Even though it has been in limited release, today marks the nationwide opening of the new Clint Eastwood movie "Gran Torino." And the film already has buzz for a few reasons. First off, critics have claimed that it's a throwback to vintage Eastwood performances in old Westerns and the "Dirty Harry" movies. Secondly, Eastwood has hinted that at 78, it would be his last performance in front of the camera.

If that's the case, there is a cinematic archetype that will be on the endangered species list: the tough guy.

I know what you're thinking: Blake, what the heck are you talking about? There are plenty of actors who play tough guys in movies, and that isn't going to change.

On this point, I totally agree with you Mr. Imaginary Film Debater. But my point is that Eastwood is part of a rare breed of actors who are known for ONLY playing tough guys.

We've seen numerous action stars who act tough, but more often than not, they try to do something to go against that image to show their versatility, reach a different audience and ultimately increase their marketability. Arnold Schwarzenegger may have played a gun-toting cyborg in the "Terminator" films or a sword-wielding barbarian in "Conan," but he would also turn right around and pretend to be Danny Devito's unlikely brother in the comedy "Twins" or a policeman-turned-teacher in "Kindergarten Cop." Sylvester Stallone may have been "Rambo" and "Rocky," but he was also in "Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot" with Golden Girl Estelle Getty. Even today's action stars like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson or Vin Diesel can't resist doing a Disney movie like "The Game Plan" or "The Pacifier," respectively.

Then there are martial arts experts, but with the exception of maybe Steven Seagal, you don't look at guys like Jean Claude Van Damme or Jet Li and think "tough guy." They are merely tough because even though the bad guys may not know it, you know that they could easily roundhouse kick your face clean off.

But actors like Eastwood, along with the deceased John Wayne and Charles Bronson, didn't need martial arts training. Their performances and the characters they played were toughness personified. They shot guns, scowled and, in the case of Eastwood and Wayne, occasionally did so while riding horses. And movie-goers loved them for it.

Of course, there are holes in my argument. My colleague Paul Branson (bottom right) reminded me that Eastwood wasn't exactly menacing opposite Meryl Streep in "The Bridges of Madison County" and Wayne left his tough guy persona at the door when he filmed the romance "The Quiet Man." Point taken. But could you imagine Eastwood telling some kindergarten student "it's not a tumor" in his signature growl or parodying himself saying "go ahead, make my day" to a cute Disney baby while he's changing her diaper? If he did, I'm pretty sure Bronson and Wayne would both rise from their graves to courteously knock Eastwood's teeth out.

I guess we've got a few tough guys left. You can always go see Jason Statham look tough and knock dudes senseless in whatever film he does next (which will be "Crank 2: High Voltage" in theaters April 19). But if Eastwood goes away, an old-school toughness that you rarely see in movies goes with him. So if you decide to check out "Gran Torino" in theaters, keep this in mind - and feel lucky, punk.