I always appreciated Clint Eastwood from the spaghetti westerns, through the Dirty Harry series, the little known but quite good Play Misty for Me, and up to his more recent acting and directorial accomplishments. There were so many pseudo high-brows who scoffed at his early stuff; look at it for what it is, not what you'd like it to be.
Even Arnold, who I think is less talented, (although talent has been described as one drop God-given and the rest hard work and perseverance) but ferociously dedicated and persevering in his accomplishments, is someone whose accomplishments I respect. Here's a guy with a wierd build and a strange accent who begins in an area considered by the mainstream as for freaks, and propels that from a cultist endeavor to a multimillion dollar mainstream appreciated industry.
Remember his first movie, the semi-documentary Pumping Iron, which became a cult classic? Even then he was saying seemingly mean spirited things. Remember that scene where he makes fun of Lou Ferigno's speech impediment while at breakfast with Lou and his dad? They both accepted it.
Then he made the Conan movies; I actually liked the first one (with half the offensive line of the Oakland Raiders and James Earl Jones) for what it was - a campy cartoon basically. Then he did all those horrible Raw Deal and Commando movies (where he can accurately fire two large machine guns from atop a moving armored vehicle whilst 50 villians can't seem to hit the mark from stationary posts all around him); even those had glimpses of that sardonic (?) humor. Remember when he drops the bad guy off the cliff and someone asks where the villian is, Arnold replies "I let him go." The precursor of "Ill be back" and "hasta luego baby."
He also did a fine movie called "Kindergarten Cop" in which he was really good. And then the "Terminator" which I consider a classic if only for its relentlessness of pacing.
He's such a perfect Republican what with all those catchy sound bite sayings. And a Republican who marries a hot Democrat and becomes governor of California!
You can disagree with his politics and sensitivities but give the man his due. Same for Clint.
I guess I diverged, but all those Clint bashers made me retch; the early post-spaghetti westerns were also hints of greatness (e.g., "The Outlaw Josie Wales")
Phil, I love westerns including John Wayne, but don't think he should have gotten a medal of honor without actually serving, O
Uh oh, should this be merged into the political thread?
