For over several decades,Clint Eastwoodhas been an admirable force in front and behind the camera, reigning as one of the greatest performers and filmmakers in cinema history. Known for his epic Westerns and action-packed films such asThe Good, the Bad and the UglyandDirty Harry, Eastwood is a versatile master of his craft who has worked in an array of film genres ranging from romantic dramas to wartime films.
Out of his impressive list of filmography, it’s safe to say that Eastwood has conquered the spotlight and dominated the director’s chair, delivering countless classics and Oscar-winning films, includingUnforgivenandMillion Dollar Baby. With such a successful and extensive career,Eastwood has churned out some of the greatest movies of all time, but there are several titles, such asThe Bridges of Madison County,High Plains Drifter,andMystic River, that stand out as pure perfection.
15’For a Few Dollars More' (1965)
Directed by Sergio Leone
Eastwood stars in the second installment ofSergio Leone’sDollars trilogy,For a Few Dollars More, as a notorious bounty hunter who sets his sights on catching a sadistic outlaw, El Indio (Gian Maria Volonté), who has recently escaped from prison. When the bounty hunter realizes he’s not the only one after the wanted man, he and a war hero turned bounty hunter, Colonel Douglas Mortimer (Lee Van Cleef), agree to split the reward money and team up to catch El Indio and his men.
Eastwood and Van Cleef are a thrilling duo inthe classic spaghetti Western,For a Few Dollars More, depicting a unique and unlikely partnership that isn’t without moments of dark humor and quick one-linersbetween the two. Despite their same occupations, Eastwood and Van Cleef brilliantly utilize their own cinematic style and on-screen command to portray very different characters. While Eastwood’s motives are clear as day, Van Cleef’s remains an unclear mystery full of uncertainty, which is the source of the film’s main allure.
For A Few Dollars More
14’Flags of Our Fathers' (2006)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Eastwood directs and scoresthe World War II drama,Flags of Our Fathers, which is set on the fringes of the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima and sheds light on the men who planted the American flag on the island after the U.S. victory. The moment became an iconic image of the Second World War, making all the men heroes, but while some manage to survive the horrific war as it rages on, others are not as lucky.
The movie is based on the 2000 book of the same name, written byJames BradleyandRon Powers, and stars an ensemble cast includingRyan Phillippe,Paul Walker,Robert Patrick, andScott Eastwood. Despite being a flop at the box office,Flags of Our Fathersgives audiences a detailed insight into the now-famous image, providing them with a backstory, adding an in-depth level of emotion and humility to the men behind the historical event.Even though Eastwood remains behind the camera in this flick,Flags of Our Fathersis a testament to the actor’s impeccable skillsin the director’s chair as well as being a gifted musical composer.
Flags of Our Fathers
13’Pale Rider' (1985)
Pale Rideris a ruthless Western starring Eastwood as a mysterious stranger known as Preacher who makes his way into a small town known for its mines and striking gold. Preacher soon learns that the residents of the town are being terrorized by a group of men who have been hired by a wealthy property owner and mining baron, Coy LaHood (Richard Dysart), who is trying to run the people off their land.
Pale Riderwas both a critical and commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing Westerns of the 1980s and also marked Eastwood’s return to the genre as a director. The Western has its expected moments of gun play and thrilling action, butPale Rideris a fitting homage to the classic Western with immense spiritual depth and moralitythat makes it one of Eastwood’s most compelling films.
Pale Rider
12’In the Line of Fire' (1993)
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen
Eastwood stars in theintense political action thriller,In the Line of Fire, as a Secret Service agent, Frank Horrigan, who begins to be taunted by an anonymous caller who not only knows crucial information about the agent but also knows that Horrigan was one of the agents who failed to protect President John F. Kennedy from being assassinated. When the caller threatens the life of the current sitting President, Horrigan races to find out who the caller is and stop him before it’s too late.
In the Line of Fireis a gripping Eastwood movie which also features an all-star supporting cast includingJohn Malkovich,Rene Russo,Dylan McDermott, andFrasier’sJohn Mahoney. The movie follows an epic game of cat and mouse, which is full of unwavering tension and anticipation that effectively keeps audiences invested from start to finish.Eastwood delivers a sharply captivating performance that reminds audiences of the star’s undeniable appealas an action hero, which is what essentially earnsIn the Line of Firea spot on this list of flawless Eastwood films.
In the Line of Fire
11’Hang ‘Em High’ (1968)
Directed by Ted Post
Hang ‘Em Highis a solid revisionist Western which features Eastwood as a wrongfully accused man, Jed Cooper, who is left for dead by a group of men but is saved by a passing marshal (Ben Johnson). When a judge declares Cooper innocent of the accusations, Cooper is offered a job as a marshal and graciously accepts it. As Cooper sets out to find the men who tried to kill him, he promises to bring them in and have them answer to the court of law for their heinous actions.
On the film’s first day of release,Hang ‘Em Highbecame one of the biggest premieres in United Artists’ history, beating out all theJames Bondfilms, and earned rave reviews from both audiences and critics.Eastwood delivers a dangerously wicked performance, showcasing his natural tenacity of the Western genre by providing his character with a unique edge and spontaneity that keeps audiences on their toes throughout the entire movie.
Hang ‘Em High
10’Mystic River’ (2003)
The 2003 neo-noir,Mystic River, isone of Eastwood’s most thrilling filmsand centers around the murder of a well-known ex-con’s daughter, leading everyone to be a potential suspect.Sean Pennstars as Jimmy Marcus who, after the senseless murder of his daughter (Emmy Rossum), becomes suspicious of those around him and refuses to rely on law enforcement to solve her case.
Mystic Rivertakes audiences into the dark corners of a small town and several childhood friends who are haunted by a past secret which inevitably plays a detrimental factor in Marcus’ search for justice.Eastwood deliversMystic Riverwith a raw, uninhibited vision focused on the negative aspectsthat come with a tight-knit community as well as the unforgivable consequences one must live with when they decide to take the law into their own hands.
Mystic River
9’High Plains Drifter' (1973)
Eastwood directs and stars in the 1973 WesternHigh Plains Drifteras an unnamed drifter who arrives in a small mining town where his skills with a gun are in high demand by the locals who have been terrorized by a group of bandits.High Plains Drifteris a unique Eastwood Western that has several elements of a traditional ghost story, adding an unusual but effective twist to a seemingly classic Western tale.
On-screen, Eastwood conveys his usual intimidating presence and style with a touch of humor, which he brilliantly captures through the camera lense with a significant sense of flair and appeal.High Plains Drifterranks as one of Eastwood’s mostunderrated films, which ultimately established him as a pioneer of revolutionizing the Western genre. While it initially earned mixed reviews from critics,High Plains Drifterchanged the course of Eastwood’s career as both a filmmaker and an actor and serves asa testament to his bold and charismatic reputation as a filmmaker.
High Plains Drifter
8’Escape from Alcatraz' (1979)
Directed by Don Siegel
Eastwood stars in the 1979 prison thriller,Escape from Alcatraz, as a hardened criminal, Frank Morris, who has a reputation for escaping several prisons and is sent to serve the remainder of his life sentence at America’s maximum security and inescapable prison, Alcatraz. The film is based on the 1962 novel byJ. Campbell Bruceand marked the fifth and final collaboration between Eastwood and director,Don Siegel.
Escape from Alcatrazis credited as one of Eastwood’s best on-screen performances and was a critical and commercial success, going on to become one of the highest-grossing films of the year.Eastwood expertly humanizes his character as being more than just a career criminal,but manages to also refrain from diminishing Morris' defying and masculine persona, making his performance both powerful and compelling.
7’The Bridges of Madison County' (1995)
Eastwood moves a bit out of his traditional genres with the romantic drama,The Bridges of Madison County, which is a bittersweet story about star-crossed lovers who find each other too late in life. Eastwood stars as a photographer, Robert Kincaid, who is assigned to photograph the historic bridges of Madison County in Iowa. While there, he meets a housewife and mother, Francesca (Meryl Streep), and as they spend time together, they find themselves falling into a torrid but brief love affair.
Based on the 1992 best-selling novel byRobert James Waller,The Bridges of Madison Countyearned rave reviewsfrom critics, whopraised Eastwood’s ability to carve out the core of Waller’s story, creating an elegant love story with immense heart and depth. Unlike other romantic dramas,The Bridges of Madison Countydepicts an alluring and realistic romance, growing from initial lust into an undeniable love, essentially capturing the anticipation and repercussions that come with a passionate and unbreakable bond.
The Bridges of Madison County
6’Letters from Iwo Jima' (2006)
Eastwood takes a page from American history with the 2006 World War II film,Letters from Iwo Jima, which features a series of stories told from the perspective of Japanese troops who fought and died during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. The film is a companion piece to Eastwood’s 2006 filmFlags of Our Fathers, andessentially showcases Eastwood’s dedication to giving a full, detailed account of both sides of a story.
Eastwood delivers a harrowing and thought-provoking film that effortlessly captures the horrors and perils of war as well as the uncensored emotions and actions of those who find themselves serving on the front lines.Letters from Iwo Jimaearned overall positive reviews from critics and was ranked as one of the top ten best films of the year by theAmerican Film Institute. The film also received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, going on to win for Best Sound Editing.
