Review of Cry Macho (2021) by Brent_Marchant — 20 Sep 2021

It's sad to see an icon like Clint Eastwood, both as an actor and director, trying to make something out of this inert, sluggishly paced material. The picture comes across like an awkward hybrid of classic Westerns, road trip tales and mismatched buddy films, with touches of horse whispering and totally preposterous romance tossed in.

Much of the narrative is predictable, saccharine-encrusted and lacking in swashbuckling thrills. The mix yields a thin, uninvolving story brought to life by a lame script and even lamer, one-dimensional acting and character development, failings that even better casting and a more polished script wouldn't be able to help.

What's most distressing, however, is that, with Eastwood's filmmaking days dwindling, one can't help but wonder why he would waste his time and talent on an underwhelming project like this. Riding off into the sunset should make for a grand exit, not a hobbled departure.