Cry Macho will hit theaters and HBO Max on September 17, and when it does, it'll bring Clint Eastwood's career full circle. The Hollywood legend has starred in and directed so many hits that it's almost hard to count them all. The Dirty Harry series, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, and a litany of other cinematic gems have certainly proven his film-related talent and keen awareness of what "works" creatively.
And, now, he's back - after being in front of and behind the camera - with Cry Macho. Based on the novel by N. Richard Nash, Eastwood plays former rodeo star Mike Milo. The protagonist appears to be a washed-up, harder-drinking version of the man he was in his younger days--a time that also seems to haunt him deeply. In classic Western fashion, Cry Macho watches him make an arduous and perilous journey - in this case, to Mexico - so he can retrieve his friend's son, Rafael, and bring him back to the US.
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Since the Nash novel was published in 1975, the film version will be set in the late '70s, as well. This certainly makes sense, but it also adds another meaningful layer to the project. After all, the decade was when Eastwood's career was at its height. At that point, he had starred in enormously popular projects like Dirty Harry, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Two Mules for Sister Sara, and A Fistful of Dollars. Since then, he's become an American film icon often grouped together with other immortalized Hollywood legends like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. When many people think of a young Clint Eastwood, they picture him sporting a poncho and gun holsters - with a steely-eyed glare in his eyes and a rolled cigarette between his lips. Long before the movie version of Cry Macho, that's how Eastwood first burst onto the mainstream scene. It's only fitting that the 91-year-old filmmaker/star has set what will most likely (but unfortunately) be one of his last movies during his lengthy career's initial hay day.
Not to mention, the upcoming film has all the makings of a high-quality movie of his. Judging by the trailer and promotional materials that have been released, the legendary actor will be playing a part that has always suited him well - one where he's a crotchety, tough man who's willing to do whatever's necessary within the plot. And Cry Macho also seems to have a few glaring similarities to his smash-hit 2008 drama Gran Torino. Milo (like Walt Kowalski in the previously mentioned film) is an aging man, who's haunted by his past, and he's willing to put himself in serious harm's way to protect a young man he's become loyal to. A somewhat similar formula is sure to work well again.
The acclaimed movie star is returning to his roots. Not only is Cry Macho Clint Eastwood's first Western since Unforgiven, it also seems to incorporate signature themes - like its tone and characters - of his career that have worked for him in the past. It's sure to pull big numbers, both in theaters and via streaming. And, with how it brings Eastwood's career full-circle, it'll be a fitting way to tie up the latter portion of his career - and even be suited for fans of many different iterations of his work over the years.