TIGHTROPE: Acting 1: Clint Eastwood's Performance

[KC]

It was interesting to me because Wes Block is a cop who discovers he has a lot in common with a killer. The moments of vulnerability in his life start to close in on him and he has to reach back for those special resources in his character to pull him through. I liked his human quality, but I also found the tension in the script very appealing. You don't really know which way he'll turn. He just might be closer to the killer than you think.

(Clint Eastwood, from the Tightrope Press Kit)

Tightrope was the first Eastwood performance that would net a "For Your Consideration" Academy Award campaign. Although Eastwood didn't receive the nomination, his performance did win him the best reviews of his career to that point.

When you first saw Tightrope, were you surprised that Eastwood would want to portray such a dark and vulnerable character as Wes Block? What do you think of Eastwood's performance as Wes Block? What do you feel is his finest moment in the film? Is there anything about his performance that you didn't like?

[Walt]

This is the one good thing I have to say about Tightrope  .Clint is on top form here as he portrays a much darker character than the norm for hollywood leading men . An excellent performance .

[The Schofield Kid]

Certainly a different type of role we're used to seeing Clint play,and I think he handles it well.I'm sure he enjoyed working with his daughter and their scenes together are great.Clint has shown over the years he's not afraid to try challenging roles and not be known just for Dirty Harry and The Man with No Name movies.

[Chessie]

I'm glad Clint took the part because it's very different from his strictly "good guy" persona from Dirty Harry.  Granted Harry isn't perfect, but he is the standard "good cop".  The film shows that cops are just as dark as the next person, you, me, and the man down the street.  (Not to quote the movie or anything  )  But really it shows a more in depth character then what we're really used to.  Clint shows a good range of skill in this performance and I love him for it. 

I look at Wes as the father and think you know I really want a dad like that who will fight for me like that.  And, that's comforting thing in his character, he brings the dad part of it to reality.  His scenes with Allison are just great cause they're real.

Clint makes Wes real.  I watch it, and to an extent I see myself in Wes, not in the same way, but in the same feeling, in the same string of emotions.  And, that's because Clint makes him like people I know.  It's not a stretch for me to think would I actually know this guy, yes I probably would.   

I know with characters that Clint has portrayed that I have a harder time connecting with them.  One is Frank Horrigan from In the Line of Fire.  It's a great movie, I think it's one of Clint's best movies.  But intially I never connected with Frank, I thought he was a cool guy for being who is and what he's been through.  I couldn't see him as a father.  With Wes I completely thought oh yeah this could be my dad, I'd love for him to be my dad, I felt the same thing Million Dollar Baby and Unforgiven. 

The cool thing about Wes Block is that he's got so many layers that you can love him on one level, like the father level, and hate him on the another, like the erratic behaviors he has.  He's so complex and Clint just plays it so great.

It would have been the first movie I would have really actively campaigned for Clint to get a nod for.  Granted the Beguiled, Outlaw Josey Wales, and others are great films which I think he possibly could have been a little better recognized for.  But, as for what the Academy looks for, this would have been the first I would have really pushed it on. 

And, if Clint had been nominated he would have been up against F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Jeff Bridges, Sam Waterson, and Albert Finney.  That's a tough bunch of actors to be against and especially in those films they were in.  In all honesty as much as I love Clint, I still believe the Oscar would still have gone to F. Murray Abraham for Amadeus.  It's an amazing performance.  And, if not him Tom Hulce.  Those guys would taken it. 

It's a great performance and us devoted, loyal, Clint fans I think will always recognize it whether or not we like the film.  That's how good it is. 

[dane with no name]

It is definetly one of his best performances if you look away from the westerns and dirty harry. Clint shows that he can play a character where the line between good and bad moral is removed, and still you can understand him and get a feeling of how he ust have been thinking when he did the things he did and made the choices he did. The role is underplayed wonderfully even when he gets angry and selfdestructive. If i should show an eastwood movie to someone who only thinks of eastwood as dirty harry or the man with no name, this one would be high on my list.

[Lin.]

Clint Eastwood's acting in Tightrope is superb.   There is a dark side to the character of Wes Block, Clint's portrayal is outstanding.   It is different to see him in a role that is vulnerable. A man hurt by his wife, loving his children and needing loving himself.  Whether or not his character develops a deeper relationship with Beryl is neither here nor there.  She is there at the end helping him with his daughters and waiting for him after he finally removes Rolfe.  It is good to see him change from the man who wants no commitments and still seems hurt by his ex-wife to the man turning to another woman for, at first, friendship.  He also brings some comedy to an otherwise dark movie.  Clint is a past master at subtle comedy in all of his movies. Considering this one is not a comedy movie his scene in the car with his daughters makes you laugh out loud.  To give this kind of performance takes a special type of actor and Clint is that actor.

[Brendan]

Thanks to everyone for participating in this discussion. This topic is now closed, please post any additional thoughts in the General Discussion forum.