Clint Eastwood's 'Halftime in America' Ad a New Ballgame

Forbes ^ | 02/06/2012 | Christopher Correa

[safetysign]

This year another advertisement entered a crowded field, without pomp but predicated on real-world circumstance–Chrysler’s “Halftime in America,” featuring a weathered but resolute Clint Eastwood. He isn’t exactly selling anything in the spot, which is filmed to resemble a political ad if it were produced by Paul Haggis (Eastwood’s collaborator on Million Dollar Baby and the director of Crash). Instead, he aims to jolt, then scold, but ultimately soothe the viewer. First seen walking from the shadows of a hazy football game, he hunches his shoulders walks with a tired grace. Speaking in a voice so gravelly you could walk across it, he declaims that the American auto industry’s primary focus has been compromised by the “fog, division, discord and blame,” but America “knows how to come from behind to win.”

[safetysign]

This is about American resolve, hard work, innovation and guts.

[Durus]

American resolve, hard work, innovation, and guts, don't require bailouts. I'll won't buy a Government Motors car no matter what celeb they use during our modern era bread and circuses.

[txrangerette]

It’s halftime in America.

It’s morning in America.

Talk about borrowing.

[Vigilanteman]

Correct. My car is approaching the 200,000 mile mark. It was built in Ohio by American workers who chose not to join a union and whose company has never been bailed out. When I trade it in, it will probably be for another car built by the same company though, of course, I will also consider Ford, Toyota, Hyundai and anything other than Chrysler or GM.

It's a Honda.

[bolobaby]

Epic fail for a libertarian, shilling for a company that is relying on gubbermint handouts.

I take comfort in knowing the unions will loot it all away, causing GM’s eventual collapse anyway.

[Georgia Girl 2]

“It’s a Honda.”

I’m on my second CRV. I may die before it does.

[maine yankee]

My explorer has 230,000 on it.

It replaced a windstar that finally rusted out at 270,000. (engine was still strong)

GM drove itself into the ground. It should have been allowed to die.