Clint Eastwood

Published in Les Échos
(France) on 18 February 2015
by Henri Gibier (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Beth Holding. Edited by Eva Langman.
Eastwood’s new film, “American Sniper,” which recently hit French cinemas, should do well to reassure fans of this Sergio Leone-obsessed actor. The film was an incredible success in the U.S., where it grossed $105 million on its first weekend of wide release. This just goes to show that, even at 85, and with almost as many films under his belt, Eastwood remains a profitable director. His new film, however, is a rather personal creation that delves deeply into the mind of the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history, Chris Kyle. Kyle shot and killed over 150 enemies in cold blood, before being murdered in front of his own home. So, the former hero of “Dirty Harry” is once again accused of having produced a reactionary and militaristic film. [It is] proof that years may pass, but nothing really changes as far as Eastwood is concerned — including, for that matter, his taste in women, who continue to fall helplessly in love with his eyes that are as blue as Californian skies. His last conquest, at 42, was less than half his own age!

It seems, then, that this self-taught man has discovered Hollywood’s great and long-lost secret, producing films adored by both hardcore movie fans and sentimental fools. A skilled golfer and owner of a very exclusive golfing club in Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Californian city home to many multimillionaires where he was once mayor, this relentless defender of the right to bear arms seems able to pull off just about anything, except politics. His memorable 2012 speech at the Republican National Convention during which he addressed an empty chair intended to represent President Obama serves to remind us, and future generations, that the most terrible off all American “snipers” remains ridicule and mockery.


American Sniper » son nouveau film qui sort dans les salles françaises devrait rassurer les fans de l'acteur fétiche de Sergio Leone. Succès considérable aux Etats-Unis, où il a récolté 105 millions de dollars de recettes en un week-end, c'est la confirmation que, même à bientôt quatre-vingt-cinq ans, et presque autant de films à son actif, Clint Eastwood reste un réalisateur « bankable ». Pourtant il s'agit d'une oeuvre personnelle, qui s'apparente à une longue plongée dans la tête du tireur d'élite le plus « efficace » de l'armée américaine, Chris Kyle. Il avait abattu, de sang-froid, plus de 150 ennemis avant d'être tué à son tour devant chez lui. Du coup, l'ex-héros de « L'Inspecteur Harry » se voit une nouvelle fois accusé d'avoir fait un film réactionnaire et militariste. Tout cela prouve que les années passent mais que rien ne change vraiment dans la vie d'Eastwood. Même son goût pour les femmes, qui continuent de succomber en série à ses yeux bleus comme les cieux de Californie. Sa dernière conquête a quarante-deux ans, moins de la moitié de son âge. Cet autodidacte a retrouvé le secret perdu du grand cinéma hollywoodien, en tournant des films adorés aussi bien des coteries de cinéphiles que des foules sentimentales. Golfeur émérite, propriétaire d'un « green » très huppé à Camel - coquette cité de milliardaires sur la cote Pacifique dont il a été le maire -, ce défenseur acharné de la vente libre des armes à feu, sait tout mettre en scène sauf ses prises de position politique. Son mortel dialogue avec une chaise vide censée représenter Obama lors d'une convention républicaine est là pour rappeler aux générations futures que le plus terrible « sniper » américain reste le ridicule.
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