After talking about the best interpretations of Clint Eastwoodit’s time to do the corresponding thing with your facet of director, the one for which he has received the most praise. Completely classical in style, his influences range from the most obvious, Sergio Leone either Don Siegelhis two main mentors, to some more subtle ones, such as William A. Wellman either john ford.
Simplicity above all things, and without any kind of divisiveness, away from all sensationalism or filigree, concentrating on the story that has to be told. Choose only five films as a directoramong all those that Eastwood has directed, it has been a task a little more difficult than the previous one, but here they are.
To further limit the choice, I have tried not to repeat titles with the previous post, although one in particular was impossible for me to avoid…
‘The Outlaw’ (‘The Outlaw Josey Wales’, 1976)
Of the four westerns he directed, the second is my favorite.. All the elements of the later ones are already there, including the fantastic tone applied in the two later ones. Josey Wales’s revenge for the murder of his family seems like a nightmare framed between two blinks —incredible script detail—, with direct and forceful violence, and without concessions —that ending is not as happy as it seems.
To remember some very well inserted humorous points in such a bitter film. Unforgettable composition of Chief Dan Georgewho barely remembered his lines of dialogue, and was nominated for an Oscar for his work.
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‘The Midnight Adventurer’ (‘Honkytonk Man’, 1982)
If I had to keep only one movie directed by the teacher, I would choose ‘The Midnight Adventurer’of an astonishing simplicity and classicism. Norman Mailer He said of it that it was one of the saddest movies in history.
Red Stovall is a loser reminiscent of those from John Huston, a country singer, drunk and tubercular, pursues the dream of his life at the gates of death. Chaplin’s emotionality and Wellman’s ruralism go hand in hand. Unforgettable soundtrack, in which Eastwood himself composes and sings.
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‘Bird’ (1988)
One of the author’s most intelligent films, a biopic about the mythical Charlie Parker, constructed as if it were a piece of jazz with an internal rhythm that borders on perfection. Wonderfully photographed by Jack N Green, the film revolutionized the use of sound—he won an Oscar for it—in cinema by mixing old recordings with recordings by new musicians. Forest Whitaker it was never that big.
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‘A perfect world’ (‘A Perfect World’, 1993)
After winning the Oscars for ‘no forgiveness’ (‘Unforgiven’, 1992), Eastwood marked one of his most well-rounded jobs. A disenchanted journey through maturity at all levels, built as road movie and that transmits a deep concern for the use of its contained violence.
The best interpretation of Kevin Costner, and an allegory about the time machine, applied to the film itself, which amazes for its simplicity. The final half hour is anthological.
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‘The Bridges of Madison’ (‘The Bridges of Madison County’, 1995)
A timeless masterpiece, with such powerful moments as the famous rain sequence, probably one of the most emotional moments in cinema history. The love story between Francesca and Robert —in the script echoes of david lean and Max Ophüls—, with almost mystical overtones, is one of those that get deep inside, with an astonishing simplicity that comes from a perfect use of cinematographic narration —the use of the point of view is superb.
Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep they have an overwhelming feeling, and the soundtrack is prodigious. For me, this film is already a personal challenge; I’ve lost count of the times I’ve seen it and I haven’t been able to hold back my fucking tears.
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In Espinof | What to see about Clint Eastwood: 3 of his most underrated films as a director that you can find on streaming