10.) Clint Eastwood
Like a handful of others on this list, Clint Eastwood does not embody conservatism in a mainstream sense. He has been known to describe himself as a libertarian, has supported Democrats as well as Republicans, and could be described as socially liberal on several issues. His critically acclaimed 2004 feature Million Dollar Baby exemplifies this well, ending up as something of an after-school special advocating assisted suicide.
That said, few filmmakers with the name recognition of Eastwood have been bold enough to produce films upholding a conservative worldview. Eastwood has. In 2008, he directed and starred in Gran Torino, a film which was effectively ignored by Hollywood due to its politically outmoded portrayal of race relations. Nevermind Eastwood’s crotchety old Walt Kowalski overcomes prejudice and sacrifices in defense of others.
Regardless of whether Eastwood is politically consistent, no one can argue with the cathartic simplicity of this “teachable moment:”
