Review of Dirty Harry (1971) by Robyn M — 23 Oct 2012

Clint Eastwood had established himself as a laconic star in violent 1960s westerns, and a lot of this is his steely gunfighter persona well-transplanted to a modern city setting, with the accompanying taut narrative and some satisfying (but increasingly farfetched as the tale goes on) shootout-showdowns. A lot of the film's appeal -- less noticeable to the 21st century's young viewers, but still there -- also came from a political message that 1960s social liberalism had gone too far, leaving society vulnerable to creeps and savages whom cops were literally unable to touch without warrants and red tape.

Harry, a hero cop, meanwhile, becomes an outlaw just for trying to do his job. And makes it clear that he doesn't follow the law or care for the system...