Variety is reporting that Justin Timberlake, who delivered a cracking turn as Napster founder Sean Parker in David Fincher's THE SOCIAL NETWORK, has signed on to join Clint Eastwood in TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE. The veteran filmmaker will produce the film for longtime collaborator Robert Lorenz, and this marks not only Lorenz's first time out as director, but the first film in which Eastwood has starred but not helmed since Wolfgang Peterson's IN THE LINE OF FIRE back in 1993.
Eastwood plays an ageing baseball scout who is losing his sight, and takes his daughter (Amy Adams) on the road to investigate a potential new signing. Timberlake is slated to play Johnny Flanagan, Eastwood's friend and himself a former player-turned-scout. Flanagan will also provide a potential love interest for Adams in the film.
This project puts to an end the rumours that came out of 2008's GRAN TORINO that Eastwood had retired from acting. The fact that he has chosen not to direct CURVE, while still producing through his Malpaso company, may reflect the rather lukewarm reception that his last three projects (INVICTUS, HEREAFTER and J.EDGAR) have received, as well as the fact that at the grand old age of 81, Eastwood may finally be getting a little tired. Personally I think this is a good move, as I'd far rather watch Eastwood on screen as he enters his final years, rather than suffer more half-baked films from Eastwood the director in which he does not star.
For Timberlake this is a great move. He won over a lot of critics with his turn in THE SOCIAL NETWORK, only to lose many of them again by churning out a string of mediocre star vehicles. With any luck, sharing screen time with Eastwood will rub off on the guy and if he can turn in another substantial performance here, could be set for a career of considerably more promising roles.
To James Marsh: I'm not sure which is the greater mystery: the notion that someone considers your juvenile, uniformed, idiotic, un-researched and disrespectful comments "Film News" or the fact that morons like you spouting mindless drivel haven't been killed yet. So Eastwood's films are "half-baked"?? You're half-baked... and we can only pray that you've entered your "final years" -- ideally, your final year, so the world never has to be polluted again with your mindless, disrespectful, uneducated crap. There are enough "bloggers"(semi-functional illiterate nerds like yourself) out there already without one claiming to be reporting "news." Since you obviously don't have a clue about journalism, here's a little tip: News has nothing to do with opinions. An opinion is when someone says, "personally I think this is a good move." That type of thing. Often the sentence will include the word "I." This type of writing is usually what we call an "editorial." Not "news." Understand? Maybe you'll learn this one day when you graduate from junior high school -- that is, if you can ever pass fourth grade, which I doubt. As for Eastwood, I'm hoping his return to acting includes another Dirty Harry film, so he can use your worthless, half-baked carcass to try out his .44 Magnum. It would be a real pleasure to see one of the greatest directors, stars and still-going-strong 81 year-olds splatter your miserable 14 year-old punk ass all over the street. Best of luck with your "career,"James. You'll need it.
I think this is my favourite comment ever. Thank you.
James. You have one hell of a moustache for a 'miserable 14 year old punk ass'.
Wow, this has to be the most epic, stupendously angry post ever written on these pages.
But why JTravers? Why are you so god damn angry?
And what does "uniformed" mean?
Wow JTravers.....this will take the cake as the most over-reactionary online post of 2012.....and an inexplicably idiotic one to boot. I read a whole lotta' trolling drivel daily but never heard anyone wish a fellow member of the online community such a gruesome death just because he opined that a director's quality of work has - arguably - degraded over the past few years.
Sounds like this guy missed his calling, and should have been a journalist or English professor instead of failing out constantly as a filmmaker. It's also amazing how people will run their mouths behind a keyboard. I'd love to see this guy mention killing ANYBODY with that person standing in front of him. Kurt and Billy in TOMBSTONE anyone?
JTavers new epic stars someone named Booboo and uses the deceased whining junkie Jeff Conaway as it's star name. In the immortal words of Stan lee..."'Nuff Said.".
Whoa! Vitriolic much?
I couldn't agree more that Eastwood's films have declined substantially in recent years and very much look forward to seeing who he chooses to direct. This could be a great film if it all comes together. Timberlake is one of the more exciting young actors in Hollywood today and seeing him next to a old pro (am I allowed to call him old or is that too derogatory?) could be a real treat.
Oh and James, you know you are kinda half-baked.
Never liked Eastwoods directorial effeorts.....of the few films I´ve seen that Eastwood directed, so him acting again sounds good.
Hopefully Eastwood does a sci fi western like, Yul brynner, Sean Connery, before he dies.
Justin Timberlake...? Well, after Inside Llewyn Davis he might receive a oscar nomination.....you´ll never know.....