Nominated for four Academy Awards, including 'Best Picture,' Clint Eastwood's Letters From Iwo Jima tells the untold story of the Japanese soldiers who defended their homeland against invading American forces during World War II. Directed by Clint Eastwood. With Ken Watanabe, Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Ryo Kase. The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.

1. Letters From Iwo Jima

For over half a century, Clint Eastwood has been one of the world’s greatest movie stars. Comfortable in both westerns and contemporary roles, his measured growl of a voice has been a key part in creating such iconic characters as The Man With No Name and Dirty Harry. However in 1971, Eastwood made his first foray into directing. The result was a thriller entitled “Play Misty For Me,” earning him a newfound critical respect for his clear directorial skills.

35 films later, Eastwood has become one of the most acclaimed filmmakers working today. Of his 11 Oscar nominations, four have been for Best Director with two wins (1992’s “Unforgiven” and “Million Dollar Baby” in 2004). Eastwood has received seven Golden Globe nominations for directing, winning three times (“Unforgiven, “Million Dollar Baby” and 1989’s “Bird”). And Eastwood’s peers in the Directors Guild of America have nominated him four times with two victories. He has brought acting Oscars to Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Hilary Swank. Though the subject matter of Eastwood’s films have been wide in variety, what has remained consistent has been his emphasis on character and storytelling. Here are 15 of his best films in the photo gallery above, ranked from worst to best, that have been the key parts of the director’s legacy.

Letters From Iwo Jima

© Str / EPA/REX/Shutterstock.