In A.O. Scott‘s N.Y. Times review of Shawn Levy‘s “Clint“, he notes that Levy’s judgments “mostly follow the critical consensus, but the mini-reviews embedded in the narrative are among the most amusing and illuminating parts of the book.

“Levy can be witheringly succinct: ‘Ew. Just ew’ sums up his view of Breezy (’73), Eastwood’s little remembered third feature as a director. (It’s about a middle-aged man’s sexual awakening with a 17-year-old flower child).”

Correction #1: Scott is dead wrong. Breezy is about a middle-aged man’s (William Holden) spiritual awakening by way of a relationship with a 17-year-old hippie chick (Kay Lenz). They eventually become lovers in Act Two, yes, but Eastwood gently de-emphasizes the sexual aspects of their relationship. It’s a story about emotionally opening up.

Correction #2: Breezy isn’t even a slight “ew” — it’s modest and character-driven and entirely effective for what it is. I hate Holden’s ’70s wardrobe (orange sweaters, checked pants, elephant collars) and his real-estate hustler scowls a lot (Lenz’s hippie-chick calls him “dark cloud”) but it’s an honestly felt, medium-range thing, and a better-than-decent effort on Eastwood’s part.

The pacing is natural and unhurried, and the dialogue is nicely sculpted for the most part. It was also the first film Clint directed in which he didn’t star.

Holden’s performance as Frank Harmon, a cynical real-estate agent, radiates a solid gravity force in every one of his scenes. I’m particularly fond of a moment in which Harmon and a real-estate colleague are discussing some hippie kids who are frolicking nearby. Harmon offers a sardonic two-word assessment: “Low tide.”