4 Attachment(s)
Cry Macho Review: Clint Eastwood's Latest Western Isn't One of His Best
Over Clint Eastwood's decades-long career, the Western is a genre in which he's made a considerable impact. Some of his finest works, including Best Picture winner Unforgiven, were Westerns, which is why it's always interesting to see the Hollywood legend return to this well. Never one to slow down, the now 91-year-old Eastwood directs and stars in Cry Macho, based on the novel of the same name by N. Richard Nash (who also co-wrote the screenplay). A few of Eastwood's late-period films have been well-received, but this one falls short of the mark a bit. Cry Macho is a fairly standard Western hampered by a thin story, which prevents it from reaching the heights of Eastwood's storied filmography.
Eastwood stars as Mike Milo, a former rodeo star who fell on hard times after suffering a tragedy. One day, Mike's former boss Howard Polk (Dwight Yoakam) asks him for a favor. Howard wants Mike to travel to Mexico and bring Howard's son, Rafael (Eduardo Minett) to Texas, citing concerns the boy's mother, Leta (Fernanda Urrejola), is constantly abusing him. Mike agrees to take the job and goes south of the border to find Rafael. From there, the two have to avoid the authorities and Leta's hired muscle in order to get back to the United States.
Eastwood's always been an economical filmmaker and Cry Macho doesn't waste any time in setting up the story and bringing viewers right into the plot. While that approach is welcome (Cry Macho runs 104 minutes), the primary issue is there isn't much to the narrative in terms of developments or thematic material. The story itself is quite simple, and any attempts to dig deeper below the surface (whether it's Rafael's troubled childhood or the elderly Mike's perspective on "being macho") fail to leave much of an impression. Cry Macho plays with some interesting ideas, especially considering Eastwood's onscreen past and image, though there isn't enough there to make it standout as one of the director's better offerings.
The emotional core of Cry Macho is in the dynamic between Mike and Rafael, and the two make for a solid pair, whether they're carrying the film's more dramatic moments or injecting a bit of levity. Aspects of their relationship may come across as predictable (Rafael is in need of a dependable father figure), but their connection still feels earned. Minett does a good job as Rafael, finding a balance between a street-smart teen and vulnerable child looking for someone to trust. Eastwood is characteristically reliable, channeling his typical persona to bring gravitas to Mike. However, an argument can be made that at 91, he is a bit too old with regards to a subplot where he becomes something of a romantic interest for widowed grandmother Marta (Natalia Traven). As nostalgic it is to see Eastwood in his cowboy get-up riding horses, certain elements of the character's story don't land as well.
Unfortunately, Mike and Rafael are the only characters with real meat to their portrayals. A majority of the supporting cast consists of stock characters that exist mainly to serve a purpose in the story. Horacio Garcia Rojas' Aurelio is just an obstacle that gets in Mike and Rafael's way for a few confrontations (which are easily resolved) and Traven doesn't have much to do as Marta. This does allow Eastwood to keep the focus on Mike and Rafael's journey, but the two-dimensional ensemble does make the film drag a bit in the middle section, which could cause some viewers to lose interest. None of the actors are bad in their roles, it can just be difficult to get fully invested since the story is so thin.
It is impressive to see Eastwood continue to churn out films as a director and actor, pulling triple-duty for Cry Macho as he serves as producer as well. And die-hard fans who have been following his career for years will likely find something to enjoy and appreciate. However, when compared to some of Eastwood's best works (and even a handful of his more recent efforts), Cry Macho is lacking what's necessary to be a real crossover hit and it likely won't be much of a factor come awards season. Those who love Westerns and Eastwood may be inclined to seek Cry Macho out on the big screen if they feel safe, but everyone else can catch it on HBO Max. There's something comforting about seeing Eastwood in another Western, but that's not enough to truly elevate this particular film.
Cry Macho was released in U.S. theaters on September 17, 2021, and is also available to stream on HBO Max. It is 104 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for language and thematic elements.
