Snippet Reviews: Clint Eastwood (the early years)

Dirty Harry (1971)

Throughout Clint Eastwood's legendary, although occasionally rocky career, he has continued to exemplify what many of us consider to be the quintessential badass. Here, Eastwood really drives the point home as Detective Harry Callahan - a hard and seasoned professional who's seen it all, but who is simultaneously wounded by loneliness and the plague of experience (a now criminally played out plot device when it comes to cop movies). Second only to Eastwood, the most important ingredient in the film is the location. Set in San Francisco, director Don Siegel brings the streets to life with vibrant gusto, aided by Lalo Shifrin's fantastic jazz score. "Dirty Harry" manages to not only thrill, but to accomplish the harrowing task of encapsulating all that was cool and nostalgia-inducing about the 1970's. Final grade: A-

Play Misty For Me (1971)

Clint Eastwood's 1971 directorial debut is a shaky first effort, but it makes for an interesting watch; not only for the over-wrought acting and occasional gripping moment, but for the experience of watching as one of America's best directors shaped his directing style and technique. If that's not enough then watch for Jessica Walter and the great jazz score. Final grade: B