Warner Home Video Announces New Clint Eastwood Film Collections

TWO NEW COMPREHENSIVE CLINT EASTWOOD COLLECTIONS TO DEBUT JUNE 4 FROM
WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Each Expansive Collection Includes the New Documentary
“Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story,” Featuring Revealing Interviews with Celebrated Filmmakers and Actors

Burbank, Calif., February 11, 2013 – Clint Eastwood’s illustrious motion picture career has spanned more than half a century and touched generations of filmgoers. The filmmaker/actor has received five Academy Awards® and his films have grossed more than $2 billion at the domestic box office. This year marks the 38th anniversary of the relationship between Warner Bros., Clint Eastwood and Malpaso Productions, which has culminated in more than 40 films made for the studio. Now, in honor of Warner’s year-long 90th anniversary celebration, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will release two new Eastwood Collections, just in time for Father’s Day gift-giving. The Clint Eastwood 40 Film Collection (DVD) and the Clint Eastwood 20 Film Collection (Blu-ray™) will debut June 4, 2013, respectively priced at $179.98 SRP and $129.95 SRP. The order due date for both is April 30, 2013.

In addition to his most recent film, Trouble with the Curve, each collection will include “Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story,” produced by Richard Schickel. This unprecedented new film focuses on Eastwood's directorial style as seen through the eyes of many of his producing partners and actors. It explores how Eastwood’s style is unique and illustrates why he has managed to be successful for more than four decades. The major talent participating includes Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and many others and the insights that emerge are nothing short of extraordinary. “Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story” will be making its television debut on TCM in May.

A complete list of Eastwood titles appears below.

Eastwood’s relationship with Warner Bros. began in 1975 with the signing of a long-term pact, and Eastwood’s Malpaso Productions moved onto the studio’s storied lot. Among the many awards the actor/filmmaker has received for his work are four Oscars® and 10 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director Academy Award® wins for Unforgiven (1993) and Million Dollar Baby (2005) both of which were made at Warner Bros. Eastwood has also received five Golden Globes®, countless critics association accolades and Lifetime Achievement awards from, among others, the Directors Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, the American Film Institute and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (Cecil B. DeMille Award). In addition, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented him with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. Recently, Eastwood was made a commander in the prestigious French Legion of Honor (Légion d’honneur), cited for his “body of work, his longevity and his ability to delight audiences around the globe.”

Early in his career, Eastwood starred as the “Man with No Name” in A Fistful of Dollars, his first “spaghetti western,” which was a box office success and drew attention to the young actor. Additional roles followed, including the role of Harry Callahan in five “Dirty Harry” films, beginning in 1971. That same year, he made his directorial debut with Play Misty for Me. Other noted Eastwood films include the Charlie Parker biography Bird; The Bridges of Madison County; In the Line of Fire; Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil; White Hunter, Black Heart; Absolute Power; Space Cowboys; Mystic River; Flags of Our Fathers; Letters from Iwo Jima; Gran Torino; and Invictus, starring Oscar® winners Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon in the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with Francois Pienaar, captain of South Africa's rugby team, to help unite their country.

Complete List of Titles in Each Collection

Film Titles for Clint Eastwood 40 Film Collection

1.      A Perfect World

2.      Absolute Power

3.      Any Which Way You Can

4.      Bird

5.      Blood Work

6.      Bronco Billy

7.      City Heat

8.      Dirty Harry

9.      Every Which Way But Loose

10.     Firefox

11.     Gran Torino

12.     Heartbreak Ridge

13.     Hereafter

14.     Honkytonk Man

15.     Invictus

16.     J. Edgar

17.     Kelly’s Heroes

18.     Letters from Iwo Jima

19.     Magnum Force

20.     Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

21.     Million Dollar Baby

22.     Mystic River

23.     Pale Rider

24.     Pink Cadillac

25.     Space Cowboys

26.     Sudden Impact

27.     The Bridges of Madison County

28.     The Dead Pool

29.     The Enforcer

30.     The Gauntlet

31.     The Outlaw Josey Wales

32.     The Rookie

33.     Tightrope

34.     Trouble with the Curve

35.     True Crime

36.     Unforgiven

37.     Where Eagles Dare

38.     White Hunter Black Heart

39.     Eastwood Factor Documentary

40.     Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story Documentary – NEW!

Film Titles for Clint Eastwood 20 Film Collection

1.         A Perfect World\
2.         Dirty Harry
3.      Every Which Way But Loose
4.      Firefox
5.      Gran Torino
6.      Heartbreak Ridge
7.      Hereafter
8.      Invictus
9.      J. Edgar
10.     Letters from Iwo Jima
11.     Magnum Force
12.     Million Dollar Baby
13.     Mystic River
14.     Pale Rider
15.     Space Cowboys
16.     Sudden Impact
17.     The Gauntlet
18.     The Outlaw Josey Wales
19.     Trouble with the Curve
20.     Unforgiven
21.     Eastwood Factor Documentary
22.     Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story Documentary – NEW!

Holiday Gift Ideas from Warner Bros. - Scooby-Doo, Pepe Le Pew, Unforgiven, The Lieutenant, The First Christmas and Shazam!

The products below are some of my favorites from 2012. Click on the title of each one to read my review.

For kids of all ages, Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated (Season One, Part 2), the best Scooby-Doo series since the original.

For fans of the classic Looney Tunes, as well as the hopelessly romantic, Pepe Le Pew is a true Super Star.

For the Clint Eastwood fan (and who isn't?) - the Oscar winning Unforgiven Blu-ray Book.

For Gene Roddenberry fans and classic television buffs, The Lieutenant, Parts 1 and 2.

For fans of classic, heartwarming holiday specials, The First Christmas, from Rankin-Bass

For those who remember how cool Saturday morning television was in the 1970s - Shazam!: The Complete Live Action Series.

"Clint Eastwood Icon: The Essential Film Art Collection"

Artwork from his early days in Spaghetti Westerns to Gran Torino (2008), and every movie in between, is featured in Clint Eastwood Icon: The Essential Film Art Collection (Insight Editions) by David Frangioni. The author's passion for Clint Eastwood films is exhibited throughout the 200 plus pages of this coffee table book that is a must have for any Clint Eastwood fan. David Frangioni's own collection of artwork, including posters, studio ads, lobby cards and other memorabilia are featured throughout the book that chronicles Eastwood's film career, from the 1960's through the 2000's. Each decade receives its own chapter and includes films that Eastwood starred in and/or directed, including The Outlaw Josey Wales and Mystic River, and a description accompanies each piece of artwork from those films. 

One of the unique aspects of Clint Eastwood Icon is the inclusion of movie posters from other countries, such as Spain, Italy and Japan. All artwork is presented in full color and showcases the changes that Eastwood experienced during his long and storied career. From the outlaw to the reserved elder who has seen it all, the artwork captures one of the most enduring performers in the history of the movie industry. Each chapter begins with an essay, by Thomas Schatz, describing Eastwood's various film roles and his growth as an actor/director that offers a fascinating look at the multi-talented star. Indeed, Eastwood has done something that perhaps no one in Hollywood has ever been able to do by crafting his best work in his later years and experiencing critical and commercial success in the process. Now that is an Icon. 

Movie Recommendation: "Trouble with the Curve" - Starring Clint Eastwood

Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

The characters that Clint Eastwood typically portrays simply do not like to talk about their feelings and Gus Lobel, the protagonist in Eastwood's latest film, Trouble with the Curve, is no exception. Gus is an aging baseball scout for the Atlanta Braves who is struggling with vision problems, but refuses to confide in anyone about them. However, his long time friend, Pete Klein (John Goodman), senses that something is not right with Gus, who is about to embark on another scouting mission, which could very well be his last. His contract is up soon and management is not happy with Gus's inability to adapt to new approaches to scouting, so a great deal depends on the outcome of his latest assignment. While Pete is in Gus's corner, Tom Silver (Matthew Lillard), a much younger executive, tries to convince management to cut ties with the aging scout.

Pete's effort to talk with Gus about his problems fails miserably, so he reaches out to Gus's estranged daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams), for help. Initially, Mickey refuses, since she is involved in major litigation for her law office, which could enable her to make partner if she is successful. However, Pete's influence weighs on the very capable young woman and she decides to join Gus on the road, much to his dismay. Yes, father and daughter have a troubled history, but Gus refuses to have anyone look after him or "help" him do his job. However, Mickey used to travel with her father on scouting assignments during her youth and soon proves to be an invaluable resource. She is also almost as knowledgeable as Gus when it comes to all things baseball.

Old family tensions flare up during the assignment, which causes added grief for both of them. Mickey wants to resolve certain issues, but Gus wants to leave the past in the past, although he is struggling with a recurring dream concerning an incident involving Mickey from many years ago. Thankfully, a much younger fellow scout, Johnny Flanagan (Justin Timberlake), arrives and reconnects with Gus and soon falls for Mickey. Johnny attempts to play peacemaker between father and daughter, but their personalities are so strong and forceful that he realizes that he is out of his league, so to speak. Tempers flare on various occasions, causing problems for the trio, who must find a way to get past their personal problems and take care of business.

Fans of Clint Eastwood's codger characters will love Gus. He is ornery, stubborn, brutally honest and takes no crap from anyone. Even at his advanced age, Gus will still take on all comers, which will surely delight viewers in a couple of scenes. Eastwood still has the fire in his eyes and in his spirit, but decides to "take it easy" by just acting in Trouble with the Curve, his first starring role since Gran Torino, in 2008. The directing chores are handled by Robert Lorenz, who has assembled a terrific cast and, as a result, his direction looks effortless. For instance, Amy Adams has no trouble keeping up with Eastwood, much to her credit, and Mickey is very much like her father, which makes their dramatic scenes together so terrific and believable. Despite their differences, they still love and support each other when necessary, like any good family should.

The screenplay, by Randy Brown, conveys that there is more to Gus's job that just seeing what is happening on the baseball diamond. Listening is also key and Gus must rely on his other senses when his sight begins to fail him. He can still do his job, but not everyone may be as confident. While Trouble with the Curve is primarily a drama, there are many comedic moments, courtesy of Eastwood's trademark expressions and physicality. Yes, he can still be imposing as an octogenarian and yes, Eastwood is still consistently making one quality film after another in his golden years. Not many actors/directors can say the same.