Clint Eastwood’s Best Directed Movies To Watch

Few actors in Hollywood history have amassed a legacy and body of work comparable to Clint Eastwoodit is. First success on the small screen on television Rawhidehe quickly transitioned to the big screen and became a household name through his work in Sergio Leone“The Dollars Trilogy”. After spending years on numerous productions, watching and learning from a number of respected filmmakers, it would only be a matter of time before Eastwood tried his hand at directing. He made his debut behind the camera in 1971 and, half a century later, the iconic actor-turned-filmmaker has made over 40 films. Two of his efforts would go on to win Best Picture Oscars, and Eastwood himself won Oscar gold twice for his direction.

With a seemingly endless drive to tell stories and explore different avenues of human experience, the 92-year-old superstar is like a chameleon in his approach to the craft. Often releasing multiple films in a single year, his directorial instincts and interests have taken him into all sorts of genres. From westerns to dramas and romances to war movies, few filmmakers have proven themselves as thematically and narratively flexible as Eastwood.

RELATED: 10 Actors Who Achieved More Acclaim As Directors

“Play Misty for me”

Picture via Universal Pictures

Eastwood began his first directing experience with this 1971 thriller. A spiritual predecessor to Adrian Lynes Fatal attraction, play misty for me tells the story of Dave (Eastwood), a womanizing disc jockey who, after a one-night stand with a fan (Jessica Walter), finds himself the object of his increasingly obsessive and dangerous behavior. With his first time behind the camera, Eastwood was already moving into new narrative territory, eschewing his badass persona. His portrayal of a vulnerable man at the mercy of an evil stalker was a far cry from Western antiheroes and morally questionable detectives, and despite some of his lesser qualities in structure and performance, play misty for me nevertheless remains an impressive first feature film.

‘Bird’

An often overlooked characteristic of Eastwood is his undying love for music in general, but jazz specifically. As a self-taught musician and self-proclaimed “jazz maniac”, he composed original scores and songs for many of his films, so it’s only fitting that in 1988 he made a biopic about the fascinating and troubled life of the one of the most emblematic players: Charlie “Bird” Parker Jr (Whitaker Forest). A journey of almost three hours through the life of Parker, Bird is a fascinating, kinetic and moving examination of pioneering talent. Using a non-linear structure that moves viewers through Parker’s troubled life, Eastwood’s film highlights his ups and downs as a musical genius and tragic character struggling with drug addiction and mental illness. At the time of its release, Bird represented a departure for the director in regards to character and genre, with Eastwood moving away from action-oriented fare in favor of a much more intimate and complicated portrayal of the human condition. One would assume that the film’s power stems from its director’s love of its subject, as Eastwood was clearly dedicated to telling Parker’s story with reverence and deep affection.

‘Unforgiven’

Arguably Eastwood’s magnum opus in both actor and director terms, unforgiven tells the dark story of William Munny (Eastwood), a grizzled, cynical, reformed killer who is forced to take up arms again in 1881 Wyoming. Alongside his friend, Ned (Morgan FREEMAN), Munny pursues a bounty on two men and eventually crosses paths with a sadistic local lawman (Hackman Gene) in a final showdown at the border. A thoughtful and meditative study of the nature of violence and its long-term effects on those who commit it, unforgiven presents a revisionist take on the Western genre and has seen Eastwood reach new heights as a filmmaker. Acknowledging his age and legacy as a star of like-minded movies, one could go so far as to say that unforgiven is imbued with a metafictional quality in its portrayal of a man coming to terms with his own mortality and place in the world. The film earned its lead actor and director his first handful of Oscar nominations, and he eventually won golden statuettes for Best Picture and Best Director.

‘Madison County Bridges’

Image via Amblin Entertainment

Just a few years after the resounding success of unforgivenEastwood has embarked on one of his most unlikely but undeniably captivating projects to date with Madison County Bridges. Based on the 1992 novel of the same name, the story focuses on the brief but passionate love affair between Francesca (Meryl Streep), an Italian housewife living in Iowa, and Robert Kincaid (Eastwood), a National Geographic photographer visiting the area on assignment. Using a bookend framing device that sees Francesca’s children learn of her affair decades after the fact, the film is subtle and moving in its sentimentality. Generally known for his gruff, action-oriented personas in earlier films, Eastwood proves an effective romance lead alongside Streep’s stellar performance. Representing another departure for the actor and director, Madison County Bridges remains one of his most timeless storytelling efforts and proof of his range as a performer.

‘The Mystical River’

Adapted from Dennis Lehane’s 2001 novel, this 2003 film is a gripping story of three estranged childhood friends who reunite after a tragic loss. Featuring Sean Penn, Tim Robinand Kevin Bacon like the trio of childhood friends, the mystical river is one of Eastwood’s darkest films as a director. Exploring themes of grief, retribution, and redemption, the film features powerful performances on every level. For playing Jimmy Markum, a badass ex-con who came to terms with the murder of his teenage daughter, Sean Penn won the well-deserved Best Actor Oscar, while Tim Robbins won Best Actor in a second role for his portrayal of the lost and tormented Dave Boyle. With the mystical riverEastwood spared no effort and proved he could more than handle difficult and melancholy subject matter with grace and empathy.

“Million Dollar Baby”

This 2004 drama about a poor female boxer (Hilary Swank) in search of glory with the help of a seasoned and reluctant trainer (Eastwood) was a hit with critics and audiences alike. Academy Award Winner for Best Picture, Director, Actress and Supporting Actor (Morgan Freeman), Million dollar baby once again put its lead actor and director at the top of his game. With his signature subtlety and quiet approach to storytelling, Eastwood has crafted a tender, inspiring and emotionally harrowing film with terrific performances and an unabashed reverence for its characters and their respective narrative journeys. The actor’s turn as Frankie Dunn is one of his best, seeing him once again wrestle with themes of mortality and come to terms with his historical legacy.

“Letters from Iwo Jima”

Cinematic counterpart to his 2005 war film, Flags of Our Fathersfrom Eastwood Letters from Iwo Jima depicts the titular battle of World War II from the perspective of Japanese soldiers. Ken Watanabe features General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, a formidable leader who mounted the weeks-long defense of an island meant to be lost in just days, in a low-key performance that honors his real base with respect and admiration. With impressive battle sequences complemented by a number of flashbacks fleshing out the stories of some of the men in an otherwise anonymous garrison of soldiers, Letters from Iwo Jima treats his subject with dignified honesty and compassion. Perhaps the most noble element of the film is its exposure of a largely invisible chapter in world military history to the general public.

‘Changeling’

changling-2008
Picture via Imagine Entertainment

Eastwood continued his impressive streak of movies made in the 2008s with this 2008 historical drama. Angelina Jolie, in one of the most moving performances of her career, she plays Christine Collins, a single mother whose young son, Walter, disappeared without a trace in 1928 Los Angeles. In one of the darkest but most harrowing chapters of true crime in American history, Collins’ efforts to locate her son saw her come face to face with a corrupt and incompetent contingent of the LAPD, who were looking for to discredit the woman after giving her a boy. who was not his son. Changeling is one of the most underrated and hard-hitting thrillers of its time, sneaking up on viewers with a series of dark and shocking revelations that prove truth is stranger than fiction. Eastwood’s film also explores themes revolving around early 20th century feminism and systemic corruption by authoritative institutions.

“Great Torino”

Just a few months after the release of Changeling was that of Greater Torino. The story of a misanthropic, prejudiced man who gains a chance at redemption through his evolving friendship with a young neighbor, is perhaps one of the filmmaker’s most enjoyable directing endeavors. Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) is perhaps the quintessential character of his genre in recent years, and viewers can’t help but kick him, even in certain moments in the film that see him spouting obnoxious remarks at left and right. His brooding and unlovable initial nature makes his inevitable transformation into a dynamic character of compassion and warmth a believable and touching depiction of a man rediscovering his best angels while fighting for the well-being of others. While Greater Torino traverses familiar thematic territory, Eastwood’s earnest performance and sensitive narrative in the film make it one of the filmmaker’s most endearing efforts.

“Richard Jewell”

A recent and arguably overlooked gem in Eastwood’s work as a director, Richard Jewell depicts the terrible bombing of Centennial Park during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. The titular and unhappy security guard (Paul Walter Hauser), who landed in the FBI’s crosshairs as a suspect following the bombing, endured a storm of media scrutiny and defamation throughout a lengthy investigation. It’s the rare kind of film that, although viewers are likely now its result, manages to create and maintain a level of suspense and tension from start to finish. Hauser shines as Richard Jewell in a groundbreaking lead performance, imbuing the character with a good-natured sincerity that audiences can’t help but recognize and respect. Supporting roles in the film, including Sam Rockwell and Kathy Bates as Jewell’s lawyer and mother, respectively, turn in expected performances. And Eastwood’s direction, as always, is assured in its characteristic subtlety and pragmatic approach to recounting real-life events and their impact on those involved.

Clint Eastwood’s Best Directed Movies To Watch – GameSpot