The angry grumpy old-man character is back. This is after Eastwood was seemingly jilted on Gran Torino by the academy awards and after what seems like a four year hiatus: Clint Eastwood is back and being directed by his protégé, former producer Robert Lorenz. With this being Lorenz’s directorial debut, in a feature-length, it is pretty obvious that Lorenz himself has taken this opportunity to show some directorial tricks he has picked up along the way, on working with Eastwood over the years. Trouble with the Curve, seems to have let him establish himself as a reputable storyteller. Furthermore the supporting cast was well placed, with the likes of Amy Adams, John Goodman, Justin Timberlake, Robert Patrick, Matthew Lillard (The Descendants), and relative-newcomer Joe Massingill.

Eastwood is magnificent in this type of role and makes for an excellent old geezer that is stubborn and very much set in his ways. While portraying his character as someone past due on setting his retirement date, and an aging scout for the Atlanta Braves who avoids all modern methods and systematic scrutiny in favor of old fashioned gut work, he somehow manages to evoke a sense of pity from the audience and threads through the role with absolute ease and grace. I particularly liked his display of grumpiness while struggling to stay relevant amongst a sea of young hungry professionals in his field. He is absolutely convincing in this type of role now, at this ripe old age, turning eighty-two May 31st, 2012. READ FULL REVIEW