Unseen Movie Review: Flags of Our Fathers

By Robert Dixter Oct 15, 2006, 12:03 GMT

From Academy Award®-winning director Clint Eastwood (“Million Dollar Baby,” “Unforgiven”) comes the World War II drama “Flags of Our Fathers,” produced by Eastwood and Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg (“Saving Private Ryan,” “Schindler’s List”). February 1945. Even as victory in Europe was finally within reach, the war in the Pacific raged on. One of the most crucial and bloodiest battles of the war was the struggle for the island of Iwo ...more

When I was younger I remember watching some old ‘Dirty Harry’ movies and a few Clint westerns and thinking they’re ok, the action is pretty cool and this guy has the same attitude as my grandmother.

I never really thought they were brilliant cinema or that Clint Eastwood was some great actor.

Then in August of 1992 I saw ‘Unforgiven’ and was blown away. I mean socks knocked off, hair standing up, I think I just tongue kissed my sister blown away.

This Eastwood guy had re-invented the western as we knew it. He delivered a fantastic film with great acting and a whole new way of looking at the iconic cowboy.  I had not been that impressed with a genre bending film like that since Mariah Carey proved you could suck at both music and movies with Glitter.

Then I got to thinking, maybe I missed something with the earlier Eastwood movies (and I’m not referring to the Sergio Leone ones so save your comments). I went back and watched them again, and realized that I was actually right all along. There really was nothing to them.  All of a sudden out of nowhere Clint Eastwood was a director to watch (and he did win the Oscar to prove it).

Fast forward a couple of years (can you hear the Tivo blip sound?) and Clint has become one of those directors that people bend over backwards to work with.  He’s become a Woody Allen type who can pretty much get any actor he wants to appear in his films.

They all want to do it for the experience and not necessarily the money. Clint supposedly creates the greatest working environment on his sets. Every actor talks about how relaxed they are and how great it is to work on them. Sounds like a Clint set is a lot like working in an ice cream parlor. The pay isn’t great but as long as you’re not lactose intolerant the benefits are awesome.

After more great films like ‘Mystic River’ and ‘Million Dollar Baby,’ Clint is finally tackling a huge and historic subject, no, it’s not the David Gest / Liza Minnelli marriage, he’s making a World War II film.

‘Flags of Our Fathers’ is also produced by Steven Spielberg, and since Steve made ‘Saving Private Ryan’ having him on board can’t hurt.

I am very excited for this film, and I think Clint will no doubt do a great job but as usual I have one reservation.  (Come on, if I don’t complain to you who would listen?)  It’s the cast. 

I am not a big fan of Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford or Paul Walker.  I just think there are so many more talented young actors in Hollywood these days, like Shia LaBeouf.  But in Clint we trust, and I’m pretty sure he’ll get what he wants out of them (remember how well Soderbergh transformed Clooney from his crappy ER acting into movie star with ‘Out of Sight’?  I think Clint might be able to pull off the same thing).

Clint has become one of those few directors who always offers something interesting.  I will always check out any new movie he puts out and he’s managed to work his way on to my list that includes Marty, Steve and that guy that shot the Paris Hilton home video.