Samuel LoveIt’s one of those names that oozes Hollywood legend. Clint. This towering figure of the silver screen has lived a life as epic as his filmography, which continues even now into his 90s. Clint Eastwood is a difficult man to write about, though – many have tried, and failed, to pick apart the man behind the illustrious career that began with a minor role in 1955’s Revenge of the Creature and just last year saw him behind the camera of courtroom drama Juror #2. 1996’s authorised biography by Richard Schickel was an overly sanitised love letter to the star, while just a few years later, Patrick McGilligan’s The Life and Legend bordered on tacky tabloid sensationalism. Clint: The Man and the Movies by film critic Shawn Levy attempts to offer the definitive take on the star – even if it is incomplete by the very fact Eastwood is still going and rumours are circulating that he’s about to step behind the camera again.
Even if incomplete, though, The Man and the Movies is still a colossal piece of work. As the title suggests, Eastwood’s life and work are thoroughly examined – and the book strikes a delicate balance between the aforementioned Schickel and McGilligan takes. What I really appreciated about Levy’s approach is how well he balances honesty with admiration. He doesn’t gloss over the darker parts of Eastwood’s life or personality – there’s no attempt to sugarcoat anything, particularly Eastwood’s behaviour with women over the years – but at the same time, he doesn’t let those flaws overshadow the real accomplishments either. It’s a nuanced take, and it feels refreshingly fair.
Levy structures the book around Eastwood’s career film by film, offering not just the facts (a glorified Wikipedia entry this ain’t!) but thoughtful commentary and context. In his introduction, Levy outlines his motivation behind the book which primarily stems from the lack of recent, balanced biographies and particularly his goal to find a middle ground that feels fair.
Clint: The Man and the Movies certainly achieves this goal, offering an accessible journey through Eastwood’s magnificent life and career that feels fair and balanced. While lengthy and perhaps repetitive in places, the book is wonderfully paced and compelling throughout. It is also worth noting the admirable level of research and detail that has gone into every page, as is evident in the many, many footnotes and sources. Fans of the star will find nuggets of gold on every page and feel closer than ever to the enigmatic icon.
It feels almost surreal to read a book like this about a Hollywood icon who got his start in the 1950s, and remind yourself he’s still around – and still working. Eastwood is truly one of the last great figures of Hollywood, with one of the most prolific careers, and it will be a sad day when he passes. But until then, Shawn Levy’s definitive book is both a wonderful tribute and a fair, balanced examination of the man behind the movies.
Clint: The Man and the Movies is available now from Mariner Books
About the Author
Shawn Levy is the author of the bestsellers The Castle on Sunset, Rat Pack Confidential, Paul Newman: A Life, King of Comedy: The Life and Art of Jerry Lewis, and Dolce Vita Confidential. The former film critic of The Oregonian, he has written for Sight and Sound, Film Comment, American Film, Interview, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, The Black Rock Beacon, and The Hollywood Reporter. He lives in Portland, Oregon.
