Clint: A Retrospective

by Richard Schickel, Clint Eastwood (Introduction)

Schickel, Richard

Genres: Biography, Film, Nonfiction, Media Tie In

288 pages, Hardcover

Published March 2, 2010

About the author

Richard Schickel is an important American film historian, journalist, author, filmmaker, screenwriter, documentarian, and film and literary critic.

Mr.Schickel is featured in For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism. In this 2009 documentary film he discusses early film critics in the 1960s, and how he and other young critics, rejected the moralizing opposition of Bosley Crowther of The New York Times who had railed against violent movies such as Bonnie and Clyde.
In addition to film, Schickel has also critiqued and documented cartoons, particularly Peanuts.

Schickel was a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1964. He has also lectured at Yale University and University of Southern California's School of Film and Television.

Reviews

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not ashamed to say it: Clint Eastwood is my hero.

I love his movies. I love his personality. I love his politics. I love him.

Naturally, I am somewhat predisposed into loving this book, so I was a little let down that I thought it was just okay. It doesn't go as great into detail as I was hoping it would. Instead, it just kinda sticks to the basics about what each film is about and gives a small amount of background into Eastwood's process.

I will hand it to Schickel. His long-time friendship with Eastwood doesn't prevent him from admitting when his subject's work is sub-par (films such as Firefox, The Rookie, and Pink Cadillac), but a friendship such as theirs should have offered more insight.

Understand that the disappointment in this book is all mine. The book itself does exactly what it is intended to do. I suppose I was just looking for something more biographical.

[Johnny Roastbeef · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5★

A brief, but incredibly comprehensive retrospective on the film career of Clint Eastwood. Author Richard Schickel reflects on every feature film involving Eastwood from his first staring role in A Fistful of Dollars (1964) to Sully (2016) with a brief overview of his roles in both film and TV preluding his career in the spotlight.

Each movie includes thoughts and opinions from both Eastwood and the author in addition to those from the film community and are accompanied by terrific glossy images, including some truly iconic photographs complimenting the actor’s more quintessential and popular roles.

Whilst the commentary might be fleeting, Schickel’s thorough coverage of the works of my favourite contributor to the film industry is undeniable and cannot and must not go without acknowledgement.

[Kimberly Greenwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clint Eastwood has always been a favorite of mine every since I was little. I got this book because my Grandmother is just as obsessed with him as I am. So we both read it and of course, adored it.

[Antoni Savander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erittäin hyvä historiikki elokuvalegenda Clint Eastwoodin elämään ja elokuviin. Toisin kuin saman kirjoittajan romaanikokoinen elämäkerta, tämä keskittyy enemmän kertomaan Clintistä ja elokuvista isojen kuvien ja nopeiden tekstien avulla. Siinä toisessa, kymmenisen vuotta aiemmin julkaistussa kirjassa käsiteltiin yksityiselämää ja muita tapahtumia pintaa syvemmältä ja yksityiskohtaisemmin. Sitähän ei tällaisessa kahvipöytäkirjassa tarvita vaan viihdyttävämpää materiaalia ja juuri näin Schikel tekeekin.

[Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Clint Eastwood fans, Clint A Retrospective book there are 2 hardcover versions one with a 20 minute dvd. Different publishers, I have both, the first edition has the dvd (ISBN 9781402774720 Sterling Publishing)and sticker saying so covering up to invictus of which i am not a fan it has 288 pages. The 2nd edition (ISBN 9781435153431 Fall River Press,,Palazzo Editions) covers up to Hereafter,no dvd same cover and 296 pages. And there's a softcover version too.As a 80s baby i grew up on Eastwood westerns and his Dirty Harry series both of which i prefer compared to his most recent work. Clint A Retrospective is a favorable look at the Man and his resume. It is a nicely done Coffee table book.

[David Holman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Partly Biographical

I'm not the first to complain about this but this book is mostly a review and analysis of Eastwood's movies. It starts out as a biography but then wanders off into film critic mode. In essence, we learn very little about him except in terms of why and how he made his films. The bulk of his life, especially those areas of family and relationships, is largely glossed over. There's a whole lot more to this man. There has to be.

[Timo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Koska sanani on kuitenkin totuus ja tie, niin uskokaa jo, että Clint Eastwood on maailman paras miesäijä ja tehnyt ainoastaan hyviä elokuvia.
Samaa mieltä on myös Schickel ja tuo palvova kritiikittömyys on tämän kirjan ongelma. Kauniita kuvia ja kivaa nippelitietoa, mutta tuo huokailevan ihaileva kirjoitustyyli alkoi pidemmän päälle ärsyttämään.

[Francine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great photographs, interesting comments, excellent description of the history of Clint's long list of films. The only negative is the minute print, but if the print was larger, we'd probably have a three volume series.

[Jan Urbanek · Rating 1 out of 5]

Clint je Buh. Tohle je des. Naprosto nekriticky popis filmu, s temer nulovou informacni hodnotou. To je lepsi cist komentate ma csfd.
Hroznej preklad.
Jedna * za vypravnost a fotky.

[Jiří Böhm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clint stárne hodně do pohody. Tahle retrospektiva není nijak kritická, ale udělal jsem si aspoň představu o Clintovi a jak nahlíží na kinematografii…

[Amy Paget · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy TCPL’s collection of ‘adult picture books’-- those coffee table and oversize books for adult audiences that the library occasionally purchases. They are great reading when you need visual stimulation, as they are often full of remarkable art/photography and most are amenable to being read/browsed in small bites. I used several recently with and for a family member recovering from surgery.

Clint: a retrospective by Richard Schickel (791.43 E13S) is one that I recently enjoyed. What an amazing life actor/director/politician Clint Eastwood has had! This book, and accompanying 20 minute DVD, follows the actor/director from Revenge of the Creature and Rawhide to Invictus. Every second page is a full-page color image. These are iconic moments in 20th century cinema…and American popular culture. Schickel relays Eastwood’s own comments throughout the book and it opens with an introduction by Eastwood. Wonderful preparation for dipping into the library’s DVD collection and hosting your own Eastwood film festival.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book by Time magazine film critic Richard Schickel who for years has been a champion of Clint Eastwood's films way before it was in vogue. It is a handsome text, large and with many wonderful pictures of Clint's films. My one complaint is that I have read other books on Eastwood's films that went into more depth. With that said; I have read lot's of books on films, film-making, actors & actresses, etc., so I tend to get critical on the merits of these books. I realize that Schickel is a somewhat close friend of Eastwood's, so you are swayed to believe that this text is more accurate than others. I guess it is a matter of preference if the book did not have as many pictures some might complain. Whereas my complaint is that the pictures are great, but the text is week and cuts short discussion on each film. I would recommend it if you are a film buff, or a Eastwood fan, but I have seen better text done on film-maker's with richer text...so I'll give it three stars.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a critic, I've always found Schickel smart and romantic but his personal ties to certain celebrities has also made me think him a Star Fucker. He cops to that here and that heads off my complaint handily. This is an appreciation of Eastwood's films not a bio, which is just fine with me. I admire Schickel's analysis of every single Eastwood film up to 2011. I do think a few of his opinions are in questionable taste if not outright poor taste. His remarks about Tyne Daly's looks are random at best and jaw droppingly inappropriate at worst. But as a fan of Eastwood, this went down smooth and Schickel keeps from coming off too dry as is the case with a lot of books on film.

[Glen Go · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clint Eastwood is lean, taut and doesn't mince words whether he's acting, directing or being interviewed. Unfortunately Richard Schickel's retrospective is like an imaginary younger brother who is overweight and wheezily running to keep up with his idol. The book has some great bits and superb photos of Eastwood's films. However, Schickel's prose is pseudo-highbrow claptrap. There's lots of bloated verbiage that seems to go nowhere even after a second or third read.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a Clint Eastwood fan this a good retrospective on his films through "Invictus". It takes you through his early career as the anti-hero tough that made him a iconic figure to all boys of my generation. To his later career where he developed into arguably one of hollywood's greatest directors.

[Saleena Longmuir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this book and decided to read it in spite of not being a huge Eastwood fan. I enjoyed the critic going through each movie, and even decided to look into watching a few of his movies I'd missed (or hadn't heard of)......and the background information/bio was brief but informative. All in all, a quick interesting read.

[Lea]

I was given this by my daughters for my mother's day present. I have learned I might not get it back from my boss. We are both HUGE Clint fans.

[Bess · Rating 4 out of 5]

In case you didn't get the memo, Clint Eastwood is The Man.

[Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice overview of Clint Eastwood's films. The companion DVD is entertaining as well.

[Roland Kermarec]

Recevoir "Clint" en cadeau d'anniversaire : rien à ajouter, c'est tout simplement P A R F A I T :-)

[Rajesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes your day if you are a Clint fan like me.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Clint fan, I really enjoyed this bio of his work. Especially the movie by movie entries. A great read!

[Ned Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very general book with little depth into Eastwood or his films. Nothing new. However it is an ideal coffee table book.