Clint Eastwood and Justin Timberlake co-star in the baseball-themed 'Trouble With the Curve.'
After all, the role of the former ball player with radio-booth aspirations seemed tailor-made for The Social Network star's on-screen energy.
Timberlake even shot an audition tape for director and longtime Eastwood producing partner Robert Lorenz to show the acting legend."I saw the tape, he was terrific," says Eastwood, 82.But sitting with his co-star at Beverly Hills' Culina restaurant, wearing a jacket over a casual golf shirt, Eastwood admits there were other factors that made him excited about bringing Timberlake on board -- the guy is one heck of a golfer."If (Timberlake) had been a lousy player it would have been, 'He can't play the role.' " Eastwood says with a smile, causing Timberlake to bust out into laughter."He might be great on the tape, but what's his handicap?" Timberlake, 31, retorts.EMPTY-CHAIR SPEECH: Eastwood doesn't like 'making fun' of Obama Eastwood -- cautious in the wake of his "empty chair" speech which continues to reverberate nationally as Curve opens Friday -- points out that he is only joking about the mandatory golf skills.
