Clint Eastwood gets honorary Palme D'Or from Cannes

Clint Eastwood received an honorary Palme D’Or last week from the heads of the Cannes Film Festival for his achievement as a filmmaker, though his unexpected smash Gran Torino suggests that work is hardly over.

One of the presenters acknowledged as much, saying that “in French the word achievement means ‘done’ and Clint Eastwood is far from being done. We’ll call it an ‘opening award,’” as quoted in Variety.

Alhough Eastwood’s famously gruff, distinctly American character as a filmmaker isn’t necessarily a natural fit with the artistic identity of Cannes, he's had a history with the festival before he rose to acclaim as a director in America, akin to the rapport James Gray enjoys there today. Changeling played in competition last year.

Related links:
Review: Gran Torino
News: Clint Eastwood in talks to direct supernatural thriller
News: Matt Damon and Morgan Freemon to star in Human Factor

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