including (and especially) a freaky serial killer horrifying the denizens of
Harry's beat, San Francisco. Inspired by the real life Zodiac killings (which
would be made into one of 2007's greatest pictures, David Fincher's "Zodiac"), the freaky Scorpio is just one of many
creeps who will endure Harry's vigilante wrath -- all that cool and muscle that
ignores pesky rules like search warrants or the dangers of police brutality. In
the squinty iconic eyes of Clint Eastwood, and the gritty, lean direction of Don Siegel, Harry Callahan is just the cop we need as the
darker, cynical and violent era of the 1970s commences. Or do we? Like the
equally fascinating "Death Wish," the blurred line between right and wrong is
both celebrated and contemplated in this compelling cop classic.
Final report: "Well, to tell you the truth, in all the
excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being how this is a .44 Magnum, the
most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've
got to ask yourself one question, 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do you, punk?" OK,
OK! He's a good cop. (Everett Collection)
