DVD Reviews

The Eastwood Factor (Extended Edition) – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Jun 3, 2010, 12:51 GMT

$For 35 years Clint Eastwood has called Warner Bros. home. In The Eastwood Factor (Extended Version), film historian Richard Schickel (You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story) ventures beyond Eastwood’s tough, iconic screen personas to reveal the easygoing and thoughtful man behind the magic. Morgan Freeman narrates this insightful profile that features memorable film clips and visits to movie locations, the Warner Bros. lot and Eastwood\'s hometown Carmel where,$

For 35 years Clint Eastwood has called Warner Bros. home. In The Eastwood Factor (Extended Version), film historian Richard Schickel (You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story) ventures beyond Eastwood’s tough, iconic screen personas to reveal the easygoing and thoughtful man behind the magic. Morgan Freeman narrates this insightful profile that features memorable film clips and visits to movie locations, the Warner Bros. lot and Eastwood\'s hometown Carmel where, ...more

Clint Eastwood recently turned eighty years old. He shows no sign of slowing down, well maybe in his acting since he is more content to step into the director’s chair than appear in front of the camera.

Film critic Richard Schickel expands the short found on that large Eastwood box set into a fascinating look at the iconic actor with the release of The Eastwood Factor (Extended Edition).

May 31, 1930, witnessed the birth of Clinton Elias Eastwood Jr. He would adopt the nickname of Clint and the world would take notice when he put on a poncho and gnawed on a short cigar for Sergio Leone.

In 1971, he decided to step behind the camera and direct his first feature, Play Misty for Me. It’s odd for me to think that Eastwood has been directing movies for as long as I’ve been on the planet. It was a turning point for him and through the years he has grown into one of our premiere directors. Not bad for a kid that started on Rawhide.

He has also found a permanent home at Warner Brothers studio. He’s made 35 films over 35 years for them and this and his 80th birthday are some of the reasons for the celebrations of late.

Film critic and historian Richard Schickel is no stranger to documentary-making, Warner Brothers, or Eastwood. He premiered a brief version of the documentary on the big box set that was released in February as well as a book on Eastwood. Schickel is one of Eastwood’s pals so I’m sure he was granted access that just your average filmmaker would not have been allowed.

Eastwood sits around and is interviewed about his many films for Warner and as he talks about each of them you’ll be hankering to revisit them yourself from both the discussion and the film clips.

I wanted to pull out my copy of the Outlaw Josey Wales because it is a great movie and the grand performance by Chief Dan George. Eastwood also fondly remembers the film and his costar.

Eastwood tours the backlot of the studio as well as looking at the costumes used in his films and showing a soundstage that his intervention saved from being shut down. That soundstage now bears his name. Thankfully if you don’t already have the films in your collection, Warner Brothers is happy to oblige as they’re re-released/repackaged the films.

Some of them are even making their premieres on Blu-ray. It’s a wonderful trip down memory lane for both Eastwood and the viewer. Fans of both Hollywood documentaries and the iconic actor will be delighted.

The Eastwood Factor is presented in fullscreen. There are no special features. That’s a bit sad as I’m sure there are deleted scenes or discussions that didn’t make it into the film.

Richard Schickel gave us a taste of what he had in store and now we’re treated to the main course in this fine documentary. Clint Eastwood seems like an affable, down-to-earth type.

Not only is he a fine actor, but an accomplished director and Schickel’s documentary lens only serves to remind us of both. Happy 80th Mr. Eastwood and here’s hoping to 80 more.