Clint Eastwood ‘Trouble with the Curve’ Interview – Speaks On Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake & His Career

Academy Award winner Clint Eastwood, Oscar nominee Amy Adams, and Justin Timberlake star in ‘Trouble with the Curve,’ which marks the feature film directorial debut of Eastwood’s longtime producing partner Robert Lorenz. Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) has been one of the best scouts in baseball for decades, but, despite his efforts to hide it, age is starting to catch up with him. Nevertheless, Gus—who can tell a pitch just by the crack of the bat—refuses to be benched for what could be the final innings of his career. He may not have a choice. The front office of the Atlanta Braves is starting to question his judgment, especially with the country’s hottest batting phenom on deck for the draft. The one person who might be able to help is also the one person Gus would never ask: his daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams), an associate at a high-powered Atlanta law firm whose drive and ambition has put her on the fast track to becoming partner.

Mickey has never been close to her father, who was ill-equipped to be a single parent after the death of his wife. Even now, in the rare moments they share, he is too easily distracted by what Mickey assumes is his first love: the game. Against her better judgment, and over Gus’s objections, Mickey joins him on his latest scouting trip to North Carolina, jeopardizing her own career to save his. Forced to spend time together for the first time in years, each makes new discoveries—revealing long-held truths about their past and present that could change their future. The film also stars Justin Timberlake as Johnny Flanagan, a rival scout who has his sights on a career in the announcer’s booth…and has eyes for Mickey. Rounding out the main cast are John Goodman, Robert Patrick, Matthew Lillard, Scott Eastwood, and Joe Massingill. ’Trouble with the Curve’ is out now in the US and is pencilled in for a November 30th release in the UK.

What was it like for you not directing on ‘Trouble with the Curve’? It’s been nearly 20 years since you acted in a movie you didn’t direct….

Clint Eastwood: Yeah. Its been 20 years just about, 19 years. It was very refreshing because it gave me the opportunity to give Rob the opportunity to direct – which he’s always wanted to do. It gave me time to really sort of enjoy the surroundings. So when I wasn’t working on the film, on the set that day, I could relax and see what everyone else was doing. Which when you’re directing you do too, but you’re always thinking in terms of the next shot. It was refreshing though. In fact, while I was doing this I was thinking, “Why haven’t I done this more often?” (Laughs) But after ‘Gran Torino,’ which wasn’t that difficult a picture to make, I thought, “Maybe I’ll just separate the two powers for the rest of the road.”

’Trouble with the Curve’ says a lot about family and bonding with your family. I was wondering, with your own life, can you think of a bonding moment or a similar dynamic with a family member….?

Clint Eastwood: Not really, not the same type as in this – and of course the obstacle in ’Trouble with the Curve’ is that Gus is having health issues and he doesn’t want anybody to know about it. He doesn’t want anybody to interfere with his life, he figures he can do everything his self. And Amy Adams’ character realises that he can’t, or he’s certainly headed to not being able to. So I never had that sort of parallel experience, but I enjoyed playing it because I’ve known so many people like that. My fathers father, my grandfather, he was an older man well into his 90s and I remember my dad would be always going by and having to coax him not to do certain things. Like one time he went over there and found my grandfather up on the roof and he was fixing something, and he panicked, because the roof was quite steep and the fall would have taken him out. So you get that kind of thing, obstinate of old age. And you get the offspring’s having to sit there wondering how they’re going to keep this person around for a few more years.

You have a wonderful dynamic with Amy Adams in this, even though you’re butting heads as characters, what was it like working with her?

Clint Eastwood: I’ve enjoyed Amy Adams in many films before so I thought it was a great idea when they cast her as my daughter Mickey in ’Trouble with the Curve.’ I think she looks like she could be my daughter, and I liked the fact that she had to play someone who was nuts about Baseball, and someone who’s obviously athletic and sort of a tomboy-ish person –  and I think Amy really portrayed that well. Amy sort of is that as a person, she’s very athletic in her moves and I think it really worked well for the picture. She was great.

How was it working with Justin Timberlake as well, you’re sort of a mentor to him in ’Trouble with the Curve’?

Clint Eastwood: I’ve seen him in several pictures and I met him years ago when he was in ‘N Sync, he was a smaller young lad then. And I’ve seen Justin act in a few things, and I think he’s very good. When Rob said that he wanted to do it I said, “Great!” I think Justin is terrific in it, because he’s humorous but he played it in a vague way, not too swift, you know? His character wasn’t overly on top of the game (laughs), like a comedian sort of thing, he did a really nice job.

I don’t know if you can even answer this question, but looking back over your career, can you single out a specific role that changed your career and life?

Clint Eastwood: (Long pause) That is a tough one (laughs). You’re right, I can’t even answer that. Along the way I’m sure there were many – almost every role changes you, somewhat. And I think that’s the reason I keep going, I’ve never thought of retiring or anything like that, because I think it’s interesting and you’re always learning something new about yourself and about the characters that you play. And in thinking about the characters you play, yourself is included right up there.