The B-Side Episode 162 – Clint Eastwood (featuring Mitchell Beaupre)

      Welcome to The B-Side! Here, we focus on movie stars—not the films that brought them fame, but the ones they created in between.

      Today, we’re exploring Clint Eastwood, both as a director and as a star. Our B-Sides include Breezy, White Hunter Black Heart, Blood Work, Flags of Our Fathers, and The Mule. Joining us is the wonderful Mitchell Beaupre, the Managing Editor at Letterboxd.

      We discuss Clint’s cameo in Casper, which might have been the first film appearance for all three of us. We touch on John Wayne’s disapproval of Eastwood’s film persona and highlight Clint’s remarkable ability to direct actors along with his smart casting choices (with the exception of The 15:17 to Paris). When Clint stars in his own films, he often surrounds himself with talent that rivals (if not surpasses) his own.

      There’s considerable praise for his lesser-known film Honkytonk Man, a candid examination of his ambitious role in White Hunter Black Heart (where he portrays a version of filmmaker John Huston), and a re-evaluation of Flags of Our Fathers nearly two decades after its initial lackluster reception. It’s much better than you recall!

      Other topics include Spielberg’s protégés (from Phil Joanou to Kevin Reynolds to Brad Silberling), Breezy’s stunning depiction of the post-60s counterculture decline, and Blood Work’s amusing (and delightful) twist ending.

      Listen in below and subscribe here. Don’t forget to follow us on Bluesky at @tfsbside.bsky.social. Enjoy!