Eastwood’s ankle forced production change for ‘The Outpost’

LONDON – An accident that required two screws in his ankle almost prevented Scott Eastwood from portraying a real-life soldier in Afghanistan in “The Outpost,” a role that required a level of athleticism.

Eastwood had his lips tight on how he was injured, but said it led to an “interesting” shot. Director Rod Lurie had “a difficult time trying to figure out how we were going to design shots where for the first few weeks I couldn’t walk,” he said.

Lurie rescheduled the entire shoot, starting with static scenes and shifting the action to the end. “When you see Scott Eastwood in this movie, running and shooting, you have to remember that this guy has a broken ankle and he’s a bit of a stud. Like his father, “he jokes. Eastwood, who plays Sergeant. Clint Romesha, is the son of action movie actor Clint Eastwood.

“The Outpost,” which also stars Orlando Bloom and Caleb Landry Jones, follows the Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan in 2009. The Taliban attacked a remote US battle post, deep in the mountains, which was almost impossible to defend. Despite winning the battle and maintaining the base, eight American soldiers died.

It is a story of “regular soldiers,” explains Lurie. “These guys are on the ground, they have to pay the penalty not only for being in a war, but also for the tactical and strategic errors of the command over them.”

“It is not a pro-military movie. It certainly isn’t a pro-war movie, but it could be a pro-soldier movie, ”adds Lurie. “I was also a soldier, and I have a deep connection with these guys and with the inner strength of these guys it’s something we really wanted to convey.”

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The film is based on the book “The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor” by CNN journalist Jake Tapper.

Making “The Outpost” became even more personal for Lurie when her son Hunter died suddenly during pre-production.

“He was 27 years old,” explains Lurie, “and when he died and did it in front of my eyes, he himself became a reminder of the men who died in this battle. Because he was about the same age as those guys.”

Hunter Lurie died in 2018 after suffering cardiac arrest at a music festival.

Lurie said she wanted to shoot soldiers who lost their lives in battle “honorably and without glamor.”

“It is done without musical frills. It is done without a single bullet that really brought those guys down. And I did it, not in honor, but with respect to the families of men, ”he said.

Jones plays Spc. Ty Carter, a survivor who received the Medal of Honor. Jones said he was inspired by Lurie’s direction.

“I was excited that it seemed that this man not only wanted to tell the story, but he wanted to do everything in his power to make sure we did the right thing with these men who fought for our freedom,” said Jones, who has had roles in “X-Men: First Class” and “Get Out”.

The result is “a very visceral and kinetic narrative of this. It leaves you with people. You are with them in awkward moments, in moments of extreme emotion, dealing with the psychological effects.”

“I felt what it must have been like to be there and lose people and be a part of it,” Eastwood said. “And I found myself very emotional.”

Bloom, who plays Captain Ben Keating, said he felt a “duty of responsibility” with his character. He spoke to Keating’s father and worked on some of those shared memories in his acting.

“I felt very connected to him and I think all the guys did it too, you know, with their own characters,” said Bloom. “And it was, it was very sincere, you know … There was a lot of heart in it.”

Jones was encouraged to take on the role of Carter by his older brother, who serves in the Marines.

“He read it and you know a few hours and then he said, Caleb, you’re doing it. And I said, okay? And he said: no, you don’t understand. You are doing it.”

Jones felt the added pressure of his brother and the real-life Carter on set.

“I’m surprised that he didn’t run away or something like that. You know, my older brother is watching, Ty, the guy I’m playing with … I’m already having a hard time!

Finally, he says it added to the depth of his performance.

“To be able to look up and look him in the eye and see him nod or see him shake his head or be able to look at Ty as well and see if I’m doing something right trying to convey this.

“I am very honored,” he said.

“The Outpost” is in selected theaters and on demand on Friday.