About Cry Macho

Cry Macho is a 2021 American neo-Western drama film directed and produced by Clint Eastwood, who also stars in the film. The screenplay by Nick Schenk and the late N. Richard Nash is based on Nash's 1975 novel of the same name. The film was released in the United States in September 2021, by Warner Bros. Pictures. The plot reveals a one-time rodeo star and washed-up horse breeder who, in 1979, takes a job from an ex-boss to bring the man's young son home and away from his alcoholic mom. Crossing rural Mexico on their way back to Texas, the unlikely pair faces an unexpectedly challenging journey, during which the world-weary horseman may find his own sense of redemption through teaching the boy what it means to be a good man.

Making / Production

Billed as Clint Eastwood's return to a western oriented role, Cry Macho started its production back in 2020 under the banner of Malpaso Productions along with Warner Bros. Pictures. The direction, production and acting role by Eastwood gives this film an intriguing layer of storytelling. Filming took place in New Mexico, serving as a replacement for the movie's setting in Texas and Mexico.

Actors

• Clint Eastwood as Mike Milo - Playing the main lead and former rodeo star, Eastwood brings a raw edge to the character, defining a man facing his own demons while trying to save a young boy from his predicament.
• Eduardo Minett as Rafo - The young actor excellently portrays the confused and troubled boy who seeks a better life.
• Natalia Traven as Marta - Playing a local cafe owner, Traven brings a grounded performance providing care for the duo and becoming their emotional cornerstone.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This is the first time Eastwood has worked as both the actor and director of a film since The Mule in 2018.
• It's based on a novel that was published almost forty years before the making of this movie.

Quotes

• "Sometimes, you have to say goodbye to the things you know and hello to the things you don't!" - Mike Milo
• "If you want something in this life, you gotta go and get it." - Rafo
• "The macho thing is overrated. It's okay to be afraid." - Mike Milo

Music and Soundtrack

• The original score was composed by Mark Mancina.
• The soundtrack infuses traditional American and Mexican music to reflect the cultural blend that the narrative traverses.
• The film features several self-written songs by Dwight Yoakam.