Being a veteran director and an actor, Clint Eastwood has been given a free pass multiple times to do and say as he pleases. Starring alongside his son Scott Eastwood in the 2008 film titled Gran Torino, the actor made a film so controversial that even his co-stars criticized the film.
Talking about why he chose to make the movie, Clint Eastwood revealed that the movie was politically incorrect. Referring to the current generation as too sensitive, Eastwood deliberately made a movie that would hurt the general people in current times in a bid to toughen them up!
When Clint Eastwood Made A “Politically Incorrect” Movie
Back in 2008, Clint Eastwood directed and starred in the movie titled Gran Torino. Although the movie did not have a complex story to follow, there were several allegations of subtle racism and negative portrayal of different races throughout the movie.
In an interview with Esquire in 2016, Clint Eastwood sat down along with his son Scott Eastwood to talk about Gran Torino. Stating that everybody is tired of political correctness, the Sully director revealed that he took up the “politically incorrect” script of Gran Torino, reframed it, and started the shooting of the movie the very next day.
“Everybody’s getting tired of political correctness, kissing up. That’s the kiss-a*s generation we’re in right now. We’re really in a pus*y generation. Everybody’s walking on eggshells. We see people accusing people of being racist and all kinds of stuff.”
The actor-turned-director further continued,
“When I grew up, those things weren’t called racist. And then when I did Gran Torino, even my associate said, “This is a really good script, but it’s politically incorrect.” And I said, “Good. Let me read it tonight.” The next morning, I came in and I threw it on his desk and I said, “We’re starting this immediately.”
To give further proof to his philosophy, Clint Eastwood talked about a memory from his childhood that still haunts him to this day. Referring to the time a man knocked on their door to ask for food, Eastwood stated that he was willing to do any work for just a sandwich and not simply beg.
Clint Eastwood Revisits His Childhood Memories
In his statements, Eastwood often compares the current generation to his generation. Being 93 years of age, the actor had indeed seen some dark and terrible times during his early years. Recalling one of his stories, Clint Eastwood stated that he hates this generation because they don’t want to work and earn.
“It haunts me when I think of all the as*holes out there who are complaining. I saw people who really had it bad. There was no welfare to catch, to fill the bill there. The guy just wanted a sandwich. Hopefully later on he got a job somewhere. He was a guy trying to exist, and that’s the way people were then.”
Although controversial, Gran Torino received a rating of 8.1/10 on IMDB and 81% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Clint Eastwood starrer is available to rent on search Apple TV+.