Hard to believe Clint Eastwood might make our day only from behind the camera now.
The Oscar winning director and screen icon says his latest film role, that of a racist Korean War veteran in “Gran Torino,” will be his last.
For any other 78-year-old, that makes sense. But Eastwood still has “it,” that indefinable presence that endures despite his advanced age.
So if “Gran Torino” marks the end of an era, let’s honor it by recalling the best of Eastwood’s screen performances.
- “Gran Torino” – I’ve seen Eastwood’s latest, and while I’m not allowed to review it until its official release, I can say he turns in arguably his best performance to date.
- “Unforgiven” – The official star of Clint Eastwood 2.0. The actor begins a new phase in his career, one which calls into question his past allegiance to screen violence. He also proves he’s no longer a one-dimensional actor.
- “Million Dollar Baby” – Arguably the most overrated Oscar movie in recent memory, but Eastwood excels as the gruff trainer looking to toughen up his new pupil (Hilary Swank)
- “The Bridges of Madison County” – Read the book through gritted teeth but found the film version superior in every way. Eastwood and Meryl Streep made for a complicated but compelling romantic duo, and ol’ Squinty Eyes shows a romantic side that we never saw coming.
- “In the Line of Fire” – One of Eastwood’s more well rounded action films, and one which shows him credibly wooing a younger woman while losing none of his patented cool.
It’s easy to argue that Eastwood’s work in those early spaghetti westerns, or even his “Dirty Harry” movies, offered more compelling performances.
But back then he was coasting on his all action, little talk image. He was still years away from developing into a full-bodied actor. Just consider his stiff turn in “Play Misty for Me,” and compare it any of his more recent roles. No comparision.
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(Photo: Clint Eastwood plays a racist widower who befriends a family of Asian immigrants in “Gran Torino.” Photo by Anthony Michael Rivetti)
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
For Eastwood’s early stuff, I rather liked his role in “The Beguiled.” I don’t think I would put it in his Top 5 acting performances, but I think it is noteworthy for the departure from much of what Eastwood was doing during that time.
It’s not a movie I’d put at the top of my Eastwood Netflix queue, but I give him credit for trying something different.
In any event, I think your list is probably what I would pick, with the exception of Gran Torino, since I haven’t seen it, yet.
I confess I haven’t seen The Beguiled” …
And i was gonna squeeze in “Every Which Way But Loose” for A. fun and B. to showcase his range, but I decided to get all stuffy and stick to the true “actorly” roles.
Not every actor can hang with a scene stealin’ orangutan
One of our favorites is Heartbreak Ridge.. Gunny Highway
Dude, the Philo Beddoe roles were awesome, I absolutely love those movies … especially seeing Sondra Locke singing …
ever notice how much Clint loved to sing, and let others sing?
no? Clint sings in Honkeytonk Man (vastly underrated flick), Paint Your Wagon, and the opening duet of Any Which Way You Can, with Ray Charles … I’m sure there’s more … seriously, man loves to sing … and he’s every bit as bad as Sondra Locke (“Coca-Cola Cowboy”, the song she sang in the Beddoe flicks at The Palamino) …
The Beddoe flicks were great fun. I can’t believe he’s 78. Wow.
One of my personal favorites is Two Mules for Sister Sarah. I don’t think it was much of a departure from his usual style at the time, but it was fun to seem him in a more lighthearted movie (at least until the “Loose” movies). And anyone who can get Shirley McLaine twitterpated must have something good going on.
What about “The Outlaw Josey Wales.” Hands down, it’s the greatest western ever made, and easily Clint’s best performance.