Eastwood marches to his own drummer, often eschewing the Hollywood publicity and attention so many other personalities crave. He lives in Northern California, rarely gives interviews, and avoids the spotlight whenever possible. In fact, his personal of the cultural loner and reluctant hero on the screen seems to fit him perfectly off the screen, as well.

Eastwood's films almost always embody good against evil and the very nature of the perfect hero. Author Smith continues, "Eastwood's movie appears to suggest, in keeping with its general moral message that 'the war is over,' that the hero can indeed return" (Smith 45). All of his films contain this heroic element, even if the endings do not always end "happily ever after" in Hollywood style. Eastwood seems to understand the larger-than-life hero protagonist, and offers many films that embody this heroic figure, from "Flags of our Fathers" to "Unforgiven" and even "Play Misty...
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