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Massawyrm Loves GRAN TORINO!!
Hola all. Massawyrm here.
There are a few definitive men in cinematic history that we point to and use as the prime examples of what we think a MAN is. If I were to ask all of you to take a moment to step away from your computer, jot down the names of the five manliest actors to ever grace the screen and then come back to this article, you would no doubt find a lot of the same names over and over again on everyone else’s lists. Some of the younger among you might throw out some more recent names – teens might tap Gerard Butler while 20-somethings might mention Clive Owen. Older Audiences might nod to Frank Sinatra or Michael Caine. But the bulk of cinema fans would knowingly tap the same four guys, time and again. Bronson, Heston, Wayne. EASTWOOD.
For the past five decades, Eastwood has been considered one of cinemas toughest leading men. Not just a man, but a MAN’S MAN. From westerns to cop movies to blue collar action and comedy films, we’ve seen Clint emulate the very essence of manhood. BUT, he did so in a manner that often was soaked in blood and festooned in violence. Some of Eastwood’s best films have been revenge films – certainly his very best both as an actor and a director, Unforgiven, is entirely about revenge. In fact it’s hard to think of a man that we’d put on these lists that I mentioned that didn’t star in films where he had to wash the blood off of his hands once the credits began to roll. Honestly, how many of you thought of kindly, fatherly actors who stood for what it meant to take care of your family?
The reason I mention all this is because I can’t help but think that Eastwood’s new film (again both as an actor and a director) Gran Torino is a commentary on that. Whether an apology for what he had to say in those films for all those years or as a golden years reflection upon the nature of life and death, Eastwood has shown up, as he says in the film, ‘with both pistols loaded’ ready to take on what it REALLY means to be a man. Because that, at its heart, is what this film is entirely about.
Eastwood plays Walter Kowalski, an elderly Polish American asshole of the highest degree. The guy’s a prick, a total bastard who raised two spineless, shitheel sons and has just lost the only person he really gave a shit about – his wife. He’s a passive racist – he believes in the inferiority of every other race but never does anything about it. He wouldn’t hit a black guy because he was black. But he certainly wouldn’t give him the time of day either. But the most important thing you need to know about Walt is that he is entirely unafraid to say exactly what he’s thinking, no matter how derogatory, ill advised or offensive. Oh yeah, one more thing. Walt’s mouth never writes a check that his ass can’t cash. If he gets in your face, you will end up the one backing down. Because he never will.
What’s important to know about Gran Tornio going in is that much like The Wrestler this is a film that is completely unexpected and looks very different in its advertising than what it is. To watch the trailer, this looks like a BADASS movie. It’s not. Is it one of the best films of the year? You bet your ass it is. But it’s not an unrepentantly violent film. It’s not a revenge film like the trailer sets it up to be. It’s about a man that time forgot, who unwittingly becomes a neighborhood hero and the surrogate patriarch of the family next door. When he accidently becomes the role model for the ball-less sissy boy neighbor, he takes it upon himself to man this kid up, and in doing so gives the audience a firm lesson on what Eastwood thinks a man really is.
And that’s where the film lives and breathes. Is there ass beating? Sure there is. Is it filled with Clint Eastwood tough talk and quotable dialog? Absolutely. But that’s not what this film is about. It’s a slow, touching film about what it really means to be a father and how violence only begets more violence. It is a stunning and startling continuation of his Unforgiven message.
The film is incredible. It’s a warm hug from a bitter old grandpa – it’s finding out that the teacher that rode you so hard in class really liked you after all. As despicable as Walt is, you can’t help but fall in with the old son of a bitch. What at first is jarring offensive language slowly becomes comedy as you become desensitized to Walt’s endless racist screed. What he has to say ceases to be uncomfortable and eventually becomes funny, until you’re laughing at the sheer unrepentant excess of it all. It never becomes acceptable. You simply acknowledge that this is who Walt is and forgive it because as you get to know him, you discover just how good a man he can really be.
This is a film that sticks with you, that embeds itself in your DNA for a couple of days as you process it and take in the lessons that Eastwood has for you. Because that’s the type of film it is. It has a lot to say. About life. About death. About community and family. About the difference between someone who THINKS he’s tough and someone who actually IS tough. About violence. And about salvation.
And it is one of the very best films of the year, easily top 5 material. Personally, it finds itself second only to Frost/Nixon in terms of the year’s best on my list. Unlike Frost/Nixon, as good as it is, it has a few flaws – chiefly the occasional spotty acting. Eastwood’s strive for authenticity seems to have left him with decidedly few Hmong people (the ethnicity of Walt’s neighbors) to choose from as actors, you may notice a few of the Hmong seeming a bit stiff. This works since most of their dialog is subtitled, but a few folks stick out. And sadly Christopher Carley, who plays the priest Father Janovich, is decidedly uneven. While he perfectly nails every line of any import, imparting just the right emotion to punctuate the profound or funny moments, he often flubs throw away lines and occasionally gives that “cold read” kind of feel – something that sticks out like a sore thumb as his every scene puts him opposite Clint Eastwood. But none of this occurs during the really powerful scenes, when even the smallest actor is fantastic.
Powerful, profound and deeply moving, this is a film I’ve already watched twice and will no doubt revisit at least a few more times. Absolutely one of the year’s must see films, catch this at your earliest opportunity.
Until next time friends, smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em.
Massawyrm
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..and it made my day
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racing movies are cool
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..is driving the Viper in the Deep Forest track
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Beaks doesn't know what he's talking about.
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I'm pleasantly surprised. You're right, the trailer makes it look like senior citizen Dirty Harry. Instead it's more like dear old Grampa's instruction book on how to be a man in a society which has forgotten.
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The title is odd. I'll probably see it as a rental, just like I'll have to catch Changeling as a rental. Clint, do another Western!
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"GRAN TORINO's crucial scene arrives somewhere in the second act...." Um how about telling us a little about the first act first? Beaks needs some lessons form The Massa.
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Sounds like the last time we'll see Clint showing us how to grow a pair.
One question - did anyone here review Frost/Nixon. -
Unforgiven isn't totally about revenge although I'd say it's 80 percent. Bill Munny would not have even considered taking the job if he didn't need the money to feed his children. I forget but didn't their whole herd die, or was going to die from Anthrax. He was retired from the business as his wife tamed him. It was about revenge by the hookers, and later only revenge on Clint's part for decorating the bar with his friend.
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Sounds promising.But I already know no. 1 of next year:From director James Cameron, director of ALIENS and T2...AVATAR - Fucking your eyeballs in 2009!!!
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Wallace and Gromit:A Matter of Loaf and Death showing on Christmas Day, BBC1, my Xmas viewing is sorted.
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The best I can remember reading from Massa. I knew nothing about this, and now I know the only thing I need to know...which is I have to see it.
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Motoko, you're going to look like an even bigger douche next year, when Avatar tries to thumb a softy into someone eye socket because it can't get wood.
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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Gerard Butler and Clive Owen are carrying a tradition of masculinity that was defined in part by Bogart, Cagney, and Cooper - Names that come to mind certainly (and respectfully) before Michael Caine; I know this isn't the crux of your writing but I thought I'd throw that out there. Also: "Unforgiven" was NOT about revenge.
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who modeled his dirty harry voice after marilyn monroe.
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fucking garbage.
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And starred in "Paint Your Wagon"!!!
Just bustin' his chops. Clint is the man. -
It's about how violence begets more violence, which is slightly different.
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Alright, obviously, you've got to have Eastwood and Wayne on there. There's no doubt about that. Heston? Eh. You could take or leave him. Charles Bronson played one tough character that eventually became a caricature, so he's out.
And that leads to your most glaring omission: Steve McQueen. He might actually be on the top of my list, though I would recognize myself in the minority on that. And also on the list - way, way ahead of Bronson, as far as I'm concerned - is another serious omission, Robert Mitchum.
I'll grant you Heston. Could anyone argue with a Wayne, Eastwood, McQueen, Mitchum and Heston in a Manliness Pentagon? And yes, I'm also concerned with how much I thought I put into this. -
Unfortunately that lsit should read thusly:
1. Lee Marvin
2. Lee Marvin
3. Lee Marvin
4. Lee Marvin
5. Lee Marvin.
You did a good job listing 6-10 though : ) -
I think the man discussion is a fun one, as I have not been in this Talkback for years.
I think with regards to the big five, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Charlton Heston are tight, safe choices. Steve McQueen makes sense, too, though I'm sure some could also make a case for Paul Newman though he did not really play always "man's man" roles.
Mitchum is a very strong choice and do not forget Gregory Peck, either! And before the AIDS news broke out, Rock Hudson (so my mother tells me) would have been a strong choice. Only saw two of his movies, but damn, just the name sounds right.
But Michael Caine, I am not so sure - you take his stuff from the '60's, sure. But then he's doing Woody Allen and gay thrillers (just kidding) with Christopher Reeve and it makes it a little tougher.
Going internationally and British, though, you cannot leave out Connery. He has defined manhood for generations and yes, that went beyond even Bond.
Going further internationally, how can you not include Schwarzeneggar? I know, he's not the actors those are others are and never was going to be, BUT......the dude had presence in spades. He also defined manhood for a generation of kids.
And one international choice that is so easy that I am sure I am just the first to bring it up: Bruce Lee. Too short of a career, but so iconic.
You really think there has to be an African American in there - Richard Roundtree maybe could have pulled it off with a fuller career. Sydney Poitier was probably just too well-spoken. It's easy to forget 15 years ago, but Wesley Snipes was heading that way (towards iconic man status and the guy had some acting chops), but then his career just tanked. Samuel L. Jackson is close, but wow, did he drop the ball on closing the manliness deal with the Star Wars movies - he should have dominated the screen, does any one even remember his role? And like Michael Caine, I think his iconic status is dragged down a bit by just doing so many crap movies in between the good ones. Jaws 4, meet Snakes on a Plane!
I think Denzel Washington just has to be in the conversation - he is an iconic actor, no doubt. Glory was on, last night, and if that whipping staredown scene just doesn't grab, nothing will - he deserves mention for that scene, alone. -
recipe. Take The Dirty Dozen, add the Magnificent Seven. Throw in Clint and the Duke, stir, and voila.
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because he's too broad of an actor. I love him in his almost all his work. Whereas the previous mentioned actors were almost pure action/western, Chuck was not, although that was a good part of his repetoire.
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If it had to be 5 then I'd say it goes like this
1. The Duke
2. Eastwood
3. Bronson
4. Lee Marvin
5. Steve McQueen
Nothing against Heston but Lee Marvin could chew him up and spit him out. -
spit them out. I never saw Paint Your Wagon, but assume Clint and Lee didn't fight each other. Otherwise, the universe would have imploded.
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I'd put him in my top 5
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And there was MY oversight. I think Marvin would bump Heston off my list. I don't know, I just always found Heston creepier than he was manly.
I don't think Bruce Lee is a bad choice, but he did have a strange voice and his career was frustratingly short. And I think if you're going to add a black guy, it probably has to be Denzel, right? He's never become a parody of himself like you could say about Snipes or even Sam Jackson.
What's sad is that back in the day when it was still OK to be a Man...black people weren't, you know, really allowed in movies that much. So we missed a whole generation of black actors who could have been ultimate hardasses. Goddamnit. -
I was writing about the most popular - not the truly best. Martin, McQueen, Eastwood, Newman & Coburn would most likely be my 5.
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Mr. Winston, you make a really good point about back in the day....the only reason that Sidney Poitier was allowed to reach stardome is probably because he wasn't considered "threatening." Nothing against him, either, you just weren't allowed to be "real man" if you weren't white for decades.
You know, it's strange - I don't even remember Bruce Lee's voice that well. Guess it doesn't really matter...
I cannot believe that on this site, NO ONE else is giving props to Schwarzeneggar. -
(1) Toshirô Mifune.
Pick 4: The Duke, Glenn Ford, Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood, Bruce Lee, Steve McQueen, etc -
I think that the argument with the Governor is the same one with a lot of other former tough guys: he ended up becoming a cartoon for one reason or another. And once you cross into that, you lose your Man of Men status.
James Coburn is another good one. You could throw Alan Ladd in there as well. My problem with Newman is this, and maybe this will get me into trouble: I just don't see him as intimidating. He's probably the ultimate "cool guy", but you wouldn't bring him along to a barfight, you know? I think the same could be said for Redford, Gregory Peck, and others of that tribe.
Here's the epitome of the Man of Men category, a story that Burt Reynolds told once on DINNER FOR FIVE: Robert Mitchum was a classic Hollywood tough guy, and because of that, he ended up running into a lot of people who wanted to fight him. Not because they didn't like him, but because he had that aura, that label, and they wanted to be able to tell their friends, "I went toe-to-toe with Mitchum." So one night, Mitchum and Reynolds and a couple of other people were at a bar, and a guy came up to Mitchum and just kept giving him shit, egging him on. Reynolds said that Mitchum kept his cool and kept telling the guy that he had no interest in fighting. The guy kept pressing and pressing and pressing finally bellied up against Mitchum, who was right at the bar. Without looking over, Mitchum grabbed the guy by the hair on the back of his head, slammed his face down on the bar, and just stood there while the dude crumpled to the ground unconscious. Then, Mitchum looked at the bartender and said, calmly, "Hey buddy? This guy fell and hurt himself."
A Man of Men. Lock it up. That should be the yardstick. -
1) Charlton fucking Heston.
2) Charles fucking Bronson. 3) Clint fucking Eastwood. 4) Arnold fucking Schwartzengger 5) The fucking Duke. And what a fucking coincidence, they all have the same middle name.
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Mr. Winston,I can see your point about actors becoming cartoons - that has happened to a certain extent with Samuel L. Jackson.
But let's be fair about something.....Arnie was ALWAYS a cartoon, he was always a larger-than-life presence that you didn't quite believe, but never lost his intimidation factor.
I mean, take a 15 year journey from Conan to Eraser - are you going to tell me the guy was taken less seriously or more?
That's part of why he's now governor and was actually courted to take a position in Obama's cabinet.
He might not have always had nuance as an actor, but the guy has remained a MAN on-screen and off.
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Though I'm going to disagree again, I do understand what you're saying. In fact, I think one could argue that one of Arnie's manliest turns was in KINDERGARTEN COP, which was no easy feat.
That said, I present the following evidence in dissent:
1. JUNIOR
2. JINGLE ALL THE WAY
Now think about it like this: would Eastwood, Wayne, McQueen, etc., EVER do either of those two movies? How about LAST ACTION HERO? Still tough-guyish, but undeniably, painfully campy. For me, those invalidate his status. -
Audie Murphy!Audie Murphy.
The guy wasn’t a fake, he was the real deal: an honest to God war her. I remember watch a John Wayne war movie on TV once and my dad laughing at the Duke the entire time (my dad loved him in Westerns, hated him in war movies), “Jesus! Take the hill STANDING straight up why don’t cha John! To big of a star to CRAWL on your belly, huh!”
Right after that, they played started playing Red Badge of Courage, and my dad pointed to this short, baby-face little guy and said, “That is the toughest guy ever!” I was flabbergasted as my dad told me how he was the most decorated soldier in WWII, including being awarded the Medal of Honor (read the citations of some of his awards, fucking NUTS). And despite being a very polite man and looking like such a kind-hearted person, Audie had no time for Hollywood fake tough guys.
Apocryphal story I once heard about Murphy. He was shooting some B-Western (maybe “No Name on the Bullet”) where one of his co-stars, a typical big, Hollywood wannabe action star, was practicing his quick draw. They guy yelled over to Murphy, “He, Audie, look at me, I’m pretty fast.”
“Yes. Yes you are” Audie politely replied.
“I mean I am real fast.”
“Yes you are.”
“In fact, I think I am faster than you. I probably could take you.”
Audie didn’t say anything, just looked up at the guy. The other guy started getting cocky, drawing on Audie.
“ I could take you Audie..I could beat you in a draw.”
Audie didn’t say anything, just go up and went to off set for a minute. When he came back he had a pair of guns and some rounds and loaded the pistols in front of the guy and tossed him one of the guns.
Then he supposedly looked at the guy with a 1,000 yard stare he probably picked up at Anzio, and said without a trace of humor in his voice, “Ok, lets see how you do when its for real.”
I don’t think I have to mention the guy turned Audie’s challenge down.
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I'll give you Junior, sure - the dude gets pregnant, sensitive, and cries. But then you would have disqualify Eastwood, too - think about it, the guy not only starred in, but DIRECTED Pink Cadillac and The Bridges of Madison County. Oh, and those monkey movies???? And hey, Madison County was a pretty good movie, but still......
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Neither can Stallone or pretty much any 80's action star. Why? Because they are comic book heroes on a big screen, not “real” men making tough choices and living up to their duties as a man. A classic Hollywood MAN is someone you look up to and emulate, someone who sets the boundaries of how a man should act and what is expected of him. Charles Bronson does that in Hard Times when he goes to help out James Coborn because he owes him and a man always pays his debts; Steve McQueen does that in the Getaway, when he gets angry with his wife for sleeping with the Ben Johnson but forgives her, and even loves her more when he realizes she did it to help him get out of prison; and Humphrey Bogart is able to teach us something even in a romantic movie, when he lets Ingrid Bergman leave him because there is bigger things going on than just their love and sacrifices have to be made.
What lesson has Arnold taught us? Always say a funny one-liner before dispatching your enemy?
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I can appreciate the need to add some more heft to this argument, but Steve McQueen is just a bad example, then. In The Getaway, he DOES play a bank robber, a criminal - tough to make a moral argument about that one. We're not holding these people up as role models, sorry.
Dirty Harry was not a role model and neither were half of Wayne's characters.
And I would not put Stallone on that list, but it's not really fair to disqualify him, either - Rocky was about as decent and moral a character as any one you would find onscreen.
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I'm not usually the guy that says this, but who cares...I'll take a pretend man that can make a movie without slipping in a puddle of his own pretense...
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I'm sorry that our purely-for-entertainment-purposes conversation upset you to the point that you had to comment on it.
There's always a contrarian... -
Fucking Sad!
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While I understand what you are saying, I have to disagree. Despite being role models for other men, the moral nature of a (movie) Man’s character is less important than if he lives up to a certain expectations of being a man. Or rather, it isn’t so much he obeys the laws of man as much as he obeys the code of being a man. So men who break the laws of society can still be deemed moral if they obey the universal rules of manhood: loyalty, bravery, true to your word, be prepared to payback any offenses, don't be sadistic or psychotic, be professional, etc. Hence you can have thieves like Steve McQueen in The Getaway or Sterling Hayden in The Asphalt Jungle or Lee Marvin in Point Blank who are immoral thieves but honorable men because they live up to their code. In fact, you can have James Coburn play a German fighting for the Nazi’s in WWII in Cross of Iron and still respect him, because he is living up to a higher code. He isn’t fighting for the Nazi’s, he is acting like a good and professional soldier and we can admire him for that.
That is why some of the best Man movies revolve around two men on opposing sides of the law battling it out but still respecting each other: Heat, The Driver, Rio Bravo, etc. You might not agree with the other side’s choice of career, but usually they respect the other person and admire his bravery, loyalty and skill at what he does.
As for Stallone, he was originally on the path of being on the list with films like Rocky, Night Hawks and First Blood, but then he decided he would rather be a cartoon of a hero.
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Robert Mitchum, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, George Clooney, and the fifth, it must be said, is Arnold Schwarzenegger. To me, much as I love their movies, Heston and Clint worked too hard for it. On the other hand, as much as I love McQueen and Bronson, they always came off a little fey - to the great benefit of their films.
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Robert Mitchum, Steve McQueen, Lee Marvin, Mickey Rourke, Michael Madsen
Tough Guy Directors: Sam Peckinpah, John Huston, John Cassavetes, Sam Fuller, Howard Hawks, John Milius, Oliver Stone -
Forgot Classic Tough Guy Bogart, and maybe, on the basis of Han Solo and Indiana Jones ONLY, Harrison Ford.
Also, Sean Connery.
OK, I'm done. -
Wait wait wait wait wait wait wait...Steve McQueen "came off as fey"?????????? How DARE you. The one quality I always appreciated most about McQueen was that it seemed as though he could be tough as nails and still TALK a chick into bed rather than drag her there. I'm not sure you could say the same for a couple of those other guys (Lee Fucking Marvin??????). Dude is a double-threat.
Which reminds me...in a couple of years, we're going to have to seriously consider adding Daniel Craig to this list. -
Dec 12, 2008 2:11:55 PM CST
In light of strong argument, I've reconsidered Schwarzenegger.
by archive
My amended list: Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck, Jimmy Stewart, George Clooney, and Cary Grant. Can Gran Torino possibly top the mountain of badass from which Robert Mitchum hurled mighty lightning bolts of old-schoolin' at Johnny Depp in Dead Man?
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...I did not think of James Cagney or Harrison Ford. Clooney is debatable, but let him age a little more first. Eric Bana had the potential, but he has just dropped off. Laurence Fishburne was also headed there, but he has just gotten so bloated.
If you're opening it up to T.V.(although they have done their share of movies), you could also consider James Garner and William Shatner. A kneejerk reaction for some people would be to then include David Caruso, who ALWAYS seems to want to push that tough-guy act with his work, but I just never bought it - he is the consummate "TV actor" and I do not mean that as a compliment. -
Hey, I love Cary Grant - he was 100 TIMES the actor that Schwarzeneggar ever was or will be. But given what we are talking about - his presence, the way he dresses and talks - he is just not in this grouping, as far as I'm concerned. He was not a "man's man" and that's ok. No doubt, he was a much better actor than Wayne, Marvin, Eastwood (I said it!), and the most of the others we are talking about.
Daniel Craig could be heading this way, but it's too early. Clive Owen, same thing. Man, Vince Vaughn had a chance - before he got big into comedy, he was one of the true manly actors out there under 35, but not anymore. -
I think I'd put Cary Grant in that Paul Newman/Robert Redford/Dean Martin group - fucking cool guys who just didn't *quite* have enough grit to make them Men of Men. Substance over style, if you will. Still men, but only able to make us feel inadequate about our looks and numbers of quality sexual partners instead of our core value as males. Other notables: Clooney, Brad Pitt, Sean Connery, etc.
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Because to me those are two different things. Jimmy Stewart was a real man: he would stand up for what he believed in and would risk death against someone he knew was tougher than himself. John Wayne was a tough guy: his characters always knew that they were the toughest guys in the film and could out fight and out shoot anyone in them.
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I'm not usually a contrarian, but you have to admit this conversation is a little silly. Audie Murphy was the biggest movie badass ever because he ACTUALLY KILLED 250 Nazis. that's more than Indiana Jones has faked killed!no, but seriously, I hope the era of the Man's Man goes the way of the dodo with Clint. too many "men's men" of Hollywood past were wife beating, alcoholic, philandering jerks. give me John Candy any day...
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I've got to give a shout out to Burt Reynolds on this because growing up in the 70's, Burt was the guy I wanted to be. He was cool. He was tough, He was funny. Just check out "White Lightning","The Longest Yard" (the original, thank you),"Semi-Tough","Hooper" and ofcourse,"Smokey and the Bandit". Oh yeah, Burt was the man back then.
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I read an interview with John Huston once who directed Audie Murphy in "Red Badge Of Courage". Huston said that the only trouble Murphy had in front of the camera was when Huston wanted him to act scared. He said Murphy had no idea how to show fear.Murphy said he did not know what fear was so he did not know out to show it. I think that says alot about Audie Murphy right there.
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I love that story as well, but like the one I mentioned I think it is an apocryphal one. I think Audie knew PTSD from his war experiences, and went through bouts of insomnia, depression, anxiety and nightmares. And I give him credit there as well, but he was man enough to break the taboo about talking about war-related mental conditions.
I would also like to give a shout out to other "real" action heroes: Lee Marvin (shot in the ass in Saipan); Sterling Hayden (Silver Star winner for serving with Yoguslav partisans), Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable, Neville Brand (highly decorated war hero but man enough to admit that he is NOT the 4th most decorated soldier of WWII), Eddie Albert (war hero of Tarawa), James Garner (Korean War Pilot, insane story how he avoided capture after being shot down), Charles Durning (another insane story about how much shit he saw, including Omaha Beach, the Battle of the Bulge and the Malmedy Massacre), Donald Pleasance (POW), Charles Laughton (Gay WWI doughboy, served in the trenches), and a bunch of others. -
Toshiro MifuneBeat TakeshiDonnie YenChow Yun-fatJubei KibagamiHonourable mention to Michael J Fox
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You put it better than I ever could. He could beat down that whole list from his grave. Clint is probably the only guy to come close to his badness since his death.
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Marvin could not only beat everyone's ass, he could outdrink them while doing it.
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Top 5 Asian tough guys and you don't have Bruce Lee?
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Nah, that guy is just well skilled and super cool - never really seems like anything is a challenge. All those other guys take mega beatings and come back roaring. Feel free to prove me wrong - I've only seen about 3 Bruce Lee movies.
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That guy is TOUGHNESS personified! the Die Hards, Last Man Standing, Last Boy Scout, The Fifth Element, Pulp Fiction, Sin City.... For that matter - Gene Hackman. He does tough and angry with the best of them!
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Gene Hackman - possibly, yes. He at the very least deserves consideration. Bruce Willis, on the other hand...you say DIE HARD, I say MOONLIGHTING. You say HUDSON HAWK, I cry THE RETURN OF BRUNO. I'm sorry, but...no.
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Nobody did.But we should have. Thank you Winston.
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Jack Palance.
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The guy was just cool and clearly the person Daniel Craig modeled himself on. I'm apparently alone in this opinion but Craig reminds me of McQueen so much its uncanny.
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is ridiculously good. Couldn't agree with Massa more on that one. It's sit at the endge of your seat waiting for the next line of dialogue good.
I am as shocked as anyone can be that it was directed by Ron Howard. Who while not hte worst filmmaker in the world has given us some less than stellar work in the past.
Go see it NOW! -
Sorry, but Bogart would be right there with Wayne and Eastwood. Any list without him immediately fails.
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You know, where the whole film centers on your average white racist to save some minority group from themselves, only to realize that ebony and ivory lives together in perfect harmony. Hopefully bigots will get a lot out of this film and make amends with themselves. And hopefully when I pluck down my 10 bucks for this film I will just be entertained.
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It‘s indeed right out of reactionary reaganland with Eastwood in geektastic old bastard mode. PLUS great oneliners, reminded me of Hertbreak Ridge or Dirty Harry. "I‘ll think of something... but whatever it is, they won‘t have a chance..."
Instant classic -
Does he SHOOT anybody?
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You are either an idiot, a paid off hack, or both.I just watched Gran Torino and it is laughably bad. It's not even entertaining in a bad way. All the Hmong actors stink, and the only performance worse was given by that guy who played the preist. Most will blame the bad script, and with good reason, but the direction was even more horrible. The sheen of Eastwood shall prevent this film from getting any Razzies, but it will go down as one of, if not the worst thing he's ever done. And to top it all off, Eastwood, as grizzled racist, Walt, sings over the end credits. I shit you not.
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I liked the idea of the movie and really really wanted to walk away from this thinking yeh its a classic but you hit the nail on the head. Every actor in this movie (except the dog) was bad....bad just cringeworthy bad. Some of CE's lines just made you think now if they had a laughing track to some of this it actually would'nt be so awful. His racist lines especially came of as someone trying to act racist but really not wanting to do so and you then end up with the equivalent of the wigga trying his best to fit in with the brothers. Still its CE and you have enough of him to keep some interest but then the supporting actors were all well below par, Toad especially and when he is crying out for Walt I felt embarrased for the actor but not as much as Sue who tried her best to channel Veronica Mars. Movie would have been so much better if Walt had just flipped out and killed his annoying fuckwit neighbours...starting with fucking Grandma. Did I mention the Dog was pretty darn awsome?
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and put in Robert fucking Mitcham in my top 5. Forgot about him. Oh and everyone has made sissy films. so disounting Arnie just for Junior/Kindergatten etc is unfair. If anything, he is the biggest of all. He reached the top in everything, from bodybuilding to box office star, to governing the biggest fucking state in the world. I think he will become president and then he will say hasta la vista baby then boom...End of the world. While Arnie builds a new Imperial colony on Moonbase 5.
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He was in my recipe a la The Magnificent Seven.
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Beat Takeshi, Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Clint Eastwood, Burt Lancaster.As for tough-guy directors I choose Beat Takeshi, Clint Eastwood, Sam Peckinpah, Warner Herzog and John Frankenheimer.
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... and no disrespect. Clint's screen persona is rough and tough and don't take no shit. He is definitely an iconic actor; that has actually turned out to be an even better director, IMO, but as long as we're throwing out names: Gary Cooper. Now there was "A MAN". I defy you to watch "Sergeant York", "High Noon" and "Friendly Persuasion" and not come to the same conclusion. That guy knew how to play to a camera as perfectly as any actor in the history of cinema, was well liked by everyone he ever worked with, and was apparently a prince of a guy in his private life.
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Can you frickin' believe that Cooper appeared in 107 feature films?! Granted, the first 15 were mostly as an uncredited extra or in a bit-part, but still...
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