Torino Testimony
In a discussion of the Best Actor race in his latest Envelope column, Pete Hammond reports about an "honest-to-God truth, swear on a stack of bibles" response from an insider who saw a rough cut of Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino earlier this week. The tipster said that "the old guy could actually win it all for this one. He's that good in this." The insider adds that "the role gives Clint great emotional range," Hammond says.
"With a smart True Grit style campaign that takes note of the fact Eastwood has actually never won an acting Oscar, he certainly should vault to the top of any list if indeed the film and performance lives up to this earliest of hype."
Question: Is the person who whispered to Hammond the same one who told Kris Tapley that Clint could be a contender? How many people went to that screening last Monday or Tuesday?
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 24, 2008 at 1:49 PM
comment #1
Zimmergirl
says ...
Who gives a fuck what some person says? These things are SO unreliable. Why bother with them. Could be a contender - tell us something we didn't know? Not you, Jeff, the whole deal.
Posted by Zimmergirl
at October 24, 2008 2:21 PM
comment #2
K. Bowen
says ...
Consider the source.
Posted by K. Bowen
at October 24, 2008 2:22 PM
comment #3
alynch
says ...
With a smart True Grit style campaign that takes note of the fact Eastwood has actually never won an acting Oscar, he certainly should vault to the top of any list if indeed the film and performance lives up to this earliest of hype.
Sorry, but that's ridiculous. Nobody is going to buy a campaign that claims that Eastwood is under-rewarded
Posted by alynch
at October 24, 2008 2:44 PM
comment #4
lazarus
says ...
He already has two Oscars too many, at least.
Everyone on the Awards Daily forums is laughing at this trailer, I can't believe people are even taking it seriously here.
I said it looks like a combination of Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, and Crash, and I don't mean that in a good way.
Posted by lazarus
at October 24, 2008 2:47 PM
comment #5
John Y
says ...
Angry, old Clint is gonna teach those youngins a thing or two about how to be a man.
Oh brother...
Posted by John Y
at October 24, 2008 3:38 PM
comment #6
Kristopher Tapley
says ...
FYI, no one whispered anything to me. I posted my thoughts based solely on my feelings about the season's contenders and a reading of the script.
FWIW.
Posted by Kristopher Tapley
at October 24, 2008 3:45 PM
comment #7
btwnproductions
says ...
This looks like a kinder, gentler, touchy-feely, be-nice-to-Asian-immigrants DEATH SENTENCE...not Oscar material. It's amusing that anything Eastwood does is now considered Academy Awards bait.
Posted by btwnproductions
at October 24, 2008 4:11 PM
comment #8
Roman
says ...
But it is bait, at least in a sense that all of the recongnizible beats, all of the elelments are recognizibly Academy frendly. Still, what worries me the most is that all these elelments are also recognizibly to a point where they almost seem cliche. Here we have bits of Crash, Million Dollar Baby and Westerns... I haven't read the script yet so I'm very interested to see how it really plays out.
Also, is it me or does the first part of the trailer lookes like it was shot by Kaminski? Especially the shot in the car. It's uncanny.
Posted by Roman
at October 24, 2008 4:31 PM
comment #9
The InSneider
says ...
I'm with Sasha. What's with these some guy said... a little birdy told me... reactions? If they're not man enough to go on the record, screw their opinions. Same with all these talkbackers who don't use their real names. I listen to and respect Wells, Sasha, Tapley, Moriarty, Devin, Joe Leydon, Mike Binder, John Young, Rob Scheer, Hickenlooper, etc. b/c I either know them personally or they post under their real names like I do. We're putting ourselves, our opinions and professional reputations out there. I just don't care when some anonymous exhibitor or whoever says trust me, it has the stuff to go all the way. Who are these people and why do I care? I saw the Gran Torino trailer before Pride and Glory last night (P.S. Wells, I don't share your enthusiasm for that one) and I thought it looked pretty good. Not quite what I was expecting. Clint looks bad-ass. Not sure I see a Best Actor nom in the cards for the guy but I can't wait to see the performance because it does look like it has the chance to be special. We'll see. Until then Hammond's insider's view means jack-squat to me, as it should to everyone else. I realize this is how the Oscar game is played but c'mon, an insider is no substitute for The InSneider!
Posted by The InSneider
at October 24, 2008 4:51 PM
comment #10
btwnproductions
says ...
"The InSneider" is your name? That's unconventional parenting.
Posted by btwnproductions
at October 24, 2008 4:58 PM
comment #11
frankbooth
says ...
Sometimes, knowing the person's name is reason enough to discount his opinion.
Posted by frankbooth
at October 24, 2008 5:28 PM
comment #12
Cadavra
says ...
Shameless bit of trivia: one of Clint's sons is played by the great Brian Howe, beloved by LOST SKELETON fans for his performance as the evil Dr. Roger Fleming.
Posted by Cadavra
at October 24, 2008 11:31 PM
comment #13
janee
says ...
Si vous etes interesses par le dossier, ou desirez en savoir plus, contactez-moi par mail, et je vous mettrai en contact.
Best regards,Jane, CEO of high availability solutions
Posted by janee
at May 18, 2011 6:25 AM