'Clint: A Retrospective' Reviewed by the Library Journal Xpress

Schickel, Richard. Clint: A Retrospective. Sterling. Mar. 2010. 288p. illus. filmog. ISBN 978-1-4027-7472-0. $35 with DVD. FILM

In this coffee-table retrospective, film critic Schickel (coauthor, Bette Davis: Larger Than Life) chronicles Eastwood's life and career over six decades, from his early acting days through his most recent directorial work, Invictus. Eastwood provides an introduction in his usual self-effacing manner: "I'm just a guy who makes movies." Schickel is definitely a fan and wrote a biography of Eastwood in 1996, but his admiration does not distort the content; he deftly evaluates each performance and directorial effort, examines the emerging themes, notes Eastwood's maturing talent, and places him in cinematic context. The 200 juicy photos don’t hurt either - Eastwood in 1969 looks uncannily like Hugh Jackman. The DVD features clips from his 35 films. Eastwood has come a long way since his first role in Revenge of the Creature (1955).

Verdict: This record and evaluation of Eastwood's work is a definitive, welcome addition to the literature of cinema. Highly recommended - Rosellen Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA