Hollywood star Clint Eastwood has presented several masterpieces on-screen as an actor and also as an incredible filmmaker. The Oscar-nominated actor turned to direction with the 1971 crime thriller Play Misty for Me, and later transitioned his career to a critically and commercially successful director, winning two Academy Awards for Best Director. His 2015 film American Sniper also received several nominations at the Academy Awards.
However, Michael Moore didn’t seem too impressed with the 2015 war drama and shared his criticism of the film, as he recalled the time Eastwood threatened to kill him.
Clint Eastwood Threatened Director Michael Moore
The 2015 film American Sniper follows Chris Kyle, a sniper who suffers from the horrors he experienced during the Iraq war and how it affects his life and marriage. Starring Bradley Cooper in the lead, the film was inspired by sniper Chris Kyle’s memoir of the same name.
Although it was a commercial and critical success, many found the movie controversial. And filmmaker Michael Moore was also among them. He took to social media to share his criticism of the film and an old encounter with its director Clint Eastwood.
Moore shared a lengthy Facebook post, claiming that the Oscar-winning director threatened to kill him during the awards dinner at the National Board of Review. He shared that while accepting the award for his 2004 sports drama Million Dollar Baby, Eastwood threatened to shoot him if he ever visited his house with a camera.
The Sicko director further mentioned that he assumed it was a joke at first. However, he was still a “bit stunned” by his statement. Moore then went on to criticize the 2015 movie as he called it a “mess of a film that rewrites history.” The Dirty Harry star later addressed the claims and denied threatening Michael Moore.
Clint Eastwood Denies Michael Moore’s Claims
Clint Eastwood later denied Michael Moore’s claims that he threatened to kill him, as he also shared the reason he was upset with the Bowling for Columbine director. The Cry Macho star shared that he did not like how Moore showed up on NRA President Charlton Heston’s doorstep for his 2002 documentary film Bowling for Columbine.
He then went on to deny Moore’s claim, saying, “Everybody’s saying I threatened to kill Michael Moore. That’s not true.” However, he jokingly added that it wouldn’t be a “bad idea.” Regarding Moore’s criticism of the 2015 film, he said that everyone has the freedom to express their thoughts, and they can say whatever they want.
American Sniper is available on Prime Video.
Source: Far Out Magazine
