is great about the genre.

Whether you’re a fan of Westerns or are just curious and looking for a few films to introduce yourself to the genre, I definitely recommend this one.

It’s a 5 out of 5 film.

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