Tightrope
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Genevieve Bujold, Dan Hedaya, Alison Eastwood, Jenny Beck, Marco St. John, Rebecca Perle, Randi Brooks, Jamie Rose
Directed by: Richard Tuggle, Clint Eastwood (uncredited)
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
1984

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A troubled cop (Clint Eastwood) tries to track a serial killer in New Orleans.

Review:
Tim: I enjoyed Tightrope for some of its unexpectedness. Clint Eastwood playing a cop isn't original, but this movie has enough unique attributes to make it feel even more compelling than the story would suggest. This isn't a great movie and it has its flaws, but it's still a fairly effective thriller.

The movie feels different right from the start, because of it's setting in New Orleans. Most cop thrillers like this are set in New York, or maybe L.A., so The Big Easy immediately gave the film a different flavor. The setting mattered here as it was front and center throughout the film. It might seem like a small thing, but it was a positive for this film.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, Clint Eastwood's character was unexpectedly different. His Wes Block is a flawed man with a dark streak. I really appreciated this portrayal of the protagonist. Block is a complicated individual- he's both a doting, loving father to two girls, but he also has another side to him. It's a surprisingly complex character and a bit of a departure for Eastwood. Sure, he plays rough characters all the time, but they always feel like obvious heroes. Gruff, but good. His character here just feels different. You root for him because he's pitted against a serial killer, but this his character is more layered than we're used to. That certainly makes a big difference and it's one of the chief reasons I enjoyed the movie.

The story itself is fine, if a little forgettable. It's a cop chasing a killer and the killer eventually becomes aware of the cop. We've seen this story told many times and in much better ways before. That doesn't mean this movie isn't effective, because it is. It does feel a little disjointed at times. It didn't surprise me to see that Clint Eastwood took over some directing from Richard Tuggle. Eastwood is a significantly more talented director. I'm sure him stepping in helped the movie, but it does on occasion feel like competing approaches. The movie is dark and intriguing and you get invested in the story. There's a few fairly incredible tense sequences where the intensity is ratcheted up. Nothing we see on screen is really novel, though, so while the movie works while you're watching it, there's not a ton of staying power.

Eastwood is good in the lead role. As mentioned, it was fun seeing him embrace a darker, more flawed character. He's so good in these kinds of roles, so it's not a surprise that he elevates the movie with his performance. Genevieve Bujold works well in her role. She felt like an unexpected casting choice, but a brilliant one. She certainly makes her character far more compelling than may similar movies. It's always fun to see Dan Hedaya, he always makes a positive impact. Outside of these three, the cast felt fine, but no real standouts. The movie really does belong to Eastwood.

Tightrope is ultimately a good movie. Sure, it has its flaws and isn't as memorable as it needed to be, but it's still an effective thriller. I had a fun time watching it and it felt like another success for Eastwood.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



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