Thirty years ago David Thomson could write of Clint Eastwood, Has there ever been so unneurotic, so steadfast, or so steadily improving a moviemaker? As a director, he matches his own work as an actor: acutely aware of his limitations, he knows how to look good, how to serve and broadcast himself, while doing interesting, honest work in the mainstream. There is nothing coy, boastful or unstable, nothing out of balance or true. Who could have foretold that when those words were published in Thomson’s 1994 edition of his Biographical Dictionary of Film that this was around the midpoint of the auteur’s career? For today at the age of 94 Eastwood is preparing Juror No. 2, allegedly his final film as director. Thomson’s commentary concluded with the words, The test that awaits Eastwood is whether he can find himself in neurosis and failure. And what has he done in the last quarter century alone to credit the shrewd critic? Investigated masculinity itself in its many colours as his own age has advanced – from Million Dollar Baby and Gran Torino and Sully to American Sniper and The Mule and Cry Macho, boxing dramas, suburban race melodrama, political critiques, sardonic musical road movies. And the rest. A gallery of male neurosis, failure and a portrait of America itself. We salute you, Mr Eastwood. Many happy returns and more of them! #730days2straightyearsofdailypoststomondomovies
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