Long live Clint Eastwood!

“Cry Macho,” his newest film, made $1.6 million in wide release on its opening night. The saga of Clint, a rooster, and a teenage kid trying to get out of Mexico did very well considering the movie is also available on HBO Max.

And why not? You want to see this cinematography on a big screen, believe me. And Clint is endearing as ever. For so called adult movie goers, “Cry Macho” is a good reason to get out of the house this weekend. (So is “Tammy Faye.”)

Going wide was a smart idea for Warner Bros. I’ll bet the word of mouth is very strong for “Cry Macho.” Clint’s looking at a $5 million opening weekend. The budget is small, so once again, Malpaso Pictures will turn a profit.

Tammy Faye is going to have to start preaching on VOD sooner rather than later.

Opening night for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” brought in just $250,000 at 450 theaters. Weekend total of $750,000 would be on the high end, and not enthusiastic for the Jessica Chastain-Andrew Garfield starrer.

From what I can tell, with a 67 on Rotten Tomatoes, “Tammy Faye” would do great getting to a bigger audience fast on video streaming. Otherwise, it feels like it could go the way of Sean Penn’s “Flag Day” and disappear fast.

Watch for Disney Searchlight to make a decision (if they haven’t already) by the end of the second week. In the meantime, if the film is playing near you, get to a theater and check out some great acting.

At a recent screening, Kenneth Branagh told the rapt audience that his love affair with his latest film “Belfast” his semi-autobiographical film about his growing up and leaving his beloved home of Belfast, was long in the making.  Branagh noted, “This story was 50 years in the making, always in my head, talking to me.  When COVID happened, I listened and I wrote it.”

Branagh wrote it, indeed.  An elegant shot film, mostly in black and white, “Belfast” is a poignant, heartfelt, funny; a deeply personal tale of the tumult that was growing up in a violent, fractured community in Northern Ireland.  Jude Hill, a young actor worthy of all the kudos he’s receiving, plays Kenneth’s alter ego Buddy. He’s a sweet, curious lad who revels in his family’s love. Mummy (gorgeously played by Caitriona Balfe) his doting grandparents (the divine Judi Dench and equally superb Ciaran Hinds.)

The sadness for Buddy is that the Dad he adores (a terrific turn by Jamie Dornan,) is often gone for a higher paying job in England and comes home sporadically.  But he’s still a present figure even when he’s not there.  The family is Protestant and live in a mixed religious neighborhood alongside their friendly Catholic neighbors.  But the utopian coziness ends when the ‘troubles’ begin. Buddy’s moral driven Dad steadfastly refuses to take sides. That in turn brings more conflict with the bad guy leader of the local Ulster Volunteer Force.  But back to the family, the backbone of the story.  Mom is a tough lass, loving but firm, torn between her devotion to her neighborhood and the reality of what their life is becoming.  Buddy’s Dad is more realistic, he sees the writing on the now graffiti laden walls of their beloved town.

Dornan and Balfe are just wonderful in their roles. Dench and Hinds are otherworldly in theirs.  As a devoted couple after decades of marriage, their shorthand of love and sarcasm is a joy to watch.  When the prospect of Buddy leaving them becomes real, his anguish and theirs defines the word heartbreaking.  Showing what civil upheaval does to this one family and their neighborhood is wrenching.

Belfast born Van Morrison wrote the music which fits pitch perfectly. “Belfast” surely will be the recipient of numerous awards across the board; writing, directing, acting, cinematography, music etc., as it should be. Branagh’s passion project “Belfast” is a true love letter to the people who stayed, who left and to all who still hold Belfast dear.  “Belfast” is a jewel of a film.