UNFORGIVEN is probably the one for me, too, though GRAN TORINO, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, MYSTIC RIVER, MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL, and THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES are also awfully good.
UNFORGIVEN, for sure. I luckily saw again recently at The Autry Museum in 35mm as an introduction to my son also attending. It's lost none of its power. THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES remains a long-time favorite, too. BRONCO BILLY remains a wonderful love letter to the screwball comedy and the western. MILLION DOLLAR BABY was simply devastating and I've only seen it once (don't miss understand, I love it, but am still trying and failing to work myself up to watch it a second time). SPACE COWBOY is fun and is a joy to watch James Garner and Clint together on the screen once again. A PERFECT WORLD, WHITE HUNTER BLACK HEART, HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER are underrated fare. In any other year, MYSTIC RIVER would have garnered more praise, but LOTR: THE RETURN OF THE KING steamrolled everything in '04. The less said about THE ROOKIE the better, but I for one have really enjoyed Eastwood very much as a director. Heck, I enjoyed J. EDGAR, too. Thanks, patti.
p.s., if you're interested, I wrote an appreciation piece for PLAY MISTY FOR ME (his first stint in the director's chair) last month.
Wow there's a lot I haven't seen. He's kind of a stealth candidate for great director. I don't think people paid much attention to hi skills until Bird. I do love Outlaw Josey Wales. So much to still see.
Definitely UNFORGIVEN, with MILLION DOLLAR BABY right up there. I do admit to a warm spot in my heart for BRONCO BILLY. And I really liked PLAY MISTY FOR ME.
I loved Gran Torino because it was set in Detroit. I also loved Million Dollar Baby, Bird, and the first of the WW2 movies. Never saw Iwo Jima. I wonder if he makes too many movies though and why so few Westerns.
I know. I find war movies upsetting and one was enough at the time. I will try to remedy that. Never saw THE ROOKIE, I don't think. Graham, how are you!
Saw JOSEY WALES on a return to the US after 2 years in the UK. It was like a welcome home. UNFORGIVEN, though, tops it as an all-time favorite. What a story; his scene with the prostitute outside the shed breaks my heart.
I haven't seen many of his films as director but out of the ones I have seen I'll settle for HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER and THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, and yes, ABSOLUTE POWER based on David Baldacci's novel, for Gene Hackman and Ed Harris.
I guess you mean Clint as a director. My favorite acting role for him is Rowdy Yates on Rawhide, followed by Dirty Harry. The Man With No Name is right up there, too. As a director I agree with most of the pack: Unforgiven, Play Misty For Me, The Outlaw Josey Wales.
Letters from Iwo Jima is an important cultural document b/c it's the rare film that shows "the other side." A+ for that one.
ReplyDeleteMore thoughts on Eastwood's efforts soon . . .
UNFORGIVEN is probably the one for me, too, though GRAN TORINO, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, MYSTIC RIVER, MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL, and THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES are also awfully good.
ReplyDeleteUNFORGIVEN, for sure. I luckily saw again recently at The Autry Museum in 35mm as an introduction to my son also attending. It's lost none of its power. THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES remains a long-time favorite, too. BRONCO BILLY remains a wonderful love letter to the screwball comedy and the western. MILLION DOLLAR BABY was simply devastating and I've only seen it once (don't miss understand, I love it, but am still trying and failing to work myself up to watch it a second time). SPACE COWBOY is fun and is a joy to watch James Garner and Clint together on the screen once again. A PERFECT WORLD, WHITE HUNTER BLACK HEART, HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER are underrated fare. In any other year, MYSTIC RIVER would have garnered more praise, but LOTR: THE RETURN OF THE KING steamrolled everything in '04. The less said about THE ROOKIE the better, but I for one have really enjoyed Eastwood very much as a director. Heck, I enjoyed J. EDGAR, too. Thanks, patti.
ReplyDeletep.s., if you're interested, I wrote an appreciation piece for PLAY MISTY FOR ME (his first stint in the director's chair) last month.
Wow there's a lot I haven't seen. He's kind of a stealth candidate for great director. I don't think people paid much attention to hi skills until Bird. I do love Outlaw Josey Wales. So much to still see.
ReplyDeleteUNFORGIVEN is up there. But THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES is probably my favorite. MILLION DOLLAR BABY is in there as well.
ReplyDeleteThe Outlaw Josie Wales and High Planes Drifter are ones I've liked more than a few times. I've only seen Unforgiven once but I liked that very much.
ReplyDeleteI also really liked A Perfect World (though it's a broken film, maybe because) & White Hunter, Black Heart.
The Truth: MYSTIC RIVER is not as great as people said.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely UNFORGIVEN, with MILLION DOLLAR BABY right up there. I do admit to a warm spot in my heart for BRONCO BILLY. And I really liked PLAY MISTY FOR ME.
ReplyDeleteJeff M.
I am sad to think MYSTIC RIVER may not hold up. Misty was terrific.
ReplyDeleteAfter Letters from Iwo Jima and of the other ones I've seen, I'd go with (not in any real order):
ReplyDeleteHigh Plains Drifter
The Eiger Sanction
Play Misty for Me
Hony Tonk Man
Pale Ruder
Unforgiven
A Perfect World
Midnight in the Garden
Gran Torino
Haven't sene anything since Gran Torino. Clint's films may have quirks & flaws, but nothing unforgiven . . .
p.s. Add Bird, which I liked better years after first seeing it.
ReplyDeleteSo many I haven't seen (I feel a movie marathon coming on...)
ReplyDeleteGran Torino was pretty great. Loved that character.
I loved Gran Torino because it was set in Detroit. I also loved Million Dollar Baby, Bird, and the first of the WW2 movies. Never saw Iwo Jima.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if he makes too many movies though and why so few Westerns.
patti, I do recommend seeing FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS and LETTERS TO IWO JIMA as a set. Each makes the other bookend piece better, I think.
ReplyDeleteI really like HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER. THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES is really well-told. May of the others are also good.
ReplyDeleteThen there's THE ROOKIE.
I know. I find war movies upsetting and one was enough at the time. I will try to remedy that. Never saw THE ROOKIE, I don't think. Graham, how are you!
ReplyDeleteSaw JOSEY WALES on a return to the US after 2 years in the UK. It was like a welcome home. UNFORGIVEN, though, tops it as an all-time favorite. What a story; his scene with the prostitute outside the shed breaks my heart.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen many of his films as director but out of the ones I have seen I'll settle for HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER and THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, and yes, ABSOLUTE POWER based on David Baldacci's novel, for Gene Hackman and Ed Harris.
ReplyDeleteI'm also partial to A Perfect World, in which I think director Eastwood gets the best out of Kevin Costner.
ReplyDelete1. THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY
ReplyDelete2. BIRD
3. THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES
I really like MILLION DOLLAR BABY.
ReplyDeleteI guess you mean Clint as a director. My favorite acting role for him is Rowdy Yates on Rawhide, followed by Dirty Harry. The Man With No Name is right up there, too. As a director I agree with most of the pack: Unforgiven, Play Misty For Me, The Outlaw Josey Wales.
ReplyDelete