Apart from being one of the most badass figures to ever grace the silver screen, Clint Eastwood is also notable for his contribution behind the camera. Having directed several acclaimed features throughout his decades-long stint as a director, one thing that sets him apart from other filmmakers is his calm and speedy approach.
Contrary to someone like Stanley Kubrick, who didn’t shy away from taking several takes to get the perfect results from the actors, Eastwood is famous for not taking more than one or two takes at most. Matt Damon, who has first-hand experience with the director, recalled the story of how Eastwood ensured one of the most impactful moments in Mystic River was nailed in one take.
Matt Damon on How Clint Eastwood Shot Sean Penn’s Most Gripping Scene in Mystic River
In one of the most visceral scenes from Mystic River, Sean Penn‘s Jimmy cries while being restrained by six police officers after finding out his daughter is dead. Considering Eastwood is known for sticking to one take for most scenes, Matt Damon, who collaborated with him on Invictus and Hereafter, recalled asking Eastwood if this was also the case for the Mystic River scene. After being told it was indeed done in the first take, the Interstellar star was reasonably bamboozled.
While The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly director had no doubt that Penn was going to give it all for the scene, for the police officers, Eastwood brought in actual officers and gave them little context.
Damon said:
That was the only thing he said to the real cops, and real cops do know how to brace you and hold you, and they’re very good at that. And that’s what that scene is, and he shot it in one. A great director knew not to say anything to Sean Penn because he doesn’t need it. He’s going to be right where he needs to be.
As for Penn, who scored an Oscar win for his performance in Mystic River, the actor recalled learning the value of a sense of calm and quiet while being on a set.
Matt Damon Was Taken Aback by Clint Eastwood’s Directorial Approach
But even though Eastwood had a reputation for being calm and composed on set, his demeanor once intimated Damon during Invictus. Considering the actor had to do an African accent for the film and was a stranger to the director’s onset tactics, after the first take, Damon recalled asking the director if they could do another one, to which Clint Eastwood replied, “Why? Do you want to waste everybody’s time”.
Fortunately, for the actor, he ensured nailing the first takes, as Damon revealed he might not have gotten more than one take for any of his scenes.