Dirty Harry

 I'm almost ashamed to say it's taken me this long to watch Dirty Harry, but I'm glad I finally took the time to sit and take it in. The 1971 smash hit is one of the best crime/serial killer films I've seen to date. The film follows inspector Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) as he works to track down the sadistic "Scorpio Killer" (Andy Robinson). Along the way we learn more about Harry and just exactly why he's earned the nickname "Dirty Harry". The film takes us through the streets of San Francisco as the investigation has Callahan and his new partner Chico Gonzalez (Reni Santoni) running all over the city. All along the way Harry is forced into situations that demand a man of his skills. Grossing just over $35 million it became one of the top grossing movies of the year.

While Clint Eastwood does a great job of playing the no-nonsense loose cannon cop, it truly is Andy Robinson who steals the show.  Robinson's "Scorpio" is a clear representation of the real life Zodiac Killer who terrorized San Francisco and its surrounding area in the tale end of the 1960s. It's very clear to anyone familiar with the case, as one of the first scenes has the SFPD receiving a letter from the killer, something Zodiac is now infamous for. I think one of the best little details is undoubtedly Scorpio's deformed peace-sign belt buckle. It's one of those little things that goes a long way for character development. In the cop film that changed Eastwood from cowboy to officer, Andy Robinson is the star of the show. He plays the insane yet calculated killer to perfection and the scariest thing is that Robinson's performance is something that could very much be real, Scorpio could be a real serial killer. 

The film will always be remembered, whether it's ushering in of the serial killer sub-genre, being the standout film in Eastwood's filmography, or one of the greatest one-liners ever spoken, Dirty Harry is a film for the ages. The film demands the viewers attention even in some of the most mundane scenes. If you were worried you were watching Harry grab lunch, think again. There's so much to love about Dirty Harry and its impact on film will undoubtedly be felt for generations to come. (A-)

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