The Greatest Film Directed by Clint Eastwood

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

This thread amuses me a bit as I am not a big fan of Clint Eastwood. However, there is no doubt that as an actor he is iconic and as a director, he is one of this decade's finest.

I voted for Changeling, as I think it is his best film on the list that he directed, although I think Mystic River is just as good. It is impossible for me to pick between the two.

However, I think his best directing job was Letters From Iwo Jima, and to a lesser extentFlags of Our Fathers.

Unforgiven, imo, is one of the most overrated films of all time. Yes, it combats traditional Western cliches, but I think it is a poor film, specifically in regards to writing. Very good acting performance by him though.

I voted for Letters from Iwo Jima. Haven't seen Changeling yet, but a friend kind of ruined the film for me already.

And I absolutely agree with you 100% on Unforgiven.

[Brandon]

Unforgiven by FAR: one of the best, if not the best, westerns I have ever seen.

[Sponge-worthy]

Had to go with Unforgiven, but Iwo Jima is a close second.

[zombie63]

Originally Posted by Sixx

I like almost all of these movies. I know most will vote for Unforgiven, even though Clint is a pansy in that movie. I liked the movie, just not with Clint as a wuss. I went with Heartbreak Ridge.
" I'll make heart breakers and soul takers out of em sir"

A Pansy !!! In that last 10mins hes like death himself, and you just know he would kill everyone in that town - kids and all.

[The Big Blue]

Voted for Unforgiven.

Didn't realize he'd directed that many films.

[JudasPainkill3r]

Gran torino, and runner up would be letters from iwo jima

[solarrdadd]

Million Dollar Baby

[Sixx]

Originally Posted by zombie63

A Pansy !!! In that last 10mins hes like death himself, and you just know he would kill everyone in that town - kids and all.

Sorry dude...those 10 mins didn't make up for the a entire movie of Eastwood being a wuss

[uziel5000]

Sorry but I do not agree with all the Unforgiven bashing going on. I think it is an incredible film and certainly one of Eastwood's finest achievments. Him being a "wuss" through most of the film is a very important part of the story by the way.

Seeing the poll results, many seem to think so as well.

[Sixx]

Originally Posted by uziel5000

Sorry but I do not agree with all the Unforgiven bashing going on. I think it is an incredible film and certainly one of Eastwood's finest achievments. Him being a "wuss" through most of the film is a very important part of the story by the way.

Seeing the poll results, many seem to think so as well.

Like I said, I did like the movie. I grew up watching Clint as a bad ass. That role just takes it out of contention for me...like others have said, it is highly overrated IMO.

[dmb70]

Originally Posted by zombie63

I need to see this again - I just remember the beautiful cinematography and spitting on the dog LOL

IMO best western ever. Beautifully shot, great story, excellent performances all around!!!!

[mikejet]

I think Letters is the strongest most thought out of his films. Unforgiven is great but it does drag at times.

[surfdude12]

1. Unforgiven
2. Gran Torino
3. Letters From Iwo
4. Million Dollar Baby

[Jutty]

Eastwood is a great actor / director,, don''t think there's been a film i hav'nt enjoyed from him yet.
cant wait for Invictus to be released,i was lucky enough to be living in Cape Town in 95 when the Rugby world cup was on,,Newlands staduim was nuts

[zombie63]

Originally Posted by uziel5000

Sorry but I do not agree with all the Unforgiven bashing going on. I think it is an incredible film and certainly one of Eastwood's finest achievments. Him being a "wuss" through most of the film is a very important part of the story by the way.

Seeing the poll results, many seem to think so as well.

Here Here

[chemokidd]

Gran Torino

[scratchy]

Unforgiven by far.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

This thread amuses me a bit as I am not a big fan of Clint Eastwood. However, there is no doubt that as an actor he is iconic and as a director, he is one of this decade's finest.

I voted for Changeling, as I think it is his best film on the list that he directed, although I think Mystic River is just as good. It is impossible for me to pick between the two.

However, I think his best directing job was Letters From Iwo Jima, and to a lesser extentFlags of Our Fathers.

Unforgiven, imo, is one of the most overrated films of all time. Yes, it combats traditional Western cliches, but I think it is a poor film, specifically in regards to writing. Very good acting performance by him though.

finally! we disagree on something! i loved the direction (opening/closing sequence with sunset, cottage, tree and gravesite; the landscape shots as the crew traveled, and the shots of each ones face to capture their internal struggle of: am i the old me or a new me?), and the writing. this western does a great job of exploring the theme of: can a man really change? eastwood thinks he can, the tries to, he even tells himself he has "i ain't like that no more...", but does he sound sincere? what do his actions, rather than this words say? and how does his dead wife haunt him as he struggles to find out whether he has, or even can change? if there is a better western that explores these issues, i haven't seen it.

regarding Changeling, I thought it was a great movie, but have no idea why the last hour of it even existed. It "ended" for all practical purposes at about the 1:30 mark, and the last hour merely just was a "winding down", telling the audience things we either knew would happen or could have deduced. IMO its better to just let the audience see those obvious things for themselves. my 2 cents on it. definitely a good movie, but not among Eastwoods best IMO.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Romulus

I voted for Letters from Iwo Jima. Haven't seen Changeling yet, but a friend kind of ruined the film for me already.

And I absolutely agree with you 100% on Unforgiven.

Ahh I hate when that happens! Although, even though the film is better not knowing the specifics of the plot, it is absolutely worth seeing for Jolie's performance, which undoubtedly should have won the Oscar. I knew about the story, since it is a true story, before watching the film and it did not ruin it for me at all.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

finally! we disagree on something! i loved the direction (opening/closing sequence with sunset, cottage, tree and gravesite; the landscape shots as the crew traveled, and the shots of each ones face to capture their internal struggle of: am i the old me or a new me?), and the writing. this western does a great job of exploring the theme of: can a man really change? eastwood thinks he can, the tries to, he even tells himself he has "i ain't like that no more...", but does he sound sincere? what do his actions, rather than this words say? and how does his dead wife haunt him as he struggles to find out whether he has, or even can change? if there is a better western that explores these issues, i haven't seen it.

regarding Changeling, I thought it was a great movie, but have no idea why the last hour of it even existed. It "ended" for all practical purposes at about the 1:30 mark, and the last hour merely just was a "winding down", telling the audience things we either knew would happen or could have deduced. IMO its better to just let the audience see those obvious things for themselves. my 2 cents on it. definitely a good movie, but not among Eastwoods best IMO.

Def a well-written response and I certainly respect your opinions, even though I disagree. You have good reasons for liking Unforgiven and good reasons for finding faults with Changeling.