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Greetings
Hello, Ezra Kleinians. In a spectacular bit of misjudgment, Ezra has decided to let one of the inmates run the asylum, as he earlier noted. And since all the boys are angling for their Estrogen-Friendly Boy Scout Badge this week, choosing me has put him well ahead of the competition.
I kid, I kid.
Tonight I did one of my favorite things in the worldâI saw a great film. One never knows, of course, whether the evening will turn out as hoped when the lights go down; Iâve wasted more money on films that aspired to be swill than I care to consider. But I spent this evening engaged by the thoroughly wonderful Million Dollar Baby, which I encourage you to see. (Itâs not such a strange thing to recommend on a political blog, but I wonât tell you why if you donât already know. Suffice it to say it will leave you with something to debate, should you be so inclined.)
On the way home, I was considering the strange path that Clint Eastwoodâs career in film has taken; once vilified as a purveyor of soulless violence as Dirty Harry Callahan, he has become a favorite of Lefties who find his later work exhibits a particular type of empathy rarely seen in the typical fare churned out on a regular basis. As it happens, thereâs an article on Salon examining this very notion, which conveniently saves me some time.
There are those who suggest that Eastwoodâs later films are the work of an apologist who regrets the tenor of his earlier work. I think his transformation from object of liberal scorn to target of conservative ire just proves that if youâre around long enough, you manage to piss off everybody.
-- Shakespeare's Sister
COMMENTS (21)
SS,
You'll be great as usual!
I liked MDB, too, although I have to say for some inexplicable reason I've found Finding Neverland to be my favorite of the bunch. I went into it thinking I'd hate it, but left pleasantly surprised. The Aviator was way too big budgety for me, and Ray was good, but nothing without Foxx. Sideways was also enjoyable.
Films that should have been nominated: Bad Education, Closer.
Posted by: John | February 26, 2005 1:04 AM
Is the unbuttoned shirt policy, yknow, a blogging requirement here? I'm just asking...
Er, sorry. Sorry!
Posted by: Sandals | February 26, 2005 1:08 AM
I hate to sound pedantic, but I think you slightly misuse the word "apologist", or our conceptions of Eastwood would start a really interesting debate. An apologist would be justifying the vigilantism of Eastwood's early films, but I don't think Eastwood could be said to be doing that since "Unforgiven." While I think Eastwood's advanced beyond that narrow, paranoid Dirty Harry worldview and won't go far to defend it, I also don't think he'd beat his breast artistically apologizing for it as some liberal critics suggest. Nor do I think Million Dollar Baby was some baroque revenge fantasy against the disabled community for some long ago ADA lawsuit against his hotel. It's disappointing that while Eastwood's films can be rich ground for cultural and political discussion, so much of what has come about has been so superficial.
Sorry to be a dick about something so picayune. Otherwise I wholeheartedly agree with you and welcome you to someone else's home!
Posted by: diction nark | February 26, 2005 1:24 AM
Hate to do this, but would have to disagree with you and John strongly on MDB. While I think it's not as overhyped a piece of work as Mystic River (which just made my teeth itch, I disliked it that much), I think that MDB is half of a decent if cliched boxing movie, spliced onto the back end of a bad TV disease movie of the week. I just can't see the depth of this one compared to some of Eastwood's other work. I got a good deal more out of A Perfect World than I did out of MDB. Sideways I really enjoyed, but know when they do the awards its not going to get anything. Too light a piece of work for Oscar.
Other omissions: Collateral, which I think is Michael Mann's most complete film, and a hell of a turn by Jamie Foxx; and The Incredibles, which I think was Pixar's most complex work.
Posted by: Enrique | February 26, 2005 1:27 AM
I've not read the Salon piece but I bet they cover what I'm about to say, in many more words.
The Dirty Harry series used to be the calling card for Eastwood. But as I recall that series, it flip-flopped politically. The first one was a conservative (kill the bad guy) movie. The second one had "liberal" intent, with Eastwood taking on the bad guy cops who killed as vigilantes.
And since then, Eastwood has been more of a political -- and moral -- muddle. If the first Dirty Harry movie had not taken place, I think Medved would hate the guy even more. Since Medved apparently does not care so much about esthetics as scoring points for his current political funders.
In fact, Medved would probably be running raging hate on Shakespeare if Will weren't in the pantheon. Not to mention Will's sister.
riffle
Posted by: riffle | February 26, 2005 2:30 AM
Collateral, which I think is Michael Mann's most complete film
Not saying much. It had some good scenes and excellent acting in parts, but it didn't really work as a whole. Though I felt The Incredibles was quite well done (story-wise I preferred Brad Bird's other film, The Iron Giant, but it still was impressive).
And John, i felt that way about The Aviator at first, but after thinking about it came to appreciate it more. The movie was done more as a series of snapshots than as an attempt to "Chronicle A Life". It didn't overreach. Granted, it had the feel of a big budget movie in each individual scene, but taken together I felt it was a refreshing change from the usual sentimental pap Hollywood puts out. Not Indie, but still good.
Posted by: Matt F | February 26, 2005 6:31 AM
"Estrogen-Friendly Boy Scout Badge..." *snicker*
I haven't seen any of this year's Oscar-nominated films. I'm going to be so out of it when I watch tomorrow night!
I don't think Eastwood's personal politics have changed, though - I recall in a recent interview he was absolutely bewildered that conservative groups are panning Million Dollar Baby, he sounded genuinely hurt at the actions of people he considered his compatriots.
Posted by: Elayne Riggs | February 26, 2005 9:51 AM
I'm sorry, but Million Dollar Baby is just not a really good movie. It has plot holes any sports fan could drive a truck through. Why at the beginning of the movie does Swank win a fight on the under card of a really good heavyweight contender and then she can't punch when she goes to the gym to solicit Eastwood's help? If she was able to get on the under card of such a big time card but can't fight how did she win? The whole idea for the movie is ruined by that fact, and then the rest of the movie is just corny, because if she doesn't have to learn how to box then why are we all here watching her struggle?
Posted by: jbou | February 26, 2005 11:35 AM
What made MDB a good film for me was the acting and characters. Sure there were a few plot issues, and the last third of the movie was written so that we would support her death, but I still walked away enjoying the film primarily because of the acting. I thought Freeman was excellent, and Swank, too. The problem I have with movies like this, though, is that I can't help but get the feeling that these actors just know they're going to get nominated by virtue of who they are and who is directing the movies.
Is it the best film of the year? Hardly. But the Oscars are what they are, and MDB is an Oscar-ish type movie and will probably do really well tomorrow.
Posted by: John | February 26, 2005 12:12 PM
What made MDB a good film for me was the acting and characters. Sure there were a few plot issues, and the last third of the movie was written so that we would support her death, but I still walked away enjoying the film primarily because of the acting. I thought Freeman was excellent, and Swank, too. The problem I have with movies like this, though, is that I can't help but get the feeling that these actors just know they're going to get nominated by virtue of who they are and who is directing the movies.
Is it the best film of the year? Hardly. But the Oscars are what they are, and MDB is an Oscar-ish type movie and will probably do really well tomorrow.
Posted by: John | February 26, 2005 12:13 PM
I've found Finding Neverland to be my favorite of the bunch
I quite enjoyed that as well. Mr. Shakes, who is from Edinburgh, and I were extremely impressed with Depp's Edinburgh accent, too, which was flawless--and much more difficult to master the subtleties of, as opposed to the broader Glaswegian accent.
I hate to sound pedantic, but I think you slightly misuse the word "apologist", or our conceptions of Eastwood would start a really interesting debate. An apologist would be justifying the vigilantism of Eastwood's early films, but I don't think Eastwood could be said to be doing that since "Unforgiven."
Yes, you're right. I should have said that some accuse him of trying to apologize for his earlier work with his later films. I agree with you - I don't think he's doing that, either. Hence my conclusion, he's just been around long enough to piss everyone off. ;-)
Is it the best film of the year? Hardly.
Agreed. I would probably give that honor to Garden State.
Posted by: Shakespeare's Sister | February 26, 2005 1:05 PM
I really enjoyed Garden State, too. It would have been nice to see Braff get a screenplay nod. I would have liked to see Bad Education for screenplay, as well.
Posted by: John | February 26, 2005 1:39 PM
I haven't seen Bad Education yet, though I want to. I was also disappointed that Garden State didn't get a screenplay nod. No justice.
Biggest oversight of the year though was no nom for Paul Giamatti.
Posted by: Shakespeare's Sister | February 26, 2005 2:01 PM
I agree w/ enrique and jbou. MDB is a great film if you like every boxing movie cliche of the last 50 years shoved down your throat. Blah!
Posted by: Harvey | February 26, 2005 3:24 PM
[Don't go any further with this comment if you don't want to know key plot points.]
I guess I just didn't see it as a boxing movie. The boxing served two particular purposes; that of bringing together the two characters, and that of showing the importance of physical ability for her success. Having come from a poor background, where education wasn't emphasized and was likely outwith her reach, sport was a means for her to give meaning to her life. When her physical abilities were taken from her, the relegation to a strictly cerebral life was one for which she was decidedly unprepared, making her will to die understandable.
A movie that showed her overcoming her circumstances through education would not have been as honest as MDB. People exist who are poor, uneducated, unsophisticated, and unloved. Most of these people never transcend it.
If anything, it was an exploration of how tragic poverty and lack of access to education are.
That's what I took away from the film, anyway. The boxing was incidental.
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