HOLLYWOOD -- "This one's weird," confided Clint Eastwood this past Monday evening, prior to introducing a special awards consideration screening of his latest film.

No, that wouldn't be The Changeling, his period, fact-based drama starring Angelina Jolie as the mother of a missing nine-year-old son.

That movie's, like, five-weeks old already, for crying out loud.

No, the tireless 78-year-old is referring to his latest film -- namely Gran Torino, a not-too-serious drama that goes in some truly surprising directions.

Working both sides of the camera for the first time since 2004's Oscar-winning Million Dollar Baby, Eastwood plays the part of a snarling, racist Korean War vet and recent widower who forms an odd bond with his Asian immigrant next-door neighbours in a film that truly defies categorization.

And although it's not scheduled to officially pull into theatres until Dec. 12 (in limited release until January), it's already destined to be among the season's most-talked about contenders.

In the meantime, the former mayor of Carmel, Calif., looking swell in a caramel-coloured leather jacket and a pair of chinos, has no plans to curtail a work ethic that would make 73-year-old Woody Allen green with envy.

He's already started pre-production on his sixth directorial effort in the past five years -- a big-screen profile of the post-Apartheid life and times of Nelson Mandela.

Clint tells us shooting of The Human Factor, set against the backdrop of the 1995 Rugby World Cup final, is scheduled to begin in South Africa this March with Million Dollar Baby Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman portraying Mandela.

So what keeps Clint clicking away?

"Gotta stay ahead of the law," he replies, flashing that trademark Clint glint (see photo above).

Any which way he can.

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