Tightrope (DVD)

Watch this movie.

A very dark film with some good and bad points, 'Tightrope' comes across as yet another variation on the 'Dirty Harry' character. This time we really dwell in the sleazy parts of the character, although Clint does try and redeem himself in the movie. The best parts of the movie are the acting, both Clint (who's never been better) and Genevieve Bujold (who is old enough to play this part effectively), the cinematography (which is pitch black) and the tone, which is grim and dirty and almost noir. The worse parts of the movie is the plot, especially the ending (more than contrived) and the direction (which was disputed and reportedly taken over by Clint).Yet despite the shortcoming of the film - and they are there, believe me! - I still like the film for being yet another example of Clint subverting the audience's expectation. Throughout the 1970's and 1980's (before he gained Hollywood Legend status) an Eastwood produced movie almost always had a way of giving the audience what it wanted while still undermining the genre expectations of the form. Here you have a macho detective who finds himself unable to be a parent or even a romantic partner and must redeem himself, both emotionally and eventually physically. Sure, it is a cheap movie shot on location in New Orleans, but that is what gave Clint the freedom to explore the character. And that is why I like the picture; it is emotion over gloss, substance over action. Plus it has perhaps the best romance in a Clint movie ever, or at least a partner who appears to be his equal.

It's a good Blu-ray movie.

While I love Clint Eastwood's work as an actor, and I have seen several of his movies, Tightrope was one of those films that I wished I had not overlooked. I am glad that I finally watched it after all this time. It was a good movie exploring the complex inner workings and conflicts of Eastwood's character as he tries to do his job and reconcile his own personal issues in the dark and sleazy jungles of the New Orleans sex industry. The whole killer in the clown mask trope was effective and added to the tension as he continuously evades capture throughout the film. I loved Genvieve Bujold's performance as a woman of conviction complimenting Eastwood's difficult character. The two daughters' performances were authentic and I appreciated how the daughters' innocence served as an effective harbor for Eastwood's conflicted role. BTW, I liked Alison Eastwood's performance as the elder daughter, and as far as talent goes, the proverbial apple does not fall far from the tree. As an 80's movie fanatic, I was also glad to see actress Jenny Beck in this younger role of hers, since I liked her in both Troll and the television series, V.If you like Clint Eastwood, this is a good film. It has a solid plot that keeps you on your toes as to whom the killer will strike next and interesting characters. Highly recommend!

Haven’t seen this one in years. Different type of role for Clint and he was great. New Orleans is a great town too shoot in.

This Eastwood film portrays a much darker view of life than previous Eastwood efforts. A very suspenseful and gripping film. In it, Eastwood plays Detective Wes Block. Block is pursuing a serial killer who is murdering prostitutes in the seedy underside of New Orleans. Block finds himself strangely drawn into this underworld and walking the "tightrope" between right and wrong, good and evil, as he balances his search for the killer. Meanwhile, his behavior eerily shadows the killer's deviant pursuits quite often leaving the viewer gasping in shock.In the role of a rape counselor is Genevieve Bujold, as Beryl Thibodeaux. An excellent counterbalance to Block, she plays on the tightrope, too. We watch as his tendency towards the lurid develops, yet her job is one of comforter and defender of those who are victems of violence and also to prevent violence against women. Their attraction creates an interesting tension during the film.Another interesting feature of "Tightrope" is how it shows the difficulty Wes Block faces raising two daughters as a single father, especially given the nature of his job. Eastwood's real-life daughter, Alison, plays one of the daughters in this film. Without giving away too much of the plot, I should say that mentally and physically there is some threat to the family.Overall, I would say that this film is one of Eastwood's best efforts, although it has been somewhat overlooked. For true Eastwood fans, I feel it is truly worth watching. Highest ratings.

At 114 minutes, I had hoped that this would be a complete version of the original film, but, it wasn't. For the benefit of those who never saw the complete film, what's missing are key plot elements starting with the opening scene where Block is assigned to investigate the murder of a prostitute because he knew her; she had been a witness in one of his cases. Another occurs at a crime scene where Block only begins to suspect that he's being set up and, startled to discover that this victim is a girl that he interviewed and had sex with, tells what he thinks to be a white lie, claiming that he hadn't gotten around to her yet when asked if this wasn't one of the girls he had already interviewed. Thus it is that, when it's discovered he hadn't volunteered knowing yet another of the victims and is forced to deny knowing any of the rest, Block is forced to walk the principle tightrope the title refers to; trying to keep his personal life together and stay on the job long enough to solve the case else he's sure to be convicted by the next officer assigned. There's something else missing, but, space wont permit.

Good movie

good cinematography by B Surtees from the mid 1980s and good under 120 length of picture.

unusual role for clint who is torn between the usual good guy role and a sinister past

A must for fans of Clint. Gripping and atmospheric. Clint,s young daughter Alison is here too. Highly reccommended.

Great buy

This is'nt an instalment in the Dirty Harry series, though Clint plays a tough cop with a vulnerability that is central to the film's premise. His character is on the trail of a sociopath, hell-bent on implicating Clint's character in a series of murders of women, who work in seedy establishments, in New Orleans. His character's realisation of the killer's motive, gives the second act a walls-closing-in kind of claustrophobia, that keeps you gripped to the end. One of Clint's best starring-roles in the early 80s.