Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and the author. My opinion is my own.

This is a well researched wide body of work. The author includes much of the actors early years in Los Angeles. I appreciated the fact the author was honest about the actor not being a good husband or father. He highlights his lack of ability to be a Father of his very many children and his obsession with making movies above all else.
His drive and ambition drove his success even without studio backing on his many B list movies. His notorious ill treatment of those around him and working with him is well known and documented here. A singular focus of success is well documented here.

A honest portrait of the actor. Well written and interesting read.

My thanks to both NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advance copy of this biography that tells the story of what really can only be called the last Hollywood star, a man who continues to work after almost 70 years in a business that worships youth, with no signs of stopping even as he closes in on his 95 year on Earth.

The cult of personality is not something I ever had an interest in joining for any of my many interests. I have met authors, illustrators, comic book writes, poets, movie stars and I think two directors of film. Most were just meet and greets, a thank you for what your work has meant in my life, I hope you are well, and continue to create. I never thought we would be soulmates, never thought of sharing my ideas with them. They were people who worked hard, and I respected that. To paraphrase a great movie line, meeting one's celebrity hero might be the most important thing in a person's life, to the celebrity it's just Tuesday. Some artists I have had to put away, as their personal lives reflect too much on their creations. The good thing, at least to me, is that there are always creators out there in need of fans. However in reading this book, I have had a hard time separating the man from the legend. I can't think of another artist in any medium who has had the longevity, the drive to create, to change, to explore, to work, and who loved being the legend he continues to be as Clint Eastwood. Nor do I think I have read about an artist who hurt so many people, mainly woman, who had grudges and acted as vindictively as Eastwood has acted to people. Calling himself a married bachelor, using his studio to help him save money in a lawsuit against another woman. And yet the work. Great books make a person think. Great biographies make people think about how people have lived, and what we would have done different. This one is great for it does all that, but never loses sight of the art, movies that will stand the test of time for hundreds of different reasons. Clint: The Man and the Movies is a magisterial look at a legendary film maker and actor, written by Shawn Levy, and is one of the best celebrity biographies I have read, about a man who is still working in film.

Clinton Eastwood, Jr, was born in California and shared not only his father's name, but his work ethic. Clint's father was a man who worked hard to support his family, during one of the worst times in American history. Clint's family moved often, giving him a feeling of being alone in the world, a loner aspect he carried not only into his future relationships with others, but onto the big screen. Clint was not much of a student, and upon graduation was at a loss as to what to do. Clint worked at everything, digging pools, life guarding, road work, until the army came calling. There Clint was lucky to stay stateside during the Korean War, and here he met some people who lived in Hollywood. Clint had acted a bit, and was tall, chiseled and perfect everyone said for Hollywood fame. Though Hollywood was not ready for him. Married, Clint was just about to give up fame, until TV came calling. And soon an offer to make a film in Europe. a Movie that changed everything.

There is so much to Clint's life that it really is astounding. Bit parts in horror films, bad western movies, Leone's movies, and finally his own chance at directing. The films too. I thought I was pretty good, but there are so many. Unforgiven a personal favorite, Bird, a big favorite. Letters from Iwo Jima, a movie that confused me so much, astounded that an American in his seventies could make such a small beautiful dark film about war. Levy is a really good author. At no time does this book drag, or present too much information. Levy is really good at discussing film acting, film directing, even digging pools. This is a warts and all book, and in many places Clint is not the hero one expects. Especially with woman. Levy is very good about this, not salacious, but factual. Levy looks over Clint's entire oeuvre from Spaghetti, to Apes, boxers, cops, snipers, and more. Levy looks at what makes these films work, the style the speed, the way Clint works with actors, and why his crew stays so loyal. And why the movies are so good.

There is so much here for readers. A biography on a man still working hard, while close to 100. A study of film making. A warning for woman in Hollywood. A look at Hollywood deals from handshakes, to the current state of streaming. There is a lot to wonder about also. Separating the artist from the man, the art from what reality shows. I really enjoyed this book, for the information, for the story, and for the questions it asks.

I have been a Clint Eastwood fan since sitting on the lot to have lunch right after a shootout scene for the original Dirty Harry. I've loved all of his movies, and this book is a perfect compliment to all of his movies. Well, do I feel lucky? Yes.