Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman on 1/29/05 at the Directors Guild Awards. Credit: WENN
Even though it would be nice to view Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood as immortal, it’s not the case. Day by day, Clint Eastwood seems to be revealing himself as either a humorously out-of-touch casual racist from a bygone era or a truth-telling wise mahatma who simply is too old to care. Morgan Freeman, on the other hand, had his mortality tested last year when he got into a bad car accident with a woman who probably was not his mistress, but is very litigious.
Clint and Morgan are old friends, having worked together several times over the past two decades. When Clint was on “Inside the Actor’s Studio”, he alluded to the fact that they were friends even before they worked together, and Morgan probably has a great affection for Clint because Morgan finally won his well-deserved Oscar for an Eastwood film (Million Dollar Baby).
Several months ago, it was announced that Clint would be directing the Nelson Mandela bio-pic called The Human Factor, and he was casting his old friend Morgan as Mandela. These director and actor choices were hailed as brilliant all-around, but now the insurance companies are giving the whole thing a second look. It seems the only way the funding will go through is if there is an on-set doctor to look after both Morgan and Clint. PR Inside has more:
The producers of Clint Eastwood’s new movie starring Morgan Freeman have hired a private doctor to remain on-set at all times to look after the veteran stars, according to a new report.
Freeman, 71, who plays Nelson Mandela in upcoming drama The Human Factor, is allegedly being monitored carefully by the medic, following a serious car crash in August (08) that left him with a broken arm and shoulder and a paralysed hand.
And movie bosses also want to make sure Eastwood, 78, is looked after during filming.
A source tells the New York Daily News, “There’s a huge budget for the film at stake.”
These guys are getting up there in age. Sure they had physicals before leaving – everyone has to. But (the private doctor) was just an agreed upon decision on all sides of the table.”
From PR Inside
It would be easy to come up with half a dozen crotchety-old-man jokes, but I don’t have the heart for it. I’m more worried about Morgan’s health than Clint’s. Clint’s mother is still alive and kicking it well into her 90s, and I have a feeling Clint will probably take after her. I really hope Morgan makes it through what will be a grueling film – playing Nelson Mandela could be his greatest role.
is duh too obvious?
“before leaving”
? where are they going ?
Don’t see the story here. Two guys in their 70s, gruelling schedule, huge budget. A full time doctor seems like a sensible addition.
Lem – I think “before leaving”…to film in Africa. They have to get their check-ups in America before they leave.
I missed the movie casting story first time around. Morgan as Mandela = brilliant! I hope the movie is made successfully with no health problems for anyone involved.
I guess i didn’t think they were really filming in africa.
Clint Eastwood filming Mandela biopic? Does Spike Lee know about this?
Thank goodness Eastwood’s doing it and not Lee, but I bet he’s pissed! As far as the doctor thing goes, whatever it takes to keep these two healthy (and working) as long as possible is welcome. They are both awesome.
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Clint might be a lot of things, but he’s not a racist.
Can you let that go people?
wow Spike is gonna go full-froth on this one. Sour grapes.
I would have thought that most big budget films with a fair cast would have a doctor on the set anyway? Or at least reliable access to one nearby.
But 71 isn’t really that old anymore. My grandad was helping out on building sites until well into his 70s, and I’m betting that he had a much harder life than either of these two. It kept him motivated, in touch with his friends (usually my uncle would be on the same site) and his mind sharp.
SPIKE LEE could give a “rat’s a$$” about Clint Eastwood. Old redneck bigot.
I really loved Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino. A friend of mine saw Here After last night and told me nothing really happened in it but was a cool idea.
Met Clint, not likley he is a racist,
but Ol MOrgan did make a comment on the ‘tea party’ being racist to which the tea party took offense.
These guys are in different galaxies on the political scale; good to see friends that respect each others viewpoint without hatred or pettiness.
Is the tea party rascist? Who knows, likley not but that is more a personal issue as opposed to a party one.