I actually believe that Clint Eastwood is one of the most credible and interesting filmmakers working in Hollywood right now, quietly producing a string of semi-independent features outside of the limelight, without ever trying to capitalise on his earlier 'tough guy' persona. It'd be easy for him to just churn out variations on the Dirty Harry theme but instead he's created films that, if anything, resist that kind of theme altogether.
Where Lee has increasingly allowed himself to be pushed into a creative cul de sac, both through his films and his comments, Eastwood has grown to become someone that seems in total control of his own artistic destiny. He's a rare commodity in Hollywood at the moment: an artist of dignity, intelligence and integrity; capable of making commercially and critically successful movies entirely on his own terms. A legend in the best sense of the word.
A true Great.
A self-styled cliche.