Top 10: Clint Eastwood Directed Films

Having been an actor himself, Clint Eastwood appears to have the pick of the very best actors whenever he makes a film. From Tom Hanks and Leonardo Dicaprio to Meryl Streep and Angelina Jolie, Eastwood commands quite a roster. He's even directed five actors to Oscars (Gene Hackman - "Unforgiven," Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman - "Million Dollar Baby," Sean Penn and Tim Robbins - "Mystic River"). However, for his latest film, "The 15:17 to Paris," Eastwood has decided to work with non-actors. Specifically, the real-life subjects of the incident in question, where three Americans discover a terrorist plot on a train.

Over the course of nearly 50 years, Eastwood has won four Oscars (2 for producing and 2 for directing - "Unforgiven" and "Million Dollar Baby"). He has also been nominated for another seven (3 for producing - "Mystic River," "Letters From Iwo Jima" and "American Sniper," 2 for acting - "Unforgiven" and "Million Dollar Baby," and 2 for directing - "Mystic River" and "Letters From Iwo Jima"). As we prepare for Eastwood's latest project, let's take a look back at the ten best films he has directed. Will "The 15:17 to Paris" rank among his best?
10. "Million Dollar Baby" (2004)
Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood), a no-nonsense boxing coach, balks at taking on a female student. However, Maggie Fitzpatrick (Hilary Swank) doesn't stop pestering. The unlikely pair joins together and form a strong boxing following and strong relationship. The film is as subtle as some of the punches Maggie takes in the film. Still, there is a sweetness to the central relationship that is hard to deny. Its status as a Best Picture winner will often remain dubious. Yet, that doesn't diminish the film's heart.
9. "Sully" (2016)
Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger made headlines when he performed a near impossible emergency landing in the Hudson River in 2009. Clint Eastwood's film casts Tom Hanks in the titular role and explores the emotional toll after the fact as Sully answers for his heroism to an advisory commission. Eastwood uses all his directorial flourishes to harrowingly depict the chaos and fear aboard the ship during the landing. This entire sequence hums with a confident directorial hand. Sure the film adheres to some tired devices. Laura Linney reprises the exact role she made fun of in "Inside Amy Schumer" as "distressed wife on phone" here. However, there is something about the film that is new to Eastwood. It's a tight film that knows what it wants and focuses in on it. This results in an efficient and smooth ride, save for the occasional turbulence here and there.
8. "Gran Torino" (2009)
This is the face of Clint Eastwood that is most familiar to modern-day audiences. He appears to be the old man with the shotgun telling people to get off his lawn. While Clint makes a meal out of that line as he growls it to unsuspecting visitors, there's more to his Walt Kowalski than meets the eye. The story finds Walt form a friendship with a Korean neighbor he catches trying to steal his prized Gran Torino. In the spirit of generosity, the film's racial politics means well, even if it makes assumptions about minorities that's gauche, to say the least. However, Eastwood crafts a surprisingly digestible and affecting story that grows the more one watches. It's exactly the film one expects from Clint, including the fact that it works better than one expects.
7. "Pale Rider" (1985)
Of Clint Eastwood's 80s westerns, "Pale Rider" stands a cut above his other directorial efforts. Clint Eastwood stars as a mysterious preacher who rides into a small village. He attempts to thwart a local mining company from taking over the town's land. As a director, Eastwood pays close attention to the iconographies of the western genre. He does this without disrupting the flow of the film. "Pale Rider" hums along as a truly fun and enjoyable western. Eastwood's command of the genre is indisputable. The film was the highest grossing western of the 1980s, finishing with $41 million.
6. "Letters From Iwo Jima" (2006)
In 2006, Clint Eastwood made a pair of films about the Battle of Iwo Jima. Many believed "Flags Of Our Fathers," which took the perspective of Americans involved, would be the big hit of his. However, the foreign language entry, "Letters From Iwo Jima," took the acclaim and the Oscar nominations. Focused on the tactics of the Japanese and their letters home, the film beautifully humanizes America's opposition to the war. Clint Eastwood isn't known for his worldly tact. However, he finds the humanity in many harrowing circumstances. This film is a great example of a director challenging themselves and their perspective to make a unique work of art.
5. "Changeling" (2008)
In 1928 Los Angeles, Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) loses her son Walter. After a long search by the LAPD, Walter is returned to Christine. However, Christine is convinced the boy is not Walter. She goes on a hunt for her Son, even as the police discourage her from doing so. Angelina Jolie delivers a powerful performance that transcends the typical Oscar clip moments. Her strong will and determination to find her son reverberate throughout the film. Eastwood also equips himself well with the period feel of the film. The 20s feels fully realized. Eastwood's typical grey color palette also allows Jolie to pop as she traverses through Los Angeles. It's an underrated entry in Eastwood's filmography.
4. "Mystic River" (2003)
After the disappearance of one man's daughter (Emmy Rossum), three men from different part of Boston find their fates intertwined. All three men grew up together, but were torn apart by a terrible incident. Jimmy Markum (Sean Penn), the man whose daughter went missing, is a feared gang leader. Sean Devine (Kevin Bacon) turned into a cop investigating the disappearance. Lastly, Dave Boyle (Tim Robbins), who never left the neighborhood, winds up a prime suspect. Clint Eastwood nails the dark, moody atmosphere of Boston necessary for the film. What works best, though, are the performances he elicits from his actors. Sean Penn and Tim Robbins rightly won Oscars for their performances. However, supporting performances, especially from wives Laura Linney and Marcia Gay Harden, really shine.
3. "The Bridges of Madison County" (1995)
When one thinks of Clint Eastwood, they typically don't think of romance. However, he turns out his most sensitive work opposite Meryl Streep in this romance novel adaptation. Clint stars as Thomas Kincaid, a photographer who passes through Iowa. While there, a lonely Italian housewife, Francesca Johnson (Meryl Streep), embarks on a four day affair with Kincaid. Eastwood makes the film look like a well worn paperback come to life. He doesn't feel the need to rush the material. Instead, he trusts the heart of the love story. He lingers on one of Meryl's top 10 performances, the key to the film's success. It's a corny love story, yes. However, it's also an affecting one.
2. "American Sniper" (2014)
There are two types of standard Clint Eastwood fare - war films and westerns. The best of his war films came quite recently. His look at the rise and untimely death of Iraq war sniper Chris Kyle is more than meets the eye. The film gives us a more even-tempered look at both sides of the war than one would expect from the right-winged director. While there are plenty of guns and championing of a man who murdered a record number of people, the film also seems interested in examining the moral compass of Chris Kyle. With a powerful and complex performance by Bradley Cooper, the film shows how his actions haunt him. Eastwood challenges himself to look at PTSD and ask harder questions on the morality of killing in war. Not every director stretches themselves at age 84. However, not every director is Clint Eastwood.
1. "Unforgiven" (1992)
Clint Eastwood reaches the gold standard of western by effectively putting the genre to bed. After making a career in the western, Eastwood pens his ode to the western as he witnesses the genre fade from the multiplexes. His gunfighter, Bill Munny (Clint Eastwood) makes his way to the town of Big Whiskey to earn a reward. A prostitute finds her face disfigured after an altercation with an abusive patron. The women of the brothel pitch in to fund a reward for justice being served. The corrupt town sheriff, Little Bill Daggett (Gene Hackman), looks upon this with disdain, as he tries to curb vigilante efforts.

As a western, the film hums along quite nicely, making rich use of the western conventions. The story feels refreshingly modern, as women band together to see justice done within the sexist construct of their town. What makes the film the apex of Eastwood's talents as a director is how he makes every visual moment sing. Each shot and plot points reverberates with reverence for a time gone by and a genre that will never be the same. It's a wistful film that revels in its helmer's knowledge of the subject. However, it uses the women of Big Whiskey to demystify the "golden age" view of the Old West that men like Bill hold onto.

What are your favorite films of Clint Eastwood as a director? Share with us in the comments below.

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