Year of Eastwood #44

True Crime (1999)

Starring: Eastwood

Directed by Eastwood

It’s hard to imagine that True Crime would break much new ground in the ongoing legacy that is the Eastwood canon. Clint is a washed up newspaper reporter, who’s nose for the truth has mislead him enough that usually he finds himself passed out drunk every night. But, wonder of all wonders, True Crime breaks new ground because the Clintster is a married man and even has a young daughter back home.

Not that it’s all marital bliss, Clint still chasing after the ladies - kissing on Mary McCormick before she does some driving under the influence and smashes her car on Dead Man’s Curve. And Clint’s banging Dennis Leary’s wife - who just happens to be his desk editor back at the Daily Planet ... So finally Clint has settled down but he don’t seem to be interested in spending much time with the old ball ‘n chain.

The (soon to be dead) Mary McCormick was assigned to interview a murderer on death row, but what with the aforementioned dirt nap, she couldn’t make her appointment so Clint has to fill in. But Clint’s nose starts tingling again and he soon has plans bigger than just the average human interest sidebar. Clint gets it into his head that this man is innocent but as editors in movies are apt to do, James Woods doesn’t want to hold up the deadline just cause Clint wants to save some guy’s life.

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Isaiah Washington - before he got himself into all sorts of trouble on Grey’s Anatomy - paces back and forth and acts all peaceful and stuff as the death row inmate. His young daughter colors him some pictures, he gets to snuggle a bit with his wife, and he enjoys a delicious final meal … all the while Clint is trying to solve the mystery of the dead girl at the convenience store. Whew, it’s hard to keep track of all the dead people in this movie.

Michael Jeter was the key witness, but it turns out he didn’t see much at all. There was another guy at the scene, but he’s dead and his grandma ain’t too interested in bringing back the bad memories. The gas chamber is all fired up and Clint decides to get drunk. But then a necklace blows the case wide open and Clint has to weave his way to the Governor’s mansion to stop the execution. So Clint saves the day, buys a stuffed hippo for his daughter, and asks Lucy Liu out on a date. Roll credits.

Obviously, Clint is able to spot young talent and established stars stand in line to appear in his latest picture. Despite being a huge star, he always makes room for other actor’s to have their moment. Clint learned early on in his Spaghetti Westerns that there is power in silence. He also knows that by allowing other actors to shine it means less lines for him to memorize.

Recently, Bill Murray talked about how much he's always admired Clint's style. Early on, Clint met with Bill just as his star was on the rise with movies like Meatballs and Stripes. Bill wanted to work with Clint because he knew he would get all the best lines. Clint suggested a few movies they could do together but none of them panned out … guess that's one cop buddy film that was never meant to be.