Clint Eastwood’s recent public display of early onset dementia, at the RNC, got me thinking about Clint’s long career in film. Much like President Obama I am still a fan of many of Eastwood’s films despite his recent, what are we going to do about grandpa moment.
At least we will always have Unforgiven
I had a hard time just selecting a few of my favorite Eastwood roles. Hell he has been in 67 films, while that is not in Nick Cage territory it is still very prolific.
No list of great Eastwood films would be complete without mentioning his work in the Sergio Leone “Spaghetti Westerns” While A Fistfull of Dollars, and For a Few Dollars More are both great, my favorite is The Good the Bad and the Ugly.
Eastwood plays Frank Morris in Escape From Alcatraz. This is a slow boiler but a highly suspenseful prison film. It also encouraged me to not end up in prison. Certainly in my top three prison movies of all time. Hmmm now that sounds like a good top ten topic. No one steal that idea.
Eastwood directs and stars in The Outlaw Josey Wales one of the classic cowboy films of all time. A man with nothing left to lose is pushed over the edge. Eastwood is one actor you don’t want to see angry.
In 1992 Eastwood starred in and directed the western Unforgiven. His portrayal of retired gunslinger William Munny is my choice for Eastwood’s best role. In addition this film proved that the western is far from dead in American cinema.
Go ahead make my day… tell us your favorite Clint Eastwood film.
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
It may be cliche, but I have to go with Unforgiven. There are so many great scenes and subplots. If I needed to pick a non-Unforgiven fave, it is definitely Josie Wales. Whupped ‘em again…
Mev, William Munny reminds me a bit of you when you start drinking CC and ginger ale.
Well, for classic Eastwood I’ve got to go with The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. For recent Eastwood, I really like the job he did in Gran Torino.
Chip I enjoyed Gran Torino but I was convinced that he had doused that house at the end with gasoline and was going to set it ablaze with his lighter.
Dude….I can’t believe Space Cowboys didn’t make your list
I kid….I kid…..I think my favorite Eastwood film is Pale Rider. I can watch the shit out of that movie any time it’s on. He’s got that smoldering intensity in spades in that film. Not too many actors can pull that off these days aside from Tom Hardy and a handful of others.
It’s gotta be Unforgiven or something from the Dollars trilogy. There’s still quite a few I need to see, but those are true classics.
What about Heartbreak Ridge? lol just watched that on tv the other day.
Gotta be “Unforgiven”, but happy to be the first to give a shout out to “High Plains Drifter”. That movie is %#$#$ing awesome. And severely underrated.
Nice Job being the first one to mention High Plains Drifter Fogs
There is no way I am picking just one. The Unforgiven is an obvious pick and it is without question the best modern western but he did also direct the amazing and very dark High Plains Drifter. You have to throw something from the Dollars Trilogy in the mix and I think A Fistful of Dollars might be my favorite Clint movie from the trilogy but The Good the Bad and the Ugly is my favorite of the trilogy overall.
Unforgiven is either the best or second best modern western depending upon if you consider No Country for Old Men a western.
I do not consider No Country for Old Men a Western.
Why not, It’s got cowboys and takes place in Texas ?
For me it’s gotta be:
Unforgiven
Gran Torino
The Bridges of Madison County
Squasher, somehow I have never seen The Bridges of Madison County, how high is the body count in that one?
Haha, the body count is very high (jk, it’s a romantic drama with Meryl Streep). I recommend it if you are interested in seeing his softer side.
I had read that book before seeing the movie so it was a bit of a letdown on film but not terrible.
I have to go with Outlaw Josey Wells, but my opinion is incomplete because I haven’t seen most of his others.
Well the good news is you have alot of awesome Clint Eastwood films to checkout
Good question! The Good the Bad and the Ugly (1966) takes some beating.
Chris that film also hands out some beatings as well.
Definitely High Plains Drifter. He actually has the town painted red and changes the name from Lago to Hell. Now that’s how you get rid of unwelcome guests or a good bullwhipping will do it as well. Lets face it, like any other favorite movie, anybody’s Clint favorite could change from day to day, I mean tomorrow Every Which Way But Loose could be my favorite. I love that damn dirty ape………or arangutan.
I’m sorry, orangutan. No offense to Clyde.
Clyde forgives you, however, Bear from BJ and the Bear is pissed and throwing bananas and feces all over the place.
Hmmm, I haven’t seen any of his Westerns (well except for Paint Your Wagon) so I don’t know what my fave role of his would be. Space Cowboys was quite fun but Gran Torino is perhaps one of his most memorable roles.
Ruth just think of all the great Westerns you get to watch. You better get youself a ten gallon hat, a bottle of whiskey and start up that Clint Eastwood marathon.
Ahah, not sure about a marathon, Adam, but I might start w/ Unforgiven or The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The Good the Bad and the Ugly or Dirty harry
Oh that’s a tough one!
Tim that is a tough choice but Clint is a tough actor. You can’t go wrong with either of your choices.
ya know, I like Unforgiven most. On screen more than behind camera…personally. I’m looking forward to seeing Trouble with the Curve.
I am with you with Unforgiven but I am not sure if I am sold with Trouble with the Curve. I saw the trailer before Lawless and it looked to be perhaps a little too cheesy for my taste. But who knows I’ve been wrong before.
There are so many great Eastwood movies, it’s hard to pick just one. If I had to, I’d probably go with Josey Wales. But given a little leeway, I’d also throw in The Good The Bad and the Ugly and Unforgiven.
I am going with the Good the Bad and The Ugly, but like everyone else Unforgiven is truly the best modern western I have seen.