Coop's Eastwood Reviews

[Jed Cooper]

*Update a/o 11/14/11.  My thoughts on J. Edgar after seeing it unexpectedly last Friday: Who saw J. EDGAR? Members' Comments (NO SPOILERS PLEASE)

Coop's Eastwood Movie Reviews 2011

Best to worst:

  1. A Fistful Of Dollars *****
  2. For A Few Dollars More *****
  3. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly *****
  4. Dirty Harry*****
  5. High Plains Drifter *****
  6. The Outlaw Josey Wales *****
  7. Escape From Alcatraz *****
  8. Unforgiven *****
  9. In The Line Of Fire *****
10. Absolute Power *****
11. Gran Torino*****
12. Hang ‘Em High ****
13. Coogan’s Bluff ****
14. The Enforcer ****
15. Every Which Way But Loose ****
16. Any Which Way You Can ****
17. The Bridges Of Madison County ****
18. True Crime ****
19. Space Cowboys ****
20. Mystic River ****
21. Million Dollar Baby ****
22. Play Misty For Me ***
23. Magnum Force ***
24. Sudden Impact ***
25. Heartbreak Ridge ***
26. A Perfect World ***
27. Two Mules For Sister Sara **
28. Joe Kidd **
29. Thunderbolt And Lightfoot **
30. The Eiger Sanction **
31. The Gauntlet **
32. Bronco Billy **
33. Honkytonk Man **
34. Tightrope **
35. City Heat **
36. Pale Rider **
37. The Dead Pool **
38. Pink Cadillac **
39. White Hunter, Black Heart **
40. The Rookie **
41. Blood Work **
42. J. Edgar **
43. Where Eagles Dare *
44. Paint Your Wagon *
45. Kelly’s Heroes *
46. The Beguiled *
47. Firefox *
48. Changeling *
49. Breezy X
50. Bird X
51. Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil X
52. Flags Of Our Fathers X
53. Letters From Iwo Jima X
54. Invictus X
55. Hereafter X
56. Trouble With The Curve N/A
57. A Star Is Born N/A


***** Genius!  A masterpiece! A must see! Multiple viewings!
**** A great movie. Worth seeing again.
*** Very good.  Lives up to expectations.
** Good enough to return to from time to time.  
* Definitely worth seeing because of Eastwood’s association with the project.
X Nope.  Didn't enjoy it.  Probably won't see it again.
N/A – Haven’t seen it yet or it’s either in production or a rumored project but likely to be made.

best to worst (chronologically):

  1. A Fistful Of Dollars *****
  2. For A Few Dollars More *****
  3. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly *****
  4. Hang ‘Em High ****
  5. Coogan’s Bluff ****
  6. Where Eagles Dare *
  7. Paint Your Wagon *
  8. Kelly’s Heroes *
  9. Two Mules For Sister Sara **
10. The Beguiled *
11. Play Misty For Me ***
12. Dirty Harry *****
13. Joe Kidd **
14. High Plains Drifter *****
15. Breezy X
16. Magnum Force ***
17. Thunderbolt And Lightfoot **
18. The Eiger Sanction **
19. The Outlaw Josey Wales *****
20. The Enforcer ****
21. The Gauntlet **
22. Every Which Way But Loose ****
23. Escape From Alcatraz *****
24. Bronco Billy **
25. Any Which Way You Can ****
26. Firefox *
27. Honkytonk Man **
28. Sudden Impact ***
29. Tightrope **
30. City Heat **
31. Pale Rider **
32. Heartbreak Ridge ***
33. Bird X
34. The Dead Pool **
35. Pink Cadillac **
36. White Hunter, Black Heart **
37. The Rookie **
38. Unforgiven *****
39. In The Line Of Fire *****
40. A Perfect World ***
41. The Bridges Of Madison County ****
42. Absolute Power *****
43. Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil X
44. True Crime ****
45. Space Cowboys ****
46. Blood Work **
47. Mystic River ****
48. Million Dollar Baby ****
49. Flags Of Our Fathers X
50. Letters From Iwo Jima X
51. Changeling *
52. Gran Torino *****
53. Invictus X
54. Hereafter X
55. J. Edgar **
56. Trouble With The Curve N/A
57. A Star Is Born N/A

[Jed Cooper]

Looks like I'll be re-evaulating my ratings in the near future.  A friend forwarded me a link to a decent sale on Clint Eastwood: 35 Films 35 Years at Warner Bros. and I in turn forwarded it to my dad.  He enjoys movies so I told him he might be interested in this set if he hadn't already seen the majority of films included.  Instead, he took it as a subtle hint that I wanted it for myself and now it's his Christmas gift to me.  I told him that really wasn't my intention but why not, since he insisted?  Okay, twist my arm...  It'd be great if the remainder of Eastwood's films or at least most of them could make their way to another set.  I don't see myself rounding up the rest of them otherwise.  

So, I get to revisit these 35 to see if my opinion has changed.  To be honest, I seriously doubt it but it'll be fun.

[Jed Cooper]

My dad picked this up for me on eBay recently for Christmas but didn’t come down this year.  He lives in Maine and we're in Massachusetts.  We may see him New Year’s weekend.  So, in the meantime, I decided to look into the titles included on this set.  I’m going to revisit my ratings to see what I currently have and whether or not my opinion changes after viewing each of these again.  I really don’t want to bother with the ones he directed but didn’t star in; Bird, Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil, Letters From Iwo Jima and Invictus (I enjoyed Mystic River).  Either that, or will try to be very open minded and watch those 4 first to get them out of the way.  Then, I can move on to the ones he starred in.  My least favorite of these are Where Eagles Dare (but am curious to see it again because it’s been a long time), The Gauntlet (man did that suck), Firefox (boooooooring), City Heat (horrible comedy-too bad because with Burt Reynolds co-starring it had potential), Pale Rider (one of his worst westerns), The Dead Pool (THE worst Dirty Harry film), Pink Cadillac (WHAT was he THINKING?!...although, Bernadette Peters looks absolutely adorable!) and The Rookie (probably looked good on paper….).  I'm looking forward to seeing The Eastwood Factor, too.  Now if there was another set corralling the remainder of his films… (yes, I know, probably won't happen but I can dream).

Like I've done with the Star Trek films not too long ago, I will atttempt to look for the best in these films since Eastwood hardly makes movies he acts in anymore.  

I came across a decent link:  Clint Eastwood dvds

Films included:

 1. Where Eagles Dare (1968)
 2. Kelly’s Heroes (1970)
 3. Dirty Harry (1971)
 4. Magnum Force (1973)
 5. The Enforcer (1976)
 6. The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
 7. The Gauntlet (1977)
 8. Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
 9. Bronco Billy (1980)
10. Any Which Way You Can (1980)
11. Firefox (1982)
12. Honkytonk Man (1982)
13. Sudden Impact (1983)
14. City Heat (1984)
15. Tightrope (1984)
16. Pale Rider (1985)
17. Heartbreak Ridge (1986)
18. Bird (1988)
19. The Dead Pool (1988)
20. Pink Cadillac (1989)
21. White Hunter, Black Heart (1990)
22. The Rookie (1990)
23. Unforgiven (1992)
24. A Perfect World (1993)
25. The Bridges Of Madison County (1995)
26. Absolute Power (1997)
27. Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil (1997)
28. True Crime (1999)
29. Space Cowboys (2000)
30. Blood Work (2002)
31. Mystic River (2003)
32. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
33. Letters From Iwo Jima (2006)
34. Gran Torino (2008)
35. The Eastwood Factor (2009 documentary)

[Jed Cooper]

Where Eagles Dare (12/04/68 UK., 3/12/69 U.S.)

Rating as of 11/14/11: *

Most recent viewing(s): 4/06/12 & 1/07/12

New rating: ***

I began watching the movies in this set in January and before long got nearly halfway through but then my wife and I began shopping for a better tv.  We eventually decided on a Panasonic 55" HD widescreen.  What an improvement!  Now I love watching Robin Meade on CNN weekday mornings more than ever!  

Seeing Where Eagles Dare for first time would not have made me a fan.  I was bored and disappointed.  Richard Burton talked too much and Eastwood didn’t have enough to do.  That was my initial impression back in the early 1980’s, when I’d become very interested in Clint Eastwood movies.  I’d go through the weekly TV Guide searching for his films being shown and would make it a point to watch when I could.  Many a year has passed since then and until recently, my opinion about this film changed very little.  After watching it again earlier this yeary, I didn't expect it to change at all.  This time, I found it to be interesting as well as entertaining and was impressed with Richard Burton's acting.  That's not to slight Burton, he's obviously a legend and considered a great actor.  The only films of his I've seen are Cleopatra and Equus and enjoyed them.  To be honest, it was Burton's acting that helped change my views about this film.  As far as Eastwood's role goes, having him in this film is a definite bonus.  It is, after all, a Richard Burton movie with Clint co-starring.  I believe my viewing it more as an Eastwood movie initially was why I disliked it and rated it so low previously.  I expected more and always came away disappointed.  I’m glad to rank this as one of the more likeable Eastwood films now.  Burton & Eastwood appeared to work well together and would've been good had they done so again.  

[Jed Cooper]

Kelly's Heroes (6/23/70)
 
Rating as of 11/14/11:  *

Most recent viewing(s): 4/15/12 & 1/09/12

New rating: **1/2

Two and a half stars may not seem like much but it's an improvement over the single star rating I'd had it at previously.  Like another war movie Eastwood starred in that I also viewed a couple of times earlier this year, Where Eagles Dare, I had no expectations that my opinion would change at all.  The first time I saw Kelly’s Heroes, I was in my mid-teens and expected everything to be as close to The Man With No Name and Dirty Harry as possible.  Looking at this movie from that perspective, it fell short on many levels.  Now that I’m much older, I can appreciate the story more and the humor.  I still feel the movie is a little too long but definitely enjoyable now.  What helps make it interesting is seeing how these actors portrayed their characters.  Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles, Carroll O’Connor and Gavin MacLeod would all go on to star in much better movies than this, even television.  It’s hard to tell whether I’ll enjoy this any more over time but I’m at least now open to the possibility of future viewings.

[Jed Cooper]

Firefox (6/18/82)
 
Rating as of 11/14/11:  *

Most recent viewing(s): 10/29/12, 4/21/12 & 1/14/12

New rating: **1/2

This is a tough movie to like.  It’s too long and at times boring.  By the time it picks up towards the end, it’s too late to salvage.  I feel there’s too much explanation of the mission and plane at the beginning to hold my attention and it isn’t necessary.  Without it, an air of mystery would be added and make this movie more interesting and enjoyable.  This way the opening would focus ore on Gant being approached to take on the mission and next we’d find him in training.

It does, however, hold a special place in my heart because at 15 years of age in the summer of 1982, it was the first Eastwood film to be released after I’d become a die-hard fan the previous winter.  Seeing the Leone westerns and Dirty Harry on tv during this time is what got me hooked.  I was familiar with his movies and had seen a couple on the big screen, such as Escape From Alcatraz and Any Which Way You Can.  When I heard about this movie, my expectations were very high.  I went to see it with a friend and he kept trying to talk me into leaving because he was so bored.  I couldn’t blame him, so we did.  I was stubborn, though and returned the next day to watch it on my own.  It was almost like I was determined to like it.  I didn’t want to admit how bad it was to myself.  No, that was unacceptable because this was Clint Eastwood and I was a big fan!  How could he make a bad film!  Especially the first theatrical release after I’d become such a huge admirer of his films?!  Over time I’d come to learn you’ve got to accept the bad with the good and Firefox falls, unfortunately, into the bad category.  I’ve upgraded my rating because Eastwood hardly stars in the films he makes anymore.  So, I’m left with the legacy left behind to enjoy the best aspects of them instead of being so harshly critical.  This film could easily stand to lose about ½ hour of footage and I’d enjoy it that much more.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.     

[Jed Cooper]

Heartbreak Ridge (12/05/86)
 
Rating as of 11/14/11: ***

Most recent viewing(s): 10/31/12 & 1/15/12

New rating: ***1/2
 
I had the opportunity to watch Heartbreak Ridge in its’ entirety again recently and came away enjoying the film all over again.  That hasn’t happened in years.  For that reason, I thought I’d updated this to a lower rating some time ago.  I did view it earlier this year but didn’t care for it much.  This time, I enjoyed watching it again, a lot.  I didn’t expect that.  I had written it off, much like most of Clint’s 80’s films, as disappointing.  Until recently my opinion had changed over the years in that the movie hadn’t aged well and that it just wasn’t very good.  Not so.  Heartbreak Ridge is probably one of his better movies of the decade.  I was interested in Highway’s journey throughout, always enjoying how he reacted to each situation he found himself in be it positive or negative.  As a marine, he was very much in control but not quite in his personal life.  Watching as he attempted to understand women and reconnect with his ex-wife was very entertaining.  There’s a handful of good quotes here, my all-time favorite about what he tells a fellow supply officer what to do with his contraband Stogie if he doesn’t get it outta his face!    
 

[Jed Cooper]

Pale Rider (6/25/85)

Rating as of 11/14/11: **

Most recent viewing(s): 6/20/14

New rating: ***

I'd love to give this a four-star rating but I still woulnd't say it's a great film.  There was a time where I discounted this film altogether but over the years have come to appreciate it a little more.  It was a pleasure seeing this again recently, recalling where I was in life when the film came out.  I believe it's the fist western I saw in a movie theater so I'm glad it was an Eastwood western even though my reaction to it at the time was that of disappointment. 

So now I see this as a very good film, definitely worth returning to.  I've always enjoyed the scene where Preacher says, "There's nothing like a nice piece of Hickory."  As Clint acts less these days I paid particular attention to him while watching this movie again.  He definitely delivered an understated performance but perhaps that's the intent and it was effective. 

[Jed Cooper]

Two Mules For Sister Sara (6/16/70)

Rating as of 11/14/11: **

Most recent viewing(s): 8/05/14

New rating: ***

This is one of the 3 westerns I'd hope to view around the same time I watched Pale Rider not too long ago.  Turns out, I no longer own it so I borrowed my wife's brother's copy.  He's got a 3-dvd set that includes this, Joe Kidd and High Plains Drifter.  Joe Kidd was the other in that I was curious to see what I used to consider Clint's 3 worst western films.  So far, I've come away with a new appreciation for Pale Rider.

The same hasn't happened with Two Mules but I did enjoy seeing it again.  It's been quite some time.  While my personal rating of the movie has improved, I still don't consider one of his best movies.  It's a little difficult staying interested throughout but I guess that's my only real gripe with it.  The chemistry between Eastwood and MacLaine is poor.  I don't know, maybe the movie was a little too long and/or could've used a little more action.  Regardless, it's a western and Eastwood's in it.  My distaste for this film, like Pale Rider, has all but disappeared.  The acting was good, but could've been a little better and Unlike Rider, I won't be in a hurry to see it again soon but think I'll check it out over winter, when it's cold, snowy and rotten outside so I can appreciate the landscape and warm weather in Two Mules.  I've since begun watching Joe Kidd and I can tell it's going to have the same effect on me after watching only the first 1/2 this morning before work.  The flow of that film is better and I know I'll not only enjoy seeing it again but come away liking it more.   

[Jed Cooper]

Joe Kidd (7/14/72)

Rating as of 11/14/11: **

Most recent viewing(s): 8/06/14

New rating: ***

I knew I'd enjoy seeing this again and that I'd most likely give it an improved rating.  I like the character of Joe Kidd more than Hogan from Two Mules From Sister Sara.  I thought Robert Duvall and John Saxon were good in this movie but the drama and seriousness of the plot didn't come through very well and the ending seems rushed.  In all, though, an enjoyable western that Eastwood makes good just by being in it. 
 

[Perry]

Breezy, Letters From Iwo Jima and Bird get X ratings............ Yeah......OK.

[Jed Cooper]

Breezy, Letters From Iwo Jima and Bird get X ratings............ Yeah......OK.

Such is life.  You might want to re-read the title of this thread.

....Not only that, but you may or may not have noticed that my opinion regarding many of Eastwood's films I otherwise disliked or didin't hold in high regard have changed for the better over the past couple of years.  I still say that to me, an Eastwood film is one that stars Clint Eastwood, not one he only directs.  Still, with all this being said I am open minded enough to give all of the movies with the lowest or no ratings another chance, regardless of whether he starred in them or not.  That's what being a fan is all about. 

[Perry]

Actually JC Thats a valid point.I just found it interesting how you could rate Pink Cadillac over let's say Letters From Iwo Jima, but then I think Joe Kidd is a superior movie than Unforgiven- So you be right.....

[Jed Cooper]

Actually JC Thats a valid point.I just found it interesting how you could rate Pink Cadillac over let's say Letters From Iwo Jima, but then I think Joe Kidd is a superior movie than Unforgiven- So you be right.....

Waitaminute! Joe Kidd superior than Unforgiven?! What the??!?!!!   

Just kidding.  Although I prefer Unforgiven, I did very much enjoy watching Joe Kidd again.  Lots of good scenes in there, especially between Kidd and Lamarr.  For me it seems anti-climactic but in all it's still a good, decent western.  There's much worse out there.  You make a good point, too, Perry.  I have to admit that on the surface, just saying Pink Cadillac is a better film than Letters From Iwo Jima just doesn't sound right.  What did I give PC, 1 star?  At some point I'll view it again and I really will be surprised if my opinion changes with that one the way it has with a bunch of others Clint has starred in that I didn't care much for.  I remember scratching my head upon leaving the theater and thinking to myself, "Huh?!"  Same went for The Rookie. 

So, at some point, I definitely plan on giving the movies Eastwood directed but did not star in another chance.  I reckon if I can put my prejudice about him not being in them aside, then maybe I'll be able to enjoy them...well, the ones I gave the worst ratings to, anyway.  I'm getting ahead of myself here but my guess is that if the 1 and 2 star movies have moved up a notch then the ones without a rating would and even should get, at least, a 2 star rating. 

   

[Jed Cooper]

I still say that to me, an Eastwood film is one that stars Clint Eastwood, not one he only directs.

You know, if I do come away liking films like Breezy, Bird and Hereafter then I'll have to eat these words. 

I'll do so, happily.  What it all boils down to is that over the past 1-2 years I've been reconsidering many of Eastwood's films and have taken great pleasure in enjoying the ones I used to dislike.  That doesn't happen very often and is an unexpected surprise, much like a handful of Stax Studios recordings by Elvis I rediscovered and are now favorites.  I've said this before but the major bonus there is what was once disregarded becomes almost new again.  Looking back on Eastwood's body of film work, he truly is one of a kind.  Most of what he's done has been entertaining.  I think it only comes down to 5 films I'm not in a hurry to see again; Paint Your Wagon, Bird, Pink Cadillac, The Rookie and Hereafter.  I'm almost embarassed to admit I own all of Elvis Presley's films, but no longer Eastwood.  In my own defense, I am a bigger Elvis fan but do hope to remedy the situation in the not too distant future.  It would be worth every penny spent if a complete Eastwood film set ever came out.  Due to various studios he made movies for, I realize this is probably not going to happen but it'd be great nonetheless.     

[Perry]

It's not that I dislike Unforgiven. I just always felt the movie drags in the middle and is overrated. Just never felt is was an Oscar winning movie. Compared to Josey Wales which to me is his real Masterpiece it's not even on the same level. Personally, I'd rate Gran Torino as his 3rd best movie after Wales and the original D.H..BTW,...The Begulied is better than True Crime......

[The Man With No Aim]

Unforgiven drags in the middle because.....
Clint is portraying the sober Will Munny. The sober Will Munny is a gentle, kind man, who is barely aggressive enough to defend himself and his children. A real Clark Kent or Elmer Fudd...The type of quiet non-trouble maker that you wish every one of your neighbors was. The film resorts to overkill in presenting the gentleness of the man because the director realized that many action movie fans are a little slow to get a subtle message.

Unforgiven does not drag in the final scenes because Will Munny has experienced a great traumatizing event, the sudden loss of his only real friend, and he has resorted to his old helper Whisky, and has become the heretofore hidden uber-aggressive and almost superhuman man that Will Munny of old became when he was drunk, which was just about all the time.

Anyone looking at Unforgiven as just another action movie and being sad about not enough action in the middle is completely missing the real purpose of the movie.

[KC]

Very well put, MWNA! I never thought about it before, but in one of the many dimensions of Unforgiven, Munny is indeed portraying a kind of superhero type, who undergoes a transformation between his identities with the help of his magic ingredient, whiskey.

[Gant]

Don't we all ....

[Jed Cooper]

That's funny because that's how I used to feel about Josey Wales, that it dragged in the middle.  Well, it still does a little but I still think it, and Unforgiven, are great.