Clint Eastwood: Interviews (Conversations With Filmmakers Series) (Paperback)

by Robert E. Kapsis (Editor), Kathie Coblentz (Editor) "HE WAS ON THE phone, talking about the matrix and the looping and all the other things directors talk about when they call the Coast..." (more)
Key Phrases: Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood, Bronco Billy (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Eastwood's success as an actor has long overshadowed his directing ability, but the latest entry in an academic press series that also spotlights arthouse icons Jean-Luc Godard and John Sayles validates his recognition as a genuine cinematic auteur. The 22 interviews, 7 of which appear in English for the first time, range from 1971, when Eastwood proudly touted his directing debut, Play Misty for Me, to 1998 and a conversation conducted while he prepared to shoot True Crime, the twenty-third film he has directed. Inevitably, there is some repetition in the interviews; particularly good anecdotes resurface over the years. Since the interviews were made for publications including both daily newspapers and cineaste journals, the quality of questions varies. Throughout, however, the hallmarks of an Eastwood shoot are revealed: thorough preparation, emphasis on story, technical acumen, openness to input from crew members, and always coming in on-budget. Notoriously reserved about his personal life, Eastwood is forthcoming about his work, and his verbal unpretentiousness corresponds well to his straightforward filmmaking. Gordon Flagg --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description
Ranging over three decades of Eastwood's directorial career, the interviews in this collection have an emphasis on practical filmmaking issues and on Eastwood's philosophy of the craft. 10 photos.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 247 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578060702
• ISBN-13: 978-1578060702
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #716,463 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great look at a still underrated filmmaker, July 13, 2005

By	AARON FULLER (Portland, OR U.S. of A.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The focus of this volume is Mr. Eastwood the director, and this book collects a good variety of American and international interviews with him discussing his process, from PLAY MISTY FOR ME and THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES to BIRD and UNFORGIVEN and up through MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD & EVIL (the book was published in '99, so of course it does not feature any of his works from this new century). If after MILLION DOLLAR BABY you're finally starting to come around and see Eastwood the artist, this book is a great negotiation of his career in the director's chair, in his own, laconic, well-chosen, unpretentious and to-the-point voice. Highly recommended for any budding or hardcore Clint Eastwood fans alike. Or any serious filmfan, for that matter.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, but too pricey, August 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Clint Eastwood: Interviews (Conversations With Filmmakers Series) (Hardcover)

An interesting book for serious Clint fans. However, the $45 price tag is a little steep, and unjustifiably so. Very few photos, only black and white. Save your $$ and buy the paperback instead.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dull, dull, dull, June 17, 2008

By	Rob (Oxford, UK) - See all my reviews

As this collection of interviews shows, Eastwood has basically said the same thing to many different interviewers over & over during the past four decades. If nothing else the man is at least consistent. It isn't that Eastwood is an uninteresting interview subject but when the same questions - 'how do you approach directing?', 'why do you film so quickly?', 'how do you work with actors?' etc, etc - crop up time & time again the book can't help but get dull very, very quickly. The sad thing is that Eastwood has such a huge & varied body of work that there is an immense amount of productive analysis & discussion that could be done (especially his recent run of work which also happens to be his best). Unfortunately the authors weren't up to that so they settled for this dull tome instead.