The Four Seasons musical biopic “Jersey Boys,’’ opening Friday, is the 33rd feature film directed by Clint Eastwood over the past 43 years. And, at 84, he’s currently editing his “American Sniper,’’ starring Bradley Cooper, for release next year.
Some of them have been dogs (“Blood Work,’’ “The Rookies,’’) while others were honorable misfires (“Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’’) Here are ten of my favorites:
‘Play Misty for Me’ (1971)
Eastwood’s directing talent was clear in this thriller that marked his directing debut, a predecessor of “Fatal Attraction’’ about a laid-back California disc jockey (Clint at his sexiest) who is stalked by a crazed fan (Jessica Walter).
Plus, he commissioned the song “Killing Me Softly’’ for this movie.
‘Honkytonk Man’ (1982)
In his most autobiographical film — a box-office and critical failure at the time of his release — Eastwood plays a country singer trying to crash the big time before he dies of tuberculosis.
His nephew is played by real-life son Kyle Eastwood.
‘Sudden Impact’ (1983)
The only Dirty Harry movie personally directed by Eastwood is in some ways the most interesting, as the rogue detective is trying to track down a revenge-bent rape victim played by Eastwood’s then-muse/lover, Sondra Locke, who is sort of his dopplegänger.
Plus, it’s the film that gave us his trademark “Go ahead, make my day!’’
‘Bird’ (1988)
Jazz lover Eastwood poured his heart and soul into this biopic of the legendary Charlie Parker (Forrest Whitaker).
‘Unforgiven’ (1992)
Eastwood’s first Oscar-winning Best Picture both subverts and pays homage to the Western genre and provides him with an iconic role as a retired gunslinger who takes on last last job.
‘A Perfect World’ (1993)
Perhaps because it immediately followed “Unforgiven,’’ this is Eastwood’s most underrated film as a director. He take a supporting role in this 1950s-set drama about an escaped convict (Kevin Costner, never better) who befriends a boy he kidnaps.
‘White Hunter Black Heart’ (1990)
Eastwood directed his most unusual performance — as a thinly-disguised version of loquacious directing legend John Huston — in this often fascinating roman à clef about the making of “The African Queen,’’
‘Million Dollar Baby’ (2004)
Eastwood stood boxing dramas on their head in his other Best Picture Oscar-winner, which also won Best Actress for Hillary Swank and delivered a stealth pro-choice message.
‘Letters from Iwo Jima’ (2006)
Eastwood has not acted in eight of his last 10 films. The best of them is this Oscar-nominated, ambitious low-budget companion piece to “Flags of Our Fathers,’’ which recounts a famous World War II battle from the Japanese point of view.
‘Gran Torino’ (2008)
Another low-budget effort with a largely non-professional cast, this was Eastwood’s top-grossing movie if you don’t adjust for inflation.
And he’s simply unforgettable in his last big-screen appearance in a self-directed film, as a racist Korean War vet who bonds with his Hmong neighbors.