A Moral Right: The Politics of Dirty Harry (2008)
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Very good documentary taking a look at the controversial politics of the DIRTY HARRY series and how so many people agreed with the type of killing that Harry was doing while others saw him as something bad. The documentary features Clint Eastwood, several cast members of the series, Eastwood biographers and just filmmakers/fans of the series. This is certainly an entertaining documentary but at just 24 minutes you can tell things were rushed at times and there's no doubt that a feature-length documentary could certainly be made about the issue. We hear the work liberal an conservative several times throughout the picture as those being interviewed talk about their own personal beliefs and why the political climate in 1971 was just ripe for something like DIRTY HARRY. We also get some great discussion about Pauline Kael's review of the original film and how many feel she attacked it too strongly and for the wrong reason. Screenwriter John Milius is also on hand to discuss the other side of the coin with MAGNUM FORCE and how they wanted to make something different than the first film. Fans of the series will enjoy hearing these interviews and it certainly makes for an interesting conversation no matter which side of the law you're on.