“I loved going to work everyday”: Unlike Tom Hanks, Jon Hamm Had Kinder Words for Clint Eastwood After Working With Him in $45M Movie Starring Olivia Wilde

Clint Eastwood has left an indelible mark on Hollywood as both an actor and, perhaps even more significantly, as a filmmaker. His directorial style is marked by a restrained, minimalist approach that lets the story and characters take center stage. One of Eastwood’s most significant contributions to cinema is his unapologetic exploration of complex themes.

He has worked with some of the great actors. And they had different opinions about his working method. While veteran actor Tom Hanks had some bitter words to say about Eastwood, Mad Men actor Jon Hamm on the other hand has some nice things to mention about the filmmaker.

What Did Jon Hamm Tell about Clint Eastwood?

Jon Hamm and Clint Eastwood both worked together in the 2019 movie Richard Jewell. The movie also starred Olivia Wilde made $45 million at the global box office. Though many actors think Clint Eastwood is a pretty terrifying director, Hamm referred to the director as ‘inspirational.’

Speaking at the world premiere of Richard Jewell in Los Angeles about Eastwood, he said:

“He’s a legend. The guy has worked for 60 years in the movie industry, if not longer. I don’t know what to say about him other than he’s an inspiration and he’s incredibly talented. I loved going to work everyday.”

Richard Jewell is a gripping and emotional portrayal of a man wrongfully accused and the consequences of media sensationalism and law enforcement’s rush to judgment. Eastwood, one of Hollywood’s greatest filmmakers beautifully showed how media shaped people’s perception of individuals.

Tom Hanks’ Opinion on Clint Eastwood’s Directorial Style

Unquestionably, Tom Hanks is a man of immense talent and tale. Even though Hanks frequently shows appreciation for the work of other actors and directors, the actor had a very unpleasant encounter with Clint Eastwood.

Speaking about the experience of working with Eastwood, Tom Hanks told The Graham Norton Show back in 2016: “He treats his actors like horses because when he did the ’60s series ‘Rawhide,’ the director would shout ‘Action!’ and all the horses bolted.”

“So when he’s in charge, he says in a really quiet soft voice, ‘All right, go ahead,’ and instead of shouting ‘Cut!’ he says ‘That’s enough of that.’ It’s intimidating as hell!”

Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood for the first time worked together in Sully, where the actor received the most number of awards for his performance as Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger.

However, despite all these, Eastwood will always be regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers in Hollywood regardless of what actors think.

Watch Richard Jewell on Netflix and Sully on Prime Video.