‘Million Dollar Baby’ wins best picture

Eastwood, whose first credited screen role came in the 1955 Francis the Talking Mule flick “Francis in the Navy,” has climbed in the ensuing half-century to the ranks of Billy Wilder, David Lean, Robert Wise and Steven Spielberg, other filmmakers who have won two or more directing Oscars.

Critics say Scorsese’s best work is decades behind him, noting that recent epics such as “The Aviator” and “Gangs of New York” do not measure up to earlier masterpieces such as “Mean Streets” and “Raging Bull.”

On the other hand, Eastwood has entered a late-career zenith, delivering complex character studies two years in a row that rank toward the top of his long resume as actor and director.

A last-minute addition to the Oscar race, “Million Dollar Baby” did not even begin shooting until June and had been scheduled for release in 2005 until distributor Warner Bros. took a look at an early cut and scrambled to release it in December.

At 74, Eastwood became the oldest directing winner ever. Eastwood joked that it was a sign “we’re taking over. The (American Association of Retired Persons) and me.”

He said he had great respect for many young directors such as Alexander Payne, who shared the adapted-screenplay Oscar for the wine-country ramble “Sideways,” which also had a best-picture nomination.

“There’s a lot of young guys coming along, but I’d like to say to the various financiers, don’t forget the senior guys. The senior guys and gals are there, willing to do their best work for you.”

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