Slog
News & ArtsThursday, August 30, 2012
2012 Clint Eastwood's Sad, Weird Speech at the Republican National Convention
Posted by Christopher Frizzelle on Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 10:42 PM
In case you missed it:
1
"It's probably not a good sign when Clint Eastwood is standing in your corner with an empty chair." Hillary Swank.
2
Union member, right? Some great roles he played, but sort of like Ronald Reagan, I think he's lost track of who built that: screenwriters, directors, cinematographers,...
and I don't think Dems are as susceptible as Repubs are to lose sight of the distinction between attractive drama-schooled spokespeople who might share their political views and the roles they played.
(I could be wrong about this, I just don't think I am)
We don't like Matt Damon because he's slightly liberal, we like him because he's an ass kicking Jason Bourne (or maybe we don't like him at all) we don't like Sean Penn because he's actually kinda liberal, we like him for when Uncle Martin shows up in Spiccoli's room and he greets him with a stoned enthusiastically bewildered "Mr Hand!?!"
Cons like Eastwood because Dirty Harry shot all those ethnic looking thugs and because the orangutan made them giggle and he's willing to prattle the party line.
(Clint: "did I get paid for this gig?")
and I don't think Dems are as susceptible as Repubs are to lose sight of the distinction between attractive drama-schooled spokespeople who might share their political views and the roles they played.
(I could be wrong about this, I just don't think I am)
We don't like Matt Damon because he's slightly liberal, we like him because he's an ass kicking Jason Bourne (or maybe we don't like him at all) we don't like Sean Penn because he's actually kinda liberal, we like him for when Uncle Martin shows up in Spiccoli's room and he greets him with a stoned enthusiastically bewildered "Mr Hand!?!"
Cons like Eastwood because Dirty Harry shot all those ethnic looking thugs and because the orangutan made them giggle and he's willing to prattle the party line.
(Clint: "did I get paid for this gig?")
4
The fact that Romney's people knew what was going to happen out there (they did, after all, have the chair ready for him), is reason enough to not vote for him. What a Clintastrophe.
5
@3
WTF - does that mean that there are people who type "L O L" when they're not actually laughing (out loud)? 'cause that would suck.
WTF - does that mean that there are people who type "L O L" when they're not actually laughing (out loud)? 'cause that would suck.
7
It was an interesting shtick. It probably looked okay on paper to whoever vetted it for the convention. They probably thought it was full of belly-laughs. In performance, though, it came off kinda mumbly and borderline-deranged, probably not what the ringmasters had in mind.
Practically nobody watched this on television. Ratings have been horrible for the convention. But, if anyone was watching, that shtick was long and awkward, and I'll bet it made many of them tune out before the main act.
Practically nobody watched this on television. Ratings have been horrible for the convention. But, if anyone was watching, that shtick was long and awkward, and I'll bet it made many of them tune out before the main act.
8
One more thing...
The really sad thing is, (politics aside) I really like Eastwood and that's not how I want to remember him, and now I can't unsee it. It's kind of burned into my brain..
Okay, just one more. Last one, I promise:
Here in NYC, they cut away from the preseason Jets-Patriots game to jump to convention coverage. Talk about annoying!
The really sad thing is, (politics aside) I really like Eastwood and that's not how I want to remember him, and now I can't unsee it. It's kind of burned into my brain..
Okay, just one more. Last one, I promise:
Here in NYC, they cut away from the preseason Jets-Patriots game to jump to convention coverage. Talk about annoying!
10
OMSWEETG! Clint Eastwood pulls off a brilliant performance and the nation misses the genius of it. I know watching it in real time, people were blinded by the theatrics and didn't REALLY hear him. It's an old ventriloquist trick - when you want to say something, but not be blamed for it, you let the dummy (empty chair) say it!!
Clint Eastwood, at the RNC Convention, on national television told Mitt Romney to go fuck himself!!! And, in the single most ingenious way it could be done!
Then he takes a swipe at lawyers. Did we forget, Romney has a JD, too? He's just a lawyer who went into business for Pete's sake. Sure, he took some jabs about Obama as a smoke screen - but he gave no ringing endorsement to Romney. Romney and Ryan are just guys who come along? WTF is that? He never mentions one republican platform or policy. He NEVER said "vote for Mitt Romney for President."
Then, in the coup de grâce, he says he's speaking for everyone (dem rep lib) and says "don't vote for a man just because he's a nice guy." Are you kidding me? What was Ann Romney's task - to humanize the great out sourcer robber baron, and sell Mitt, the nice guy!! OMG did you guys actually miss that?!
And one more thing, that "off with his head" move - swiping across his throat - I don't know how much you know about the Mormon endowment ceremony, but that was a roundhouse punch at Mitt Romney!! You may not have known it for what it was, but the Mormons surely knew what it was, and I promise you, they did not like it.
And to cloak the performance in the doddering old man act. That just took the cake. Clint Eastwood is still acting and still directing. Don't you think that if he had wanted to help the RNC with a rallying cry to elect Mitt Romney that he could have? This was their big get, their secret weapon and all the RNC can say about his appearance is that "the crowd enjoyed it."
Watch that speech in its entirety again. It was not what you think you saw.
More...
Clint Eastwood, at the RNC Convention, on national television told Mitt Romney to go fuck himself!!! And, in the single most ingenious way it could be done!
Then he takes a swipe at lawyers. Did we forget, Romney has a JD, too? He's just a lawyer who went into business for Pete's sake. Sure, he took some jabs about Obama as a smoke screen - but he gave no ringing endorsement to Romney. Romney and Ryan are just guys who come along? WTF is that? He never mentions one republican platform or policy. He NEVER said "vote for Mitt Romney for President."
Then, in the coup de grâce, he says he's speaking for everyone (dem rep lib) and says "don't vote for a man just because he's a nice guy." Are you kidding me? What was Ann Romney's task - to humanize the great out sourcer robber baron, and sell Mitt, the nice guy!! OMG did you guys actually miss that?!
And one more thing, that "off with his head" move - swiping across his throat - I don't know how much you know about the Mormon endowment ceremony, but that was a roundhouse punch at Mitt Romney!! You may not have known it for what it was, but the Mormons surely knew what it was, and I promise you, they did not like it.
And to cloak the performance in the doddering old man act. That just took the cake. Clint Eastwood is still acting and still directing. Don't you think that if he had wanted to help the RNC with a rallying cry to elect Mitt Romney that he could have? This was their big get, their secret weapon and all the RNC can say about his appearance is that "the crowd enjoyed it."
Watch that speech in its entirety again. It was not what you think you saw.
11
http://youtu.be/m-ce3RiInvA
clint eastwood in march of this year. is this a doddering old fool ready for the home?
clint eastwood in march of this year. is this a doddering old fool ready for the home?
13
@10 appearently everyone missed it but you... and wouldn't a better swipe at Romney be to not actually do a speech at the convention at all? Or just go out and say "I'm a republican but Mitt is shit"?
@7 I actually think allot of people watched it - or will watch it - its all over the news here, in Sweden, and if WE are watching it - chances are you guys must have already seen it.
@7 I actually think allot of people watched it - or will watch it - its all over the news here, in Sweden, and if WE are watching it - chances are you guys must have already seen it.
14
I really don't want to watch this. I've always liked Clint Eastwood from his early spaghetti westerns to his later gruff-old-man movies. I've never thought of him as a right wing loony, and the thought of him shilling for Rmoney just makes my stomach churn. Blech. It just makes me sad.
16
@10 you make a good point. He certainly slips enough comments in that can be applied to Rmoney as much as (as the crowd interpreted it) Obama.
17
Helpful Reminder to Elder Eastwood: Joseph Biden was not the vice-president who said "Go fuck yourself" on the Senate floor. That was previous VP.
19
@2 Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, Bridges of Madison County, Mystic River (far better Sean Penn role than Spiccoli....), Gran Torino, etc, etc.
Variously written, directed, produced, and acted by Eastwood.
He built that!
I'm hoping that @10 is right, and Clint's not losing it...
Variously written, directed, produced, and acted by Eastwood.
He built that!
I'm hoping that @10 is right, and Clint's not losing it...
20
I think Tom Hanks or George Clooney should do a rebuttal at the DNC convention. Talking to an empty suit asking to see his tax returns/Swiss banks account and Romneycare!
21
I think when one is able to overlook some rather serious flaws in a candidate because one believes that candidate will be better for business it says volumes about the character of the supporter.
What is it Gore Vidal said of some Nixon supporters? - something like..."He could strangle the life out of Pat on live TV and there'd be those who'd insist that she was having a heart attack and he was holding her up by the neck."
It's a small thing, maybe, but the dog on the car roof would have sealed the deal for me if nothing else had - and that's being discounted by shills on Fox and CNBC (Your Money. Your Vote....really?)
And sorry to sound so closed minded about it, but I can't get past the Mormon thing. Yes, all religion is crazy and Mormonism is just one of the newer forms of crazy, but anyone who believes what Mormons believes and believes it with a straight face isn't capable of critical judgement.
Many people are going to vote for the face., I'm sure. Looking presidential these days is almost as good as having substance.
The private prep schools I can forgive. I can forgive that while many of his contemporaries were sloshing through the rice paddies in Vietnam, he was doing "missionary work" in France (on a bicycle). Harder to forgive is the fact that he thinks he's a self-made man. He started life with some pretty profound funding, and while he was at Harvard, he and his young family lived off dividends and selling stock that was given to him.
But I can't forgive him the blind cruelty to that poor dog. Makes me wonder what else is he capable of?
What is it Gore Vidal said of some Nixon supporters? - something like..."He could strangle the life out of Pat on live TV and there'd be those who'd insist that she was having a heart attack and he was holding her up by the neck."
It's a small thing, maybe, but the dog on the car roof would have sealed the deal for me if nothing else had - and that's being discounted by shills on Fox and CNBC (Your Money. Your Vote....really?)
And sorry to sound so closed minded about it, but I can't get past the Mormon thing. Yes, all religion is crazy and Mormonism is just one of the newer forms of crazy, but anyone who believes what Mormons believes and believes it with a straight face isn't capable of critical judgement.
Many people are going to vote for the face., I'm sure. Looking presidential these days is almost as good as having substance.
The private prep schools I can forgive. I can forgive that while many of his contemporaries were sloshing through the rice paddies in Vietnam, he was doing "missionary work" in France (on a bicycle). Harder to forgive is the fact that he thinks he's a self-made man. He started life with some pretty profound funding, and while he was at Harvard, he and his young family lived off dividends and selling stock that was given to him.
But I can't forgive him the blind cruelty to that poor dog. Makes me wonder what else is he capable of?
22
We admit, at first we thought it was awkward and were embarrassed for Clint.
But as it went on we realized how very clever it was, and that the seemingly befumbledness was actually brilliant acting.
Brilliant. On every level.
But as it went on we realized how very clever it was, and that the seemingly befumbledness was actually brilliant acting.
Brilliant. On every level.
24
as far as mormonism is concerned - did you see what clint did. it was not captured by every camera. but he did an 'off with his head' swipe across the neck. some have implied it was a kind of threat to obama. NO! clint took a big swing at the mormon. not enough people know what that means, but if you go read up on the mormon endowment ceremony, and the oaths of secrecy mitt took (pre-removal of some gestures) you will know that any mormon watching him knew exactly what he was doing. it was not meant for obama - despite his words. that was meant for romney and the mormons, and i assure you, they didn't like it.
25
@23: Mormonism has, hands down, the single stupidest origin story of any religion made up i n modern times. Even over Scientology.
Gold plates no-one has ever seen? Magic rocks? Mighty civilizations existing in North America in pre-colonial times- leaving absolutely no archaeological evidence.
Shall I keep going?
Gold plates no-one has ever seen? Magic rocks? Mighty civilizations existing in North America in pre-colonial times- leaving absolutely no archaeological evidence.
Shall I keep going?
26
@10, 11 Thank you, thank you, thank you! I needed help unseeing what I thought I saw, and you just provided it.
If you're right, Eastwood just pulled off one of the biggest political prankings of all time. I'd like to think it was possible.
On the other hand, there is this: Eastwood's endorsement of Romney. But, a full review of Eastwood's political history and philosophy has to make you wonder how he could endorse a Romney-Ryan ticket. But, he hadn't; he had only endorsed Romney. Maybe Romney's choice of Ryan, just days after Eastwood's choice of Romney, queered the deal? After all, there is this in the Wikipedia article:
And what could be a better example of that than Ryan's anti-women positions?
If you're right, Eastwood just pulled off one of the biggest political prankings of all time. I'd like to think it was possible.
On the other hand, there is this: Eastwood's endorsement of Romney. But, a full review of Eastwood's political history and philosophy has to make you wonder how he could endorse a Romney-Ryan ticket. But, he hadn't; he had only endorsed Romney. Maybe Romney's choice of Ryan, just days after Eastwood's choice of Romney, queered the deal? After all, there is this in the Wikipedia article:
He told USA Weekend in 2004, "I don't see myself as conservative, but I'm not ultra-leftist. ... I like the libertarian view, which is to leave everyone alone. Even as a kid, I was annoyed by people who wanted to tell everyone how to live."
And what could be a better example of that than Ryan's anti-women positions?
27
25
so you fault mormons for believing recent fables but give a pass to jews and xtians because their fables are older?
did you know that obama prays to an invisible man in the sky?
EVERYDAY?
so you fault mormons for believing recent fables but give a pass to jews and xtians because their fables are older?
did you know that obama prays to an invisible man in the sky?
EVERYDAY?
28
25
have you heard of the mayas, aztecs, incas?
perhaps you should subscribe to National Geographic.
have you heard of the mayas, aztecs, incas?
perhaps you should subscribe to National Geographic.
29
24
are you kidding?
that was a Death Threat aimed at Danny.
we should take up a collection to hire bodyguards....
are you kidding?
that was a Death Threat aimed at Danny.
we should take up a collection to hire bodyguards....
33
@10 I had a couple of moments where I thought "that could cut either way," or the spot near the end where I think he mentioned that Democrats might NOT be the Antichrist. (I'm not going to watch it again to keep score more carefully.) Not enough to be convinced of your premise that it's a surprise knife in the back unless Clint calls a presser today and says "Didn't any of you notice I was sticking a knife in his back?"
I'm putting the amibiguity down to 1/3 sloppy writing + 1/3 Clint-is-not-a-crazy-Teabagger + 1/3 too old to be on live TV.
I'm putting the amibiguity down to 1/3 sloppy writing + 1/3 Clint-is-not-a-crazy-Teabagger + 1/3 too old to be on live TV.
35
@20 That would rock so hard! The Dems won't have the balls, of course.
Who would make the perfect anti-Eastwood? Patton Oswalt? Tina Fey?
Who would make the perfect anti-Eastwood? Patton Oswalt? Tina Fey?
36
I'm not sure the Romney campaign reviewed his speech - probably because he was going off mental notes. (And he did very well for an extemporaneous speech.) Eastwood had some clunky and downright liberal remarks throughout his little performance piece. Romney said we should bring the troops from Afghanistan tomorrow? Really? And the war in Afghanistan was a mistake we should have avoided by paying attention to the Russians? And I love he disparages thoughtfully looking at all angles of an issue.
"Isn't time we had a business man in the White House?"
Um... Yeah. Let's have them run government like they've run Wall Street.
But let it be noted that Old Man Clint's ten-minute ramble had more policy details than Romney's empty, vague, duplicitous biographical speech. (Anyone notice how Romney, just like every other speaker, was seemingly fixated on the past while ignoring the future?)
And it made for great Tweetering afterward.
Add this to Perry's Oops Moment and Cain's Lybia Moment. I'm glad the Republican campaign can still entertain.
"Isn't time we had a business man in the White House?"
Um... Yeah. Let's have them run government like they've run Wall Street.
But let it be noted that Old Man Clint's ten-minute ramble had more policy details than Romney's empty, vague, duplicitous biographical speech. (Anyone notice how Romney, just like every other speaker, was seemingly fixated on the past while ignoring the future?)
And it made for great Tweetering afterward.
Add this to Perry's Oops Moment and Cain's Lybia Moment. I'm glad the Republican campaign can still entertain.
37
@20 & @35 I think Tom Hanks would knock it out of the park. This is a guy who's starred in movies with a dog and a volleyball. An empty suit is no problem.
It would be pretty classless, and I doubt Tom wants to stick it to Clint like that, but damn would it be funny. (or die .... hint)
It would be pretty classless, and I doubt Tom wants to stick it to Clint like that, but damn would it be funny. (or die .... hint)
38
@25,
Mormonism is definitely odd, but really no more or less silly than any other religion out there. They're all completely unbelievable.
As for Clint's speech... a bit weird, he's definitely showing his age. It reminded me of Fred Thompson's speech at McCain's convention four years ago. Thompson cleared his throat about 10 million times. Old.
I can't decide if this speech was better or worse than Paint Your Wagon
Mormonism is definitely odd, but really no more or less silly than any other religion out there. They're all completely unbelievable.
As for Clint's speech... a bit weird, he's definitely showing his age. It reminded me of Fred Thompson's speech at McCain's convention four years ago. Thompson cleared his throat about 10 million times. Old.
I can't decide if this speech was better or worse than Paint Your Wagon
40
So, I didn't watch. But as I understand it it, Clint Eastwood channeled Neil Diamond?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfbOHebiB…
"I am ... I said / To no one there / And no one. Heard. At. All. / NOT EVEN THE CHAIR!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfbOHebiB…
"I am ... I said / To no one there / And no one. Heard. At. All. / NOT EVEN THE CHAIR!"
41
@10
I just watched the Clint RNC speech and came away with the same impression ( except the Mormon-slam. Know nothing about it. ) I, too, noticed the faint praise for Romney was entirely overshadowed by his imaginary Obama's insults, and his own 'inadvertent' digs at the RNC ticket.
It could be that we love Clint's work so much, we just hear what we want to hear. I happen to agree with you, @10 - it was a sharp-minded man at devious play.
I think, as others have suggested, his speech was, at heart, a broad criticism of overreaching policies and promises, by any party. Finger-wagging for all.
His position, as I understood it, is that Obama has failed on critical matters and the appropriate action is to replace him. Hey, it's at least not a liar's position or the GOP's anti-Democrat dogma.
I just watched the Clint RNC speech and came away with the same impression ( except the Mormon-slam. Know nothing about it. ) I, too, noticed the faint praise for Romney was entirely overshadowed by his imaginary Obama's insults, and his own 'inadvertent' digs at the RNC ticket.
It could be that we love Clint's work so much, we just hear what we want to hear. I happen to agree with you, @10 - it was a sharp-minded man at devious play.
I think, as others have suggested, his speech was, at heart, a broad criticism of overreaching policies and promises, by any party. Finger-wagging for all.
His position, as I understood it, is that Obama has failed on critical matters and the appropriate action is to replace him. Hey, it's at least not a liar's position or the GOP's anti-Democrat dogma.
42
There is a certain plausibility to stella's hypothesis. I was having the same thought myself, that the Republicans had just been punked by Clint Eastwood.
And so was Chris Hayes of MSNBC, who had this to say as to whether the Eastwood appearance was a disaster: "Unless he was a liberal plant. That's my theory."
And see what Chris Rock tweeted: Clint Eastwood on the phone with Obama now: "It all went according to plan,sir."
Consider that the bit was supposed to take three minutes, and instead it went over 10, managing to bump a Romney family video out of prime time.
But stella, can you please give a link that explains? And one more thing, that "off with his head" move - swiping across his throat - I don't know how much you know about the Mormon endowment ceremony, but that was a roundhouse punch at Mitt Romney!!
And so was Chris Hayes of MSNBC, who had this to say as to whether the Eastwood appearance was a disaster: "Unless he was a liberal plant. That's my theory."
And see what Chris Rock tweeted: Clint Eastwood on the phone with Obama now: "It all went according to plan,sir."
Consider that the bit was supposed to take three minutes, and instead it went over 10, managing to bump a Romney family video out of prime time.
But stella, can you please give a link that explains? And one more thing, that "off with his head" move - swiping across his throat - I don't know how much you know about the Mormon endowment ceremony, but that was a roundhouse punch at Mitt Romney!!
44
@10, @24 -- Stella, can you elaborate on that "Off with the Head"/"Mormon Endowment Ceremony" material? I'm vaguely familiar with Mormon practices and know nothing about that one, and there's not much about that motion in Wikipedia articles.
Do you have a link with more information? Thanks.
Do you have a link with more information? Thanks.
45
@44 Have a look at this: http://www.exmormon.org/journey/journey_… It doesn't get into the full Mormon meaning and circumstances of it, but it does show it, in parallel with the Masonic symbol from which it is allegedly derived/purloined.
@10 I have just re-watched three versions of the broadcast, CBS, PBS and C-SPAN, and cannot see that throat-slitting gesture. The cameras spend a lot of time cutting away to the crowd, though.
Stella, do you remember which network you were watching the convention on? And, relatively where in the 10 or so minutes it showed up? Alternately, what he was saying at the time?
@10 I have just re-watched three versions of the broadcast, CBS, PBS and C-SPAN, and cannot see that throat-slitting gesture. The cameras spend a lot of time cutting away to the crowd, though.
Stella, do you remember which network you were watching the convention on? And, relatively where in the 10 or so minutes it showed up? Alternately, what he was saying at the time?
46
@38,
True, but Mormonism was founded by a known con artist.
Now, it wouldn't surprise me if all religious founders are con artists by trade, but, the founding of Mormonism is recent enough, that historians know for a fact that Joseph Smith made a living conning people out of their hard-earned money.
True, but Mormonism was founded by a known con artist.
Now, it wouldn't surprise me if all religious founders are con artists by trade, but, the founding of Mormonism is recent enough, that historians know for a fact that Joseph Smith made a living conning people out of their hard-earned money.
47
Was Eastwood really the right choice? He starred in a movie in which a woman convinced him that she could have two husbands since Mormon men can have two wives. Doesn't seem this is the best way to go if Mitt wants people buying into his Mormonism.
48
@38 Nothing is Better then Paint Your Wagon, if only Lee Marvin was here to set things straight. Clint and I have the same birthday, he IS a crazy Gemini & most likely prone to an interesting thought processes. @1That's funny stuff!
49
@10 here _ for those who asked, i watched the speech on the WSJ Digital Network version on YouTube. Link below.
http://youtu.be/jsXBvbRQt20
as far as the mormon endowment ceremony, i can't remember what i was watching or reading when someone mentioned that mitt needed to be asked about it - because in it, he swears certain allegiances to the mormon church, and also swears to secrecy onto death. it was then that in the ceremony the person making the oath does the swipe across the neck. it was (may be still) part of the masonic oath of secrecy, as well - where it is believed to have come from. it has since been modified, but mitt took his oaths before the modification.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endowment_%…
the motions i am talking about are from the pre-1990 endowment. and are covered under penalties - what the penalty is for revealing the secrets of failing an oath.
http://forums.carm.org/vbb/showthread.ph…
http://youtu.be/jsXBvbRQt20
as far as the mormon endowment ceremony, i can't remember what i was watching or reading when someone mentioned that mitt needed to be asked about it - because in it, he swears certain allegiances to the mormon church, and also swears to secrecy onto death. it was then that in the ceremony the person making the oath does the swipe across the neck. it was (may be still) part of the masonic oath of secrecy, as well - where it is believed to have come from. it has since been modified, but mitt took his oaths before the modification.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endowment_%…
the motions i am talking about are from the pre-1990 endowment. and are covered under penalties - what the penalty is for revealing the secrets of failing an oath.
http://forums.carm.org/vbb/showthread.ph…
50
Stella,
The hand-across-neck motion is a fairly common gesture, not specifically Mormon, often meaning 'off with your/their heads.'... usually figuratively, sometimes literally.
It also just as often means 'Cut it. Stop.' I think used about anywhere you need to convey that command where others can't/shouldn't hear your voice, like in stealth operations, or, say, filmmaking.
Might Clint, a director of so many films, simply have reached for a well-used gesture to communicate to the stadium, 'Thank you. Enough adulation already. Cut!'
The hand-across-neck motion is a fairly common gesture, not specifically Mormon, often meaning 'off with your/their heads.'... usually figuratively, sometimes literally.
It also just as often means 'Cut it. Stop.' I think used about anywhere you need to convey that command where others can't/shouldn't hear your voice, like in stealth operations, or, say, filmmaking.
Might Clint, a director of so many films, simply have reached for a well-used gesture to communicate to the stadium, 'Thank you. Enough adulation already. Cut!'
51
Yes, Clint Eastwood’s little Drama 201-level Improv Theatre of the Absurd workshop appeared to flop, all right. Mainly because the audience couldn’t figure out that it was a comedy sketch, not a rhetorical speech. But at least Eastwood is an admitted actor, unlike all the pinwheels fluttering about him.
Clint’s performance revealed that he is more of an L. Ron Paulista than a waif in need of Mitten cuddling (e.g. Mitt would actually bring the troops home (???) and other prevarications…). It was viewed by most, and some who should have known better, as an Alzheimerian ramble, a sign of heroic Harry’s dribbling twilight to come. But since few in America except the Gays take a Drama course anymore, such attempts at art are considered ‘over the top’, ‘WTF’ or some other bland write-off analysis.
Verdict on Clint’s ‘Interview With B.H. Obama, In The Ionesco Style’: half-baked, silly content, weakly delivered. Don Rickles would’ve pulled it off with more flair. But at least two people in the audience got a kick out of it: Clint’s 146 year-old mom – and me.
(Excerpted from The New York Times Drama section's review of my two-volume treatise: 'The Absurdist Performances of Clint Eastwood: Berlin 1926 to Tampa 2012' (HarperCollins) )
Clint’s performance revealed that he is more of an L. Ron Paulista than a waif in need of Mitten cuddling (e.g. Mitt would actually bring the troops home (???) and other prevarications…). It was viewed by most, and some who should have known better, as an Alzheimerian ramble, a sign of heroic Harry’s dribbling twilight to come. But since few in America except the Gays take a Drama course anymore, such attempts at art are considered ‘over the top’, ‘WTF’ or some other bland write-off analysis.
Verdict on Clint’s ‘Interview With B.H. Obama, In The Ionesco Style’: half-baked, silly content, weakly delivered. Don Rickles would’ve pulled it off with more flair. But at least two people in the audience got a kick out of it: Clint’s 146 year-old mom – and me.
(Excerpted from The New York Times Drama section's review of my two-volume treatise: 'The Absurdist Performances of Clint Eastwood: Berlin 1926 to Tampa 2012' (HarperCollins) )
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
It's Spring! Who's Ready for Street Harassment? by Cienna Madrid
-
SL Letter of the Day: Insane Demands by Dan Savage
-
SL Letters of the Day: Just Say No to DSGs by Dan Savage
-
New Gun Enthusiast... by Dan Savage
-
America Doesn't Care About Black People by Charles Mudede
-
Bigot Florist Files Countersuit by Dominic Holden
-
"Bus service shouldn't be optional—it should be a right." by Cienna Madrid
-
"If it goes one inch further, I'm going to start killing people!" by Charles Mudede
-
US Military Grants Itself the Power to Police American Streets and "Quell" "Civil Disturbances" by Brendan Kiley
-
SL Letter of the Day: Gonna Boil My Laptop After Answering This One by Dan Savage
Stranger Personals
The Stranger
RSSSeattle Art & Performance Quarterly
A complete guide to Seattle's current art, film, dance, and theater season.
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (51) RSS