Clint Eastwood Chrysler Super Bowl Commercial Proclaims It's 'Halftime In America' (VIDEO)

With most Super Bowl commercials either aiming for laughs to generate buzz or using sexuality to push a product, Chrysler distinguished itself by doing something completely different. Clint Eastwood starred in the most stirring commercial of the night, promoting a message more than any product.

This country can't be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again and when we do the world is going to hear the roar of our engines.

The 81-year-old Academy Award-winner kept returning to the mantra that it's "halftime in America" while it was, in fact, halftime at the Super Bowl. Eastwood conceded the struggles that the auto industry -- as well as the entire nation -- have faced in recent years but his tone was ultimately defiant and optimistic, looking ahead to the so-called second half. The powerful ad was certainly a departure from the rest of the day's offerings and left many people applauding.

@MMFlint
Michael Moore

And Clint, the consensus is u done a good thing standing up 4 Detroit--& your sermon seemed 2 b a call 2 give O his "second half." #sellcars

February 6, 2012 3:29 am via OpenBeak Reply Retweet Favorite

@ElizabethBanks
Elizabeth Banks

Super Bowl commercials recap: Clint Eastwood for Chrysler. Very powerful. Chills.

February 6, 2012 4:31 am via Twitter for iPad Reply Retweet Favorite

@billyraycyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus

And the winner is ......Clint Eastwood ! Maybe the best commercial in history.

February 6, 2012 1:48 am via Twitter for BlackBerry® Reply Retweet Favorite

Even those folks who may not have totally bought into the message of the ad couldn't help but be moved by Eastwood's moving narration.

@InsideHoops
InsideHoops.com

Everything, everywhere should be narrated by Clint Eastwood, James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman.

February 6, 2012 1:38 am via Mobile Web Reply Retweet Favorite

@BrianBBM
Brian Burgess

Clint Eastwood could have been promoting fruit roll ups with that monologue and I would have still gotten goosebumps. #dirtyharryrocks

February 6, 2012 1:26 am via Twitter for iPhone Reply Retweet Favorite

CLICK HERE to see the rest of the 2012 Super Bowl commercials as well as all of the best, worst and most memorable from years past.

For years, viewers have tuned into the NFL's Super Bowl as much to see what the advertisers roll out as how the two teams vying for the sport's top prize perform. This year was no different. Each time that NBC cut away from Super Bowl XLVI between the New York Giants and New England Patriots a hush came over most Super Bowl parties as everyone -- and not just the diehard sports fans with a rooting (or betting) interest -- focused entirely on the ads.

While iconic Super Bowl commercials like Apple's '1984' and Coke's ad starring Mean Joe Greene will be remembered so many more are soon forgotten or, even worse, ridiculed as super fails.

How does this Super Bowl ad stack up?

Comments

[edenmuse]

04:04 PM on 02/09/2012

It is really quite entertaining that Karl Rove and other "red meat" Republicans are howling indignantly about this ad. Everything Eastwood says in the ad is true, plus he is a Republican. Could it be that President Obama is on the right track and has accomplished more for the American people and the country than the Republicans want to give him credit for? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
"Oh Say Can You See?"

[Francois Bergeron]

09:51 AM on 02/11/2012

It would be nice to hear some thinking repubs' views on this. Instead of their usual ire I mean.

[tomgee111]

09:11 AM on 02/09/2012

Clint is a Reagan republican. Further proof how off the cliff to the right these neo-repubs have gone to where Eastwood and Reagan now look like lefties. They eat their own-----

[Onemorelatte]

12:15 AM on 02/09/2012

Unbelievable resonance for a thoughtful _real man_ who has risen above politics to stand for guts and fortitude--in contrast to the unbelievably petty and stupid republicans who prance around our country today (so, so shameful, really). We need inspiration from men like this today, oh how much we need them. It doesn't really take much.

[molly2shoes]

11:58 PM on 02/08/2012

molly2shoes... Continued story... Well the real story is... that one day Detroit came knocking on Mr. Farmer's door... asking to reclaim the pickup... as it was an "expermental pickup" that got away from the engineering department of the manufacturer. They wanted it back so that the world would not find out that Detroit had the ability to manufacturer a gas combustible engine that would deliver 60+ miles to a gallon of gas in 1973. Mr. Farmer's saving grace was that he paid FULL PRICE at the time of purchase... and legally had FULL ownership of the pickup and he did not have to "resell it" back to Detroit. He kept the pickup. Now... just how bamboozled has the USA's public been since 1973. We have been supporting the Texas Oil Industry... and the CEO's of those Texas Corporations per Mr. Carl Rove. And Mr. Rove was one of President G.W. Bush's White House advisors!!! Washington DC needs a good house cleaning... and hopefully the USA public is getting to the point that they are fed up enough to start doing that his next election. As per Clint Eastwood's commercial... This is our "Second Half!"

[badbvrly]

11:49 PM on 02/08/2012

No one says it better than Mr. "E". Come on America, let's take the 2nd half (our collective opportunity) and bring the win home. We've done it before and we can do it now.

[molly2shoes]

11:46 PM on 02/08/2012

I would like to add a comment in the same vein as "Straittalker." In 1974, I was attending a large city's Vocational School. My position as homemaker was replaced by a "new and younger" model and I had to learn skills so I could be employed to raise my 3 children. I had a teacher at that Vo-Tech School who was raised on a Kansas farm. She told the class this story... Her farming parents went into town and purchased a new "Detroit" manufactured pickup. I don't remember if it was a Ford or Chevy... but it was one of those two. Her parents paid for the pickup in full at the time of purchase. They did not purchase it on "time payments." They filled up the tank and drove it back to their farm. During the days that passed...days became weeks... Mr. "Farmer" was noting that his gas guage was not going down very fast. That the number of miles per gallon were quite high, he decided to check out how many miles he was getting/gallon of gas. Over the following months, he kept a written log of both the gallons and the miles that he put on with his new pickup truck. After 3 months with his new truck... Mr. Farmer's log showed that he was getting 60+ miles per gallon of gas. Needless to say... Mr. Farmer was "one happy dude!" Continued...

[molly2shoes]

11:04 PM on 02/08/2012

I am just one of the "average"...no... I am one of the "poor" income catagory Americans... and when I watched Clint Eastwood's commercial... as one commentator stated... "I got chills" because it really gave me HOPE... that maybe "America's Second Half" would be inspired to better productivity on ALL FRONTS... Economics, Government, both state and federal, and most specially Political CONGRESS... Yes,.. Mr. Jason Links stated in his latest article... According to a recent poll people selected the statement that maybe the politicians would be better replaced by a "random assortment of strangers"... selected from the Yellow Pages. WE NEED MORE OF CLINT EASTWOOD'S COMMERCIALS. Thanks Detroit!

[straittalker]

10:47 PM on 02/08/2012

Excellent commercial. Love Clint Eastwood! But come on... we have got to break the back of BIG OIL. They are bleeding us dry with the explicit permission of Congress. If they were out to help us...they would bring back the EV-1 and improve on it. Google ' EV-1' and find out 'who killed the electric car'. If Detroit wants to help us, then bring us vehicles that are realistic. No hybrids with 30 mpg. No 50 mile range electrics. What a pathetic joke. Just pathetic.

[sanddc]

06:11 AM on 02/08/2012

Real Men stands up for the truth.

[JayLikeBirds]

02:30 AM on 02/08/2012

If only it wasn't a bloody lie. I understand the necessity, however. Still, as long as we lie about who we are and what we are doing here expect continued bullsh!t and war.

[blwllm]

12:51 AM on 02/08/2012

The message... is an attitude of pride and never say die, down but not out, we shall overcome... and ONLY as a WE... and if anyone can bring that message home, Mr. Eastwood can.

[kf40]

12:40 AM on 02/08/2012

Clint does his level best with this copy and he's good alright, if not a little short of breath. But let's hear it for the copywriter on the first draft and the rest of the copywriters who hammered it out for Gunny Harry. The talent always gets the glory, the suits take the kudos, but the creatives always stand and deliver.

[OceanEric]

09:46 PM on 02/07/2012

Thank you Clint Eastwood.

[wayicit]

06:55 PM on 02/07/2012

Gunny Highway, Thank you, for taking the America first position. Something the Right has forgotten, with their party first agenda. Your words in the commercial hold true for all us who want America to prosper again. Detroit, is showing the way. Made in the USA....

The biggest issue, are Jobs, Jobs, Jobs.

[JScott]

12:13 PM on 02/07/2012

Jeez folks don't write so much into the commercial.

Bottom line it sez 'Buy a Chrysler' said by a member of the 1%.

You're all just sheep and that's the way the 1% likes it, you watch the Superbowl run by the 1% and get all excited about a commercial featuring a celeb of the 1%. I DIDN'T WATCH IT, I DON'T CARE, I DIDN'T JOIN THE REST OF THE SHEEP, THE 1% DIDN'T TAKE ANYTHING FROM ME.

[JayLikeBirds]

02:34 AM on 02/08/2012

If you didn't watch it wtf are you talking about? And don't bullsh!t me, you care deeply. Hatred and avoidence is the original attachment, you know that one.

[sanddc]

06:03 AM on 02/08/2012

It was great to see one person out of the 1% step up to plate and hit a home run out the park instead of doing it for the rich.

A lie needs legs,but the truth can stand alone no matter who brings the message of truth.