Squint /(action)/ - 1.To narrow the eyelids and therefore narrow the field of vision 2. A mode of intimidation and persuasion by the power of the gaze 3. The permanent expression of amateur astronomers.
There is really no other way to silently say that you are tough and unimpressed better than a great squint. It may also mean that you are looking directly into the sun. But this short list is the road map to the greatest squinting spots on celluloid.
Clint Eastwood
The Master. He embodies what squinting is all about, and will go to the ends of the earth to squint down a punk badly in need of it. Clint began his wide-eyed career playing Rowdy Yates on the TV show Rawhide but as he began filming his famous dollars trilogy in the hot Italian sun, his gaze narrowed. The image stuck and even now you will not see the iris of the man who made the slit-eye cool and intimidating. For examples of his squinting prowess check out the Dirty Harry series, In The Line of Fire, Bloodwork, and Escape From Alcatraz.
Robert Duvall
A national treasure and a Class-A squinter, Mr. Duvall is quite adept at fooling you into thinking that his age has caught up with him and that his hearing is failing. We simply know better. His narrow gaze can bring to justice wayward sons (We Own The Night), make a hardened cowboy go sappy (Open Range), and melt the heart of a soldier (Gods and Generals).
Bruce Willis
A new graduate from the school of squints, Bruce has been honing his skills since his days at Nakatomi Plaza and has become an honored alum of the House That Clint Built. Although he is somewhat headstrong and occasionally arrogant, Mr. Willis is set to carry the torch of the Narrow Gaze into the future, and will do so in the gruff manner that makes him a unique face as a card-carrying squinter.
Article comments
1 - Jordan Richardson
I think Steven Seagal deserves honourable mention here.
2 - Jake
Nice addtion to the list. I somehow managed to miss the slap-happy blues guitarist.