Eastwood Calls Critics Extremists

imdb.com ^ | 2/21/05

[paudio]

Clint Eastwood has acknowledged that a plot twist in Million Dollar Baby that raises the issue of euthanasia "does hit you with sort of a left hook," and that when he attempted to raise money to produce the film "nobody seemed enthralled with that." In an interview appearing in the current issue of Time magazine, Eastwood suggested that he was able to keep the plot twist secret because the movie was made "under the radar. Nobody knew we were making it, and nobody gave a damn that we were making it." Eastwood said that he was surprised that it took so long for the matter to become the subject of controversy. Asked about the fact that the attack on the film comes from his "constituency," Eastwood, generally regarded as a Republican conservative, responded, "Extremism is so easy. You've got your position, and that's it. It doesn't take much thought. And when you go far enough to the right, you meet the same idiots coming around from the left."

[cleo1939]

I was pretty much on the side of everyone else till this
irresponsible comment.

Only twits make comments that they can't back up with fact!

Do a video, audio or write a book on your extensive research
and then I will willingly go into the old foggies home never
to utter a word.

Until then get Fked! Is that a word?

[papertyger]

I know what you're thinking, punk. Is he an engine for social change, or not?

Well what's it gonna be punk? Do you feel lucky?

[home gal]

I agree. Heston was a great actor from a previous Hollywood generation that was more family friendly and cared about our country.
Look at the current Hollywood types like Michael Moore who not only produce unwholesome valueless vulgar trash but actually attempt to make fools of great actors like Heston.

[tkathy]

"Eastwood, generally regarded as a Republican conservative, responded, "Extremism is so easy. You've got your position, and that's it. It doesn't take much thought. And when you go far enough to the right, you meet the same idiots coming around from the left."

Us despised moderates generally agree.

[MHalblaub]

Clint Eastwood did a great job finishing the film without a nice end. He raised the question what it's worth to live for and debates about voluntary euthanasia.

Your are handicapped?
Where does a handicap starts?

Look at "The swan".

[Griptilian]

In the Sean Hannity world of the conservative bible-thumping GOP, you don't have the right to die until Falwell and TBN says it's OK.
Just keep sending your cash and life will be swell.

[oh8eleven]

I've observed that some elderly folks get more liberal and less rational as they age.
Good observation and I've witnessed the same. Most turn more liberal because they want the "gub-mint" to pay for everything they need.

Not sure you can say "less rational" though. Perhaps, strongly resistant to change.

[goldstategop]

I would agree with Eastwood there are nuts on both left and right with blinkered positions. All the same where I part company with him is what I don't need to drink poison to know its bad for me. I don't need to watch Million Dollar Baby to know its treatment of assisted suicide is morally repulsive.

(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")

[Diva]

Extremism is so easy.

Has any thinking person ever thought so? "Going along to get along" can be easy, depending on your level of conscience but, being a person who stands up for ideals and dogma and such usually gets you crucified.

[TigersEye]

"Extremism is so easy. You've got your position, and that's it. It doesn't take much thought. ..."

If you believe in the sanctity of life then what is there to think about?

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Clint, from my recollection, has always had an ease with issues that deal with life and death. I remember reading an interview with Sondra Locke (the blonde who has been in a dozen or so of his pictures), a long love of his. She related, rather sadly, about the multiple abortions she and Clint had had 'together.' Apparently he called the shots both personally and professionally in their relationship. This was in the time frame of his stint as Mayor of Carmel, CA. So I don't see this as much more than a substantian of her allegations.

Also, I believe Francis Fisher (the red head in a couple of his pictures) also didn't have the kindest of all things to say either...

[gridlock]

It is no coincidence that euthanasia is becoming more accepted as society takes on more collective responsibility for the costs of medical care for the aged and infirm. If you are shelling out big bucks for the care and feeding of somebody you don't even know, it is only human nature to want to stop paying that money out for a benefit that you, personally, do not see.

Mass politics has a way of stripping individual morality out of the decision making process. The individual drive to help the elderly really only applies strongly to one's own family and acquaintances. Once all the money is thrown into the pot and the payment is separated from the benefit, all that remains is personal greed and utilitarian arguments.

Euthanasia saves money. It's that simple.

[Kay Syrah]

"Extremism is so easy. You've got your position, and that's it. It doesn't take much thought. And when you go far enough to the right, you meet the same idiots coming around from the left."

I agree. That is part of the problem with the film. It took the easy way out, and didn't bother to fight. I am fully prepared to see a film that is powerfully done and whose philosophy I can never buy, cause I believe in tragedy. But I wanted to be more moved by this film than I was. It failed for me(JMHO) because it never developed the characters beyond puppets for an agenda. Too many motivations were knocked out in the first round. That of course is the central failure of all propaganda. And it was the fatal flaw of the film. A good film, a bad argument and ultimately flawed too much to get the cover he is trying to get for his argument. Sorry Clint. I really like your work.

[wideawake]

There is no such thing as a "right" to die - no matter what the personal opinions of Hannity, Falwell or Eastwood happen to be.

Until people are able to intentionally bring themselves into existence, there can never be such a "right" - such talk is merely verbal sleight of hand.

[Vaquero]

having a Dr. Death killing people at those peoples request is murder....doing it yourself is suicide.

You as an individual should have that right....but not to envolve anyone else.

[wideawake]

Us despised moderates generally agree.

It's true, gutless people who lack any real convictions - like Eastwood - generally can't tell the difference between left and right.

All they see is people who have principles, and they stop there, intellectually and emotionally unequipped to make the effort to distinguish between good and bad principles.

[B Knotts]

I wonder if the "conservative Republican" Clint Eastwood is right now cheering on Michael Schiavo.

I'll stick with the "extremists." They seem less extreme to me than the "mainstream."

[Dustbunny]

Hard to comment on Eastwood. Never thought he was much of an actor. The Western, the title slips my mind it was so memorable, that he won all the awards for, I watched on fast forward. My husband bought it, fortunately, I gained control of the remote. It was dull and stupid. He watched it again the following week and actually thought it was a 'B' movie.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Go Ahead - Make My Day.

[Vaquero]

"He should have armed himself."

"Hell of a thing killing a man, you take from him everything he has and everything he'll ever have."

"He should have thought of that before he decided to decorate his saloon with my friend"

"The Unforgiven" has to be one of the top 5 Westerns of all time.....never ever will it be considered a B movie.