Dwight Yoakam’s Character Revealed in Clint Eastwood’s ‘Cry Macho’
Well well well. Saving Country Music already reported back in April that country music legend Dwight Yoakam would once again be utilizing his acting talents and participating in his second passion by taking the screen in the latest Clint Eastwood-directed film, the highly-anticipated Cry Macho. Based on the novel Cry Macho written by N. Richard Nash, Clint Eastwood plays a one-time rodeo star and washed-up horse breeder who in 1978 takes a job from an ex-boss to bring the man’s young son home and away from his alcoholic mom.
What we didn’t know is exactly what role Dwight Yoakam would play, or how prominent it would be. Well now that we finally have a trailer for the film (see below), we come to find out Yoakam is one of the central figures as the Eastwood character’s ex-boss. Yoakam’s dialog opens the trailer, and he can be seen throughout.
The movie follows Eastwood and the son crossing rural Mexico on their back way to Texas as they face unexpected challenges during which the old horseman finds a sense of redemption through teaching the young boy what it means to be a man.
Cry Macho was originally set to be filmed in 2003, with Arnold Schwarzenegger cast in the leading role. But after he was elected Governor of California, the project was postponed. A proposed second effort in 2011 was also scrapped. Now the film is set to be released digitally by HBO Max, as well as in theaters by Warner Bros. Pictures on September 17th, 2021.
Along with Clint Eastwood and Dwight Yoakam, the film’s cast also includes Eduardo Minett, Natalia Traven, Horacio Garcia Rojas, and Fernanda Urrejola.
Yoakam has appeared in 23 feature films over his career, including most famously in the movie Slingblade as abusive boyfriend and bad musician Doyle Hargraves in 1996. But his acting output has slowed in recent years. Cry Macho will only be Yoakam’s third film in the last eleven years. The movie wrapped filming in December 2020 in New Mexico.
Clint Eastwood films regularly receive strong commercial reception and critical acclaim. Cry Macho could be a good opportunity for renewed recognition for Dwight Yoakam.
August 6, 2021 @ 9:53 am
I’m looking forward to it, but are all of Eastwood’s movies going to be about smuggling something across the border from here on out?
August 6, 2021 @ 4:28 pm
Clint is about 97 now. He’s just going to stay in the right lane, 10 mph the speed limit with his blinker on. Metaphorically speaking.
August 7, 2021 @ 9:08 am
Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
August 10, 2021 @ 11:03 am
If we live that long it’s where we all end up.
August 9, 2021 @ 8:14 am
THE MULE was pretty damn good. RICHARD JEWELL was pretty damn good too. He wasn’t in it, but he directed it, and it didn’t involve smuggling anything in across the border.
August 6, 2021 @ 10:07 am
Thanks for the heads up. Can’t wait!
August 6, 2021 @ 10:08 am
Looking good, and looking forward to it. Way to go, Dwight.
August 6, 2021 @ 10:49 am
Looking forward to watching it. Lifelong fan of both Dwight and Clint.
August 6, 2021 @ 11:42 am
Sounds interesting. Although Clint seems a bit old to be Dwight’s subordinate, a retired cowpuncher seems a much more natural fit for him than Ahnold.
August 6, 2021 @ 11:59 am
Yeah… I wonder about the story there because Yoakam is only 64, he’s 27 years younger than Eastwood.
But the relationship… if Yoakam’s character was a young boss to a veteran cowboy, that might fit with some of the dynamic you see in the trailer, where Eastwood’s character holds him in contempt.
August 6, 2021 @ 12:07 pm
And a cowpuncher of any age being in a pinch for dough isn’t a stretch at all. Generally not much of a retirement plan.
August 6, 2021 @ 12:50 pm
CE is much more appropriate for the role than the ex governor could ever hope to be.
DY seems appropriate in the trailer. It’ll probably be good flick- a money maker well acted, well directed well produced and a feels good end.
August 6, 2021 @ 2:34 pm
Looks like a good movie from the trailer. Been a while since we have seen Dwight in a film.
August 6, 2021 @ 3:40 pm
Hard to picture Arnold in drama role Ha!
August 6, 2021 @ 7:47 pm
The Doyle character Dwight played was so scary and real and amazing. I very much look forward to him in any role
August 7, 2021 @ 9:55 am
I’d watch the movie but, Clint Eastwood is a one character actor and Dwight Yoakam needs to sing his lines.
August 7, 2021 @ 6:37 pm
And which character is that ? Det. Harry Callahan ? Rowdy Yates ? Gunnery Sgt. Highway ? Josey Wales ?
August 9, 2021 @ 8:12 am
Sounds kind of similar to Roy Rogers’s last film MACKINTOSH AND TJ. If Clint’s in it or directs it, I’m always there. Dwight Yoakam is just another good thing to add to it.
August 9, 2021 @ 8:24 am
Can you imagine getting in a fight with and losing to a 90-year-old?
September 17, 2021 @ 8:25 pm
Saw this tonight. It was good and I was especially happy to see Dwight. Eastwood has gotten softer on stage than he was in Josie Wells so it’s completely believable given his true age. This is a must see for any Clint or Dwight fan