True Crime

I rented this film partly because I am a Clint Eastwood fan and have enjoyed many films in which he has acted or has directed. Although I watched this one through to the end, it was largely to see if it would redeem itself (or, probably more accurately, whether Eastwood would redeem himself as an actor and a director). Many/most of the points of criticism that other reviewers have alluded to jump out from the very beginning: • Clint must have been around 68 or 69 when this film was made - and looks every bit of it. Playing a character with so many attractive younger women fighting for his amorous attentions just didn't work and in the scenes with his young daughter he looked every bit her grandfather - and not a young one at that. • The story line was just riddled with obvious clichés: the world-weary reporter who has given up the drink but can't give up the women or annoying everyone else around him; the boss who stays loyal despite all of his faults because he recognises there's talent in there; the racist elements surrounding the murder investigation and subsequent conviction; and many, many more. • Some of the acting was way below Eastwood's normal standard. It was crying out for another director to say 'cut - do it again' • Some of the scenes were just implausible, my favourite being the one where Eastwood is searching for some clue to 'the other person' and just happens to be handed, from a room full of boxes and papers, the very notebook open the vey page he needs, with the very clue he was hoping for. • And in one day he manages to piece together a resolution that other talented detectives and lawyers have missed over many months and years of painstaking work. Despite all of that I thought it still worth a watch (just) and have given it 2. 5 stars.

Clint should have hung up his macho about 10 years back. He looks every bit his 82. Whaen he is doing the biz/chat with pretty babes of 20 he looks like he should be paying, or arrested.

He always had a quiet voice, but now is actually faint. Has so much money he can fund these films himself, with a few sychophants.

Get a copy of High Plains Drifter, or Dirty Harry etc. He did some great films, and should be remembered as he was.

I know some reviewers were a little frustrated that Clint seemed to be able to get it on with fit young women (and at his age! oh how could he!?), and it is a little far-fetched in parts, but this really is a great film.

Eastwood always manages to find a way to engage you from start to finish. Like you've just taken a ride with him on some wonderful journey in his clapped out mustang.

A must see.

A passable film. Predictable but largely plausible storyline. BUT!!! Like a previous reviewer, I was distracted throughout the film as to why all these beautiful and intelligent women would even be flattered by Clint Eastwood's character's lame and cliched attentions, never mind be haplessly swooning into bed with him at his merest suggestion, uttered with stale alcohol breath whilst he hitched up his waist high trousers. Urgh!!

I'm a big Eastwood fan but this was painful. Rotten story, terrible acting - it got so bad that I just fast-forwarded to the end just to see what happened.