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When Life Gives You Shit, Make Shit-Ade
Just posting the whole damned thing:Eastwood’s Unexpected Gift
By William F. Gavin
August 31, 2012 11:47 A.M.
I am 77, just at that time of life when I am jaded, weary, and sometimes sick of tryin’. Then along comes Clint Eastwood to remind me that I haven’t seen it all, not by a long shot. Utterly bizarre, totally mesmerizing, unintentionally hilarious, horrifying and wonderful at the same time, like a brief scene from one of those absurdist plays they used to write in the 1960′s. He forgot his lines, lost his way, and, like the life-time jazz lover he is, improvised and did a non-musical version of scat singing. Two — count ’em! — references to an anatomically impossible act — before that audience. And this at the most buttoned-down convention in memory.
All this, his geezer stutterings and mutterings, the over-80 frailness, combined with his undeniable, inescapable charisma which we have watched for 50 years or so — just an unexpected gift, magnificent, inhabiting a different time-space continuum from that of Republican delegates and Mitt Romney (who delivered a good speech very well).
— William F. Gavin is author of Speechwright and a former assistant to Senator James L. Buckley.
In comments:It was predictable that even someone beloved as Clint "you feeling lucky, punk?" Eastwood would be thrown under the bus after appearing at the RNC for Mitt Romney. Thanks for putting yourself out there, Clint! We appreciate your public stand.
The bus:
22 comments:
Have not watched. Will not watch. Theory follows:
Almost the entirety of the Eastwood oeuvre, certainly most of the iconic roles he is remembered for, is based on that favourite narrative trope, the Hero's Exemption. That it's okay for Clint to kill and maim because he's the good guy. The anti-hero with a checkered past, as bad as the criminal scoundrels he brings to justice. But all that stuff doesn't count because of exceptionalism.
Following through, as an exceptional character for whom the normal rules do not apply - where every action is based on a truly noble justification. In fact, where whatever his motives are - that is now redefined as noble. He makes a sammich because he's hungry? Hunger is now a virtue.
So he is always right. And always noble. And always the hero. Whatever he says or does is definitionally inspirational. And then they put him out in front of a red meat craving crowd of drooling racist fucktards.
I can't bring myself to watch the whole thing, but what you're writing sounds more "positive" than what happened. It was a disaster. And therefore someone can claim that Clint gets thrown under the bus becuase...he did a bizarre thing and everyone calls it bizarre, including cheery speechwriter above.
Ouchies. I am glad for having not watched.
And this at the most buttoned-down convention in memory.
I am hoping this is in reference to Bob Newhart, who told Clint, he and his lawyers would be in touch. :)
I can't bring myself to watch the whole thing
I couldn't either... as a daughter of someone who was born mere years before Clint. I remember realizing that when Clint was in "Play Misty for Me" and my sister and I would sing, "Look at me... I'm Clint Eastwood on TV wearing BVD's"... until we realized how close he was to our father's age. Anyhow, my father is in no condition to be making national speeches... and neither is Clint.
Or was it, "I'm Clint Eastwood wearing briefs on TV"???
I'm not gonna pick at the meter of girls singing about underwear.
I'm not gonna pick at the meter of girls singing about underwear.
and THAT's worth saying twice!
OT: 12-string.
What the fudge? I am jealous.
Imma put up a comment at my joint.
I'm not gonna pick at the meter of girls singing about underwear.
:)
Now that I think about it, it was the latter.
I remember BVD's being the uber-new dealio... and then they became old school. What next? Mitt's magical undies via Joe Boxer?
Mark Steyn thought it was brilliant.
I like the lolbus.
I stole the LOLBUS, which first pursued Ann here.
Slightly related: what was up with the podium at the convention? The top looked like an AC unit, the kind that hangs out the window. I found myself missing the one with the cross on it from four years ago.
That IS weird. Must have been some kind of machinery in there that needed cooling. TELEPROMPTER???
Totally not a teleprompter.
I watched the whole thing.
It was astounding...time was fleeting.
~
I've liked things he's done. I feel bad about watching him crash and burn.
In light of this, maybe Paul Ryan should be depicted running. Or not.
Slightly related: what was up with the podium at the convention?
Discussion of the design aspects at my joint. Maybe discussion is the wrong word.
Suffice to say, they set out to ape the worst, most hackneyed cliches of Prairie style architecture, and SUCKED REALLY BAD at it.
Discussion of the design aspects at my joint.
Thanks, I'll check it out.
I am 77, just at that time of life when I am jaded, weary, and sometimes sick of tryin’.
What took him so fucking long?
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