Book Reviewed: Clint Eastwood's America by Sam B. Girgus
This is one of the many books written about the life and works of Clint Eastwood. What make this book different from others is that it analyzes his vision thorough his work. Eastwood Emerged in film industry as a typical "cowboy" and a "tough cop" but turned himself into to a great director. After decades of acting and directing and attaining success and fame, his first major creative power is illustrated in his 1992 movie, "Unforgiven," in which he plays an aging cowboy who is spurned by the society for his past, searches for his soul, destiny and the meaning of existence. The book largely delves on the moral and ethical issues tackled in Eastwood's movies. Eastwood looks at each character and the movie he made with great sensibility and responsibility.
In the movie, "Million Dollar Baby," Frankie Dunn becomes the Eastwood's fullest expression in an individual character. In this story, we observe an infinite ethical possibility and the inherent experimental limitations of the human condition. Eastwood comes closer, than any of his other movies, to imagining the possibility of transcendence in the ethical and human responsibility to other fellow beings
The characters in "Mystic River," operate in a world of inevitable ethical encounter. It continues the quest for redemption and renewal in a world of moral confusion. His search for the human dimension and meaning of relationships goes beyond the admiration of the self, and seek to appreciate the love for others. The movie makes many references to the spiritual side that reinforces in a belief that Eastwood has great interest in demonstrating the moral and ethical dilemma of life. The aerial shot of the Mystic River at the beginning and the end, and also repetitively during the story suggest the vision of nature.
Eastwood's work also represents a generational bridge that clearly looks to the future as in "Flags of our Fathers," and "Letters from Iwo Jima." He visits his perennial theme of parental responsibility and family relationships as the basis of a healthy society. This book is interesting to anyone interested in the career of Clint Eastwood especially the movies he directed. The book tries to measure the moral dimension of his work.
