# Favorite/Best Clint Eastwood Movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 2, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657 "2010-06-02T16:03:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/21 "2010-06-02T17:50:19Z")
Eastwood has been in and made probably more great movies than any living actor/director. I can’t say he’s the best actor–his range is definitely limited–but his intensity and consistency is something for the best in the business to be envious of. Best role: I personally favor _High Plains Drifter_, but it’s a hard choice; I thought he brought a lot of pathos to _White Hunter Black Heart_ and _In The Line Of Fire_ as well. _Unforgiven_ is a great twist on “The Man With No Name”, but it was really an ensemble effort and it would be unfair to single it out as an Eastwood-dominated movie. My favorite of the movies he directed but didn’t act in is his biopic of Charlie Parker, _Bird_. It seems to be almost unheard of but a really great film. _Bronco Billy_ was a bit of a miss, but a credible swing; although Eastwood periodically goes back to his roots, he was never afraid to take a risk at doing something new, which is the hallmark of a great director. He’s the closest think the US film industry has to Akira Kurosawa, and also has a reputation as being a great, unassuming actor and director to work with. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/22 "2010-06-02T17:51:14Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Unforgiven. Hands down. Anything with Sondra Locke has to be ruled out on principle. I agree on principle, but _The Gauntlet_ was a barrel of laughs. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/23 "2010-06-02T17:53:38Z")
Bronco Billy I’m not saying it was his best, but it’s my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/24 "2010-06-02T18:10:33Z")
**Unforgiven** is my favorite of his. My absolute least favorite would have to be **A Perfect World** that he both directed and co-starred in. Kevin Costner was great in this and his half of the movie was good but the Clint Eastwood side with Laura Dern and it’s attempts at being a comedy just flopped. How do you mix a cold creepy child abductor with a runaway RV complete with banjo music? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/25 "2010-06-02T18:23:20Z")
_The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly_ - no contest. I love _Unforgiven_ and many others, but that one knocks it out of the park. It’s funny - the boyfriend had never seen it, so I finally showed it to him last weekend and he was kind of “meh” about it. Then we watched _Dirty Harry_ which neither of us had seen previously and were surprised at how good it was. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/26 "2010-06-02T19:11:11Z")
This is really hard. High Plains Drifter Magnum Force is a close 2nd. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/27 "2010-06-02T20:13:56Z")
**The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly** - This one stands out so far ahead of any others, it’s not close. For me, at least. I’ve seen the long. complete version about 20 times, and I have it on dvd. It’s also my favorite movie to fall asleep to, so I’ve had it on in the background countless times. If I had to pick a runner up, I’d have a bunch of number 2’s. Before submitting my list, I’d just like to say that if Sondra Locke hadn’t slept her way into all of the movies she did when they were together, his movie list would be first rate. But she was a terrible actress, and came very close to ruining a few of his movies. The first three in my list suffer from Sondra Locke syndrome. **Bronco Billy** - Has a number of very good laughs in it. **Josey Wales** - a great quote movie **Any Which Way But Loose** - another good movie spoiled by the bug-eyed stick figure, Ms. Locke **Dirty Harry** - The first (and best) heavy-handed cop movie, put out right around the Zodiac killings in SF. **Thunderbolt and Lightfoot** - Not a movie many remember, but a great crime caper. **Escape From Alcatraz** - No idea why, but if I’m channel surfing and this pops up, I will stop and watch it. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/28 "2010-06-02T20:16:17Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > _The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly_ - no contest. I love _Unforgiven_ and many others, but that one knocks it out of the park. > > It’s funny - the boyfriend had never seen it, so I finally showed it to him last weekend and he was kind of “meh” about it. Then we watched _Dirty Harry_ which neither of us had seen previously and were surprised at how good it was. Will you marry me? 😃 My wife \*hates \ ***GBU**. I watch it by myself… a sad existence. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/29 "2010-06-02T22:44:51Z")
Numbers 1 and 2 change depending on my mood. Today it happens to be _The Unforgiven_ and _High Plains Drifter_ in that order, somedays it’s the other way around. _Dirty Harry_ is number three. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/30 "2010-06-03T01:06:54Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > My wife \*hates \ ***GBU**. I watch it by myself… a sad existence. Sorry, Shorty. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/31 "2010-06-03T01:30:21Z")
I can’t choose between \*Unforgiven \*and _The Outlaw Josey Wales_. They are my top two favorites. It’s nice to see some love for _Bronco Billy_ here. I think it’s one of his most underrated movies, though it does suffer from the Sondra Locke factor. _Honkytonk Man_ deserves a mention. I also really enjoyed _White Hunter Black Heart_, which is very underappreciated. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/32 "2010-06-03T02:18:46Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Sorry, Shorty. 😃 Thank you for that! ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/33 "2010-06-03T02:36:46Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > It’s nice to see some love for _Bronco Billy_ here. I think it’s one of his most underrated movies, though it does suffer from the Sondra Locke factor. The thing about Bronco Billy, to me at least, is it was such a non-Clint Eastwood type role. And he really made it work for him. I still laugh out loud every time he gets mad in the truck during the driving rainstorm and punches the horn, stops the truck and throws Miss Lily out of the truck. The look on his face is priceless. Too bad they didn’t leave Miss Lily there. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/34 "2010-06-03T03:18:40Z")
Acting and directing: **Pale Rider**. He improved the eponymous high plains drifter by making him a more selfless, moral man who nevertheless shot a lot more people. Directing only: Either **Bird** or that documentary about Thelonius Monk. Clint is an artsy jazz musician, but his secret is safe with us. Acting only: On any given night, I can’t think of a movie I’d rather watch than **The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.** ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/35 "2010-06-03T04:38:48Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > I know most people will probably vehemently disagree with me but I’ve always prefered **Pale Rider**. It’s far and away my favorite western of his. My 1a, for the gorgeous scenery, and the badass way he takes out the bad guys at the end. > [@Oakminster](#): > > **The Outlaw Josey Wales** is my pick if I get only one. My 1b, for the nearly nonstop action, and Chief Dan George. I don’t think Clint works as well as a contemporary character, and he is totally out of character in _Play Misty_. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/36 "2010-06-03T05:30:30Z")
Acting- **High Plains Drifter** Directing- **Mystic river** Recently rewatched the **Dirty Harry’s** , they’re fun but no big deal; and the **Any which Ways,** and they don’t hold up well at all. Hard to believe the first one was the 2nd highest grossing of '78. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/37 "2010-06-03T08:12:21Z")
my favourite is The Outlaw Josie Wales. Followed by (in no particlular order): In the Line of Fire (also starring the amazing John Malkovich) The Dirty Harry Films Paint Your Wagon (a musical, which also starred Lee Marvin). Then almost everything else he ever made. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/38 "2010-06-03T10:57:33Z")
My first _real_ date was with a hottie with long brown hair, (down to her waste) and we saw _Every Which Way But Loose._ That one remains high in my heart. (I so flubbed up that relationship. I was so clueless … thereby setting the tone for my lovelife for the rest of my life. :)) But probably _The Outlaw Josie Wales_ is the best. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/39 "2010-06-03T15:52:16Z")
How about **Beguiled** , Clint trapped in a gothic mansion full of women aged 12 to 50 who all come on to him but he makes the mistake of choosing unwisely. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657/40 "2010-06-03T16:05:51Z")
So many good ones. I really love GBU and Unforgiven. As a director, I really enjoyed Letters from Iwo Jima and Gran Torino. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-best-clint-eastwood-movie/541657.md?page=3)