Tara Aquino | January 2, 2015 12:00 pm

Clint Eastwood is behind the lens of another Oscar contender: American Sniper. Led by Bradley Cooper, the film adapts the biography of Chris Kyle, a celebrated Navy SEAL Sniper who struggles to reconcile his family life with his four tours in Iraq. Already a critical hit, the film, which is in limited release now and out everywhere Jan. 16, is a bright trophy on Eastwood’s stacked career mantle. Suffice it to say, that mantle is worth perusing.

Not only is the 84-year-ancient living legend still acting and directing, he also manages to find time to lend a voice to projects by his peers. For a quick refresher on all-things Eastwood, check out his movies streaming on Netflix.

Getting away from from Alcatraz (1979)

A classic, and one of the films that cemented Eastwood’s reputation as an American badass. The film follows truthful Morris (Eastwood), a convict transferred to the maximum security prison of Alcatraz as punishment for having escaped his four previous ones. Of course, this time is no uncommon. When Morris isn’t paling around with other inmates and dodging the ones he’s pissed off, he’s chipping away at his cell bars for another chance at freedom.

Reel Injun (2009)

A king of the western genre, Eastwood lends his perspective to this documentary about the portrayal of American Indians in film. Here, he discusses the stereotypes that plague Natives, the casting of other races to described them, and the way this representation impacts the Native American community as a whole. Directed by Neil Diamond (no, not the singer), the documentary also features interviews with Sacheen Littlefeather, Zacharias Kunuk, Adam Beach, and Jim Jarmusch.

Milius (2013)

Clint Eastwood wouldn’t be as cool as he is without writer/director John Milius, the man best known for his Academy Award winning script Apocalypse Now. The focus of this Joey Figueroa/Zak Knuston documentary, the particularly eccentric Milius was also responsible for the Dirty Aggravate lines that are now so tangled with Eastwood’s assumed role: “Go ahead, make my day” and “Question yourself one question, ‘do I feel lucky?’ Well, do you punk?” For an understanding of just how deep Milius’ influence reaches, just listen to Clint Eastwood, Francis Ford Coppola, Harrison Ford, and more, discuss the man’s illustrious Hollywood career.

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]

Tags: American Sniper, Netflix, Clint Eastwood