Fine.
And what's your favorite movie directed by Clint Eastwood ?

On reflection I am a fan of Clint's early directorial work, but not the latter.

That's your taste and that's ok.
Clint Eastwood first became a star as an actor with The Dollar Trilogy and Dirty Harry.
But many of his best performances are linked with some of his directing jobs:
Play Misty For Me, High Plains Drifter, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Bronco Billy,
Honkytonk Man, Pale Rider, Heartbreak Ridge, White Hunter Black Heart, Unforgiven,
The Bridges Of Madison County, Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino.
I could add Tightrope which was officially directed by Richard Tuggle but some rumours said that it was directed by Clint himself.
So, in my opinion, if we want to understand the cinema of Clint Eastwood, its subtelty, and his vision of the world, we can't pass on his work as a director.
We have to consider his work as a director.
Directing is an important step in Clint Eastwood's career.
Today, direc2000ting is more important than acting, to Clint Eastwood.