"Precipice of a Plunge"?
"If one is talking Oscars with a film like Invictus then it's worth considering that even fans of the piece couldn't possibly, credibly consider it one of Eastwood's top tier works," writes In Contention's Kris Tapley. "An expanded Best Picture category and enough traditionalist voting methods will likely secure it a spot in the field, and Morgan Freeman has enough gravitas to coast to a most undeserved nomination, but beyond that, nothing rings true.
"Best Director? It would be surprising. Best Supporting Actor? The acting branch would be voting on autopilot. Below the line? Not enough frills.
"But away from the black hole of awards considerations, it's difficult not to see Invictus as a warning that Eastwood could be on the precipice of a Woody Allen-like plunge following a very commendable late-career burst. Every one of Allen's films as of late, throughout his career, have been about something. But the craft has worn thin (save for last year's Vicky Cristina Barcelona). That's where I'd say Eastwood finds himself, despite what critical apologists might say. A few moments away from the fray might do him good."
Alllen's Match Point was thin? Not according to my yardstick.
Eastwood can't take a few moments away from the fray because if he did he'd lost his momentum. He's following a plan -- keep moving, stay limbre, keep 'em coming at a price -- and he's on a clock. As Christopher Plummer's Mike Wallace says in the third act of The Insider, "What do I say at this point? That in the future I'd like to do this or that? Future...what future?":
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 30, 2009 at 10:09 AM
comment #1
Eloi Manning
says ...
Will Ron Howard receive Eastwood levels of critical adulation when he's in his 70s? Or Edward Zwick?
Posted by Eloi Manning
at November 30, 2009 10:24 AM
comment #2
Sean
says ...
INVICTUS joins GRAN TORINO and MILLION DOLLAR BABY on the estimable Glenn Kenny's Top 70 of the decade.
http://somecamerunning.typepad.com/some_came_running/2009/11/the-seventy-greatest-films-of-the-decade.html#more
Posted by Sean
at November 30, 2009 10:33 AM
comment #3
corey3rd
says ...
Blindside will get the 10th nom
Posted by corey3rd
at November 30, 2009 10:37 AM
comment #4
raygo
says ...
I went to see Million Dollar Baby based on Jeff's rave and similar raves from both commenters and other critics. I found it underwhelming and not all that special. The reverse happened with Grand Torino, where I was prepared to be disappointed and found it much better that I expected, and in my opinion more entertaining than Million Dollar Baby. That said, any Eastwood project is worthy of consideration. Some more than others. I don't see any misses of the caliber of Woody Allen. And Match Point was wafer thin, considering he borrowed the basic premise from Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Posted by raygo
at November 30, 2009 11:03 AM
comment #5
Mark
says ...
Didn't Jeffrey start the trend of grading director's works in tiers?
Clint's directed a few masterpieces, so i'm not sure it's fair to compare every one of his films to those. No Country won best picture, and that felt fine, yet I wouldn't consider it top-tier Coen brothers. Fairly middle of the pack. A good adaptation, but not nearly as special as Raising Arizona or Fargo.
Posted by Mark
at November 30, 2009 11:18 AM
comment #6
JohnCope
says ...
If Tapley thinks VCB is Woody's best recent pic then I automatically can discount the rest of his opinion. As to Match Point: it doesn't matter to me that it "borrowed the basic premise from Crimes and Misdemeanors"; it's a variation on the theme and what matters is what Woody did with it this time.
Posted by JohnCope
at November 30, 2009 11:18 AM
comment #7
raygo
says ...
It seems to me that because Match Point is (to my knowledge) the first Allen movie to feature really smoking hot actors in a sex-fueled scenario, people attach some sort of gravitas to it that it really doesn't deserve.
Posted by raygo
at November 30, 2009 11:25 AM
comment #8
Josh Massey
says ...
As much as I love Clint the actor (and the man), I must admit Clint the director has made only one great movie since Unforgiven - Letters From Iwo Jima.
The rest have ranged from very good (Mystic River, A Perfect World) to middling (Flags From Our Fathers, Million Dollar Baby) to downright awful (Gran Torino, True Crime).
But the common bond between those films? They were showered with effusive praise from all corners of the criticsphere. People seem afraid to say anything negative about an Eastwood film, so I'm taking the straining-to-be-nice Invictus reception to mean it falls in the "downright awful" category.
Posted by Josh Massey
at November 30, 2009 11:33 AM
comment #9
Sonic Boom
says ...
Saying Clint should slow down a bit at his age is ridiculous and I'm not even a big fan of the guy's work. I think Mystic River might be the most over-rated film of the decade.
At the same time, I think Letters from Iwo Jima should have won Best Picture.
Posted by Sonic Boom
at November 30, 2009 11:40 AM
comment #10
Myles
says ...
We get it, Jeff. You don't like this flick.
Move on.
Posted by Myles
at November 30, 2009 11:56 AM
comment #11
Muscle McGurk
says ...
I could've sworn the plunge happened somewhere in the aftermath of The Outlaw Josey Wales.
Posted by Muscle McGurk
at November 30, 2009 1:14 PM
comment #12
Scott Nye
says ...
Eastwood is the definition of giving a director a break because we like him. Like a lot of people, I have varied reactions to his work, loved some and felt pretty indifferent to others, but none have deserved their highest praise (i.e. Best Director, Best Picture, etc.). There's always been much better stuff out there.
But I do give Eastwood a break because I like him, so I'll absolutely see Invictus. But I would be shocked if it made my Top 30 for the year, much less a Top 10.
Posted by Scott Nye
at November 30, 2009 2:53 PM
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