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Special Features
- Manning the Wheel
- Gran Torino: More Than a Car
Editorial Reviews
A disgruntled Korean War vet, Walt Kowalski (Eastwood), sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager, who tried to steal Kowalski's prized possession: his 1972 Gran Torino.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
68 of 72 people found the following review helpful
By Miami Nights
Format:DVD
Some have criticized "Gran Torino" as being too simple, cliched and hurt by the performances of the film's first-time actors.
But this is one of those rare movies that's bigger than the sum of its parts. In recent years, I have yet to see a film that managed to get both men and women to cry. And that it would provoke such strong emotions is not evident until the last act.
It may seem simple and cliched on the surface, and while I knew that Clint Eastwood's character Walt would eventually warm up to his Hmong neighbors, I didn't expect that the movie would also have me, a guy who doesn't cry at movies, wiping my eyes. And not just once, but the three other times I saw the film at the theater. And I heard other people crying at every viewing.
Each time I viewed it, it was just as powerful, if not more.
Walt is an old, bitter racist, who just about hates everyone, including the young pastor who visits him regularly at the request of Walt's late wife, and his own children and their families.
On paper, the story seems simple, but its power is hard to deny. It's part drama, part comedy, part tale of one man's racist surface, but as the credits roll, you realize that the power of the movie, the emotional buttons it pushes, make this a movie that rises above the acting, above its direction, above its script, to make something deeper and emotionally touching than most would have expected.
There are subtle touches and small scenes that any other director would not have folded into the film. And they do go by like a breeze for the most part. They'll have you laughing, smiling or shaking your head.
And it's good that Eastwood's character does not make a complete (and unrealistic) 360 degree turn, as you see in most American movies.
And given what Eastwood has delivered in most of his movies, most notably as Dirty Harry and his various Westerns, you expect a big showdown to come, and that showdown does come, but not with the ending you expect.
Eastwood has made powerful movies before, but this one really seemed to touch the core of many people, across many age groups, and racial/ethnic designations.
On a side note, Eastwood has also done what so many Hollywood studios and filmmakers choose not to do, which is portray Asian-Americans as regular, everyday people, living in America. That's no small feat, as most Hollywood studios go out of their way to not cast Asian-Americans and not show the lives of Asian-Americans. They rather change the race of the characters, even when they're basing a movie on a real-life story about Asian-American people, or offer easy, ignorant stereotypes.
Eastwood only deserves credit, because it's something that should have been done decades ago.
And while this movie may not get much kudos from the snobby critics in the big film world, it has a emotional pull that even some recent Eastwood movies don't have.
It may not have won any big awards, but it's a movie I plan on watching for years to come.
But this is one of those rare movies that's bigger than the sum of its parts. In recent years, I have yet to see a film that managed to get both men and women to cry. And that it would provoke such strong emotions is not evident until the last act.
It may seem simple and cliched on the surface, and while I knew that Clint Eastwood's character Walt would eventually warm up to his Hmong neighbors, I didn't expect that the movie would also have me, a guy who doesn't cry at movies, wiping my eyes. And not just once, but the three other times I saw the film at the theater. And I heard other people crying at every viewing.
Each time I viewed it, it was just as powerful, if not more.
Walt is an old, bitter racist, who just about hates everyone, including the young pastor who visits him regularly at the request of Walt's late wife, and his own children and their families.
On paper, the story seems simple, but its power is hard to deny. It's part drama, part comedy, part tale of one man's racist surface, but as the credits roll, you realize that the power of the movie, the emotional buttons it pushes, make this a movie that rises above the acting, above its direction, above its script, to make something deeper and emotionally touching than most would have expected.
There are subtle touches and small scenes that any other director would not have folded into the film. And they do go by like a breeze for the most part. They'll have you laughing, smiling or shaking your head.
And it's good that Eastwood's character does not make a complete (and unrealistic) 360 degree turn, as you see in most American movies.
And given what Eastwood has delivered in most of his movies, most notably as Dirty Harry and his various Westerns, you expect a big showdown to come, and that showdown does come, but not with the ending you expect.
Eastwood has made powerful movies before, but this one really seemed to touch the core of many people, across many age groups, and racial/ethnic designations.
On a side note, Eastwood has also done what so many Hollywood studios and filmmakers choose not to do, which is portray Asian-Americans as regular, everyday people, living in America. That's no small feat, as most Hollywood studios go out of their way to not cast Asian-Americans and not show the lives of Asian-Americans. They rather change the race of the characters, even when they're basing a movie on a real-life story about Asian-American people, or offer easy, ignorant stereotypes.
Eastwood only deserves credit, because it's something that should have been done decades ago.
And while this movie may not get much kudos from the snobby critics in the big film world, it has a emotional pull that even some recent Eastwood movies don't have.
It may not have won any big awards, but it's a movie I plan on watching for years to come.
42 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
With 175 reviews to read you probably won't get around to reading mine. But Gran Torino may just be Clint Eastwood's finest acting, and it certainly one of the best films he's directed. It's both iconic - building on Dirty Harry and Unforgiven - and subtle. As an actor friend of mine once said back in the late 1970's about Clint: "He's got one look. But boy, is it a good look."
Gran Torino is the embodiment of that statement. When Clint levels his rifle at the scum, and says he could blow their heads off, go in, and sleep like a baby, he's probably the only man on earth you'd believe saying something like that. His eyes, his carriage, his intensity.
Underneath that patented Dirty Harry glare is a performance of such subtlety, minute inflections, and being it's virtuoso. He's like a worn out pair of jeans, a well-oiled and used baseball mitt. Clint Eastwood uses his entire body of work as a back drop to this performance, and builds on it to take us along for the ride.
I'm not going to share the plot as others have so far. It's a film about values and tradition. About accountability. Doing the right thing - up to and including making sure his old dog is taken care of. What's masterful about the film is that he takes what could have been a caricature in the hands of another actor and director and makes it believable.
Much has been made of his racist language. At first it's jarring. It's so all encompasing and over the top in the beginning of the film you can't help but concentrate on it. But he takes it from Archie Bunker territory with character development and plot arc to the point where you no longer actually hear the stupid words. You are too focused on the man's character and who he really is. A real racist would never have entered his neighbor's home, and certainly wouldn't have eaten their food. The reviewer who said he's racist because he doesn't know any other way to be is spot-on.
The Hmong cast is outstanding. I especially loved the interaction between Walt and Grandma - two peas in a pod. Bee Vang as Tow was solid as the boy who becomes a man. Ahney Her as Sue is the driver of the changes in Walt. If she couldn't hold her own with Clint the film wouldn't have worked. She does, and in the bargain, Gran Torino is a very satisfying, impressive film.
Like Gran Torinos, and Clint Eastwood, they don't make 'em like this anymore.
Gran Torino is the embodiment of that statement. When Clint levels his rifle at the scum, and says he could blow their heads off, go in, and sleep like a baby, he's probably the only man on earth you'd believe saying something like that. His eyes, his carriage, his intensity.
Underneath that patented Dirty Harry glare is a performance of such subtlety, minute inflections, and being it's virtuoso. He's like a worn out pair of jeans, a well-oiled and used baseball mitt. Clint Eastwood uses his entire body of work as a back drop to this performance, and builds on it to take us along for the ride.
I'm not going to share the plot as others have so far. It's a film about values and tradition. About accountability. Doing the right thing - up to and including making sure his old dog is taken care of. What's masterful about the film is that he takes what could have been a caricature in the hands of another actor and director and makes it believable.
Much has been made of his racist language. At first it's jarring. It's so all encompasing and over the top in the beginning of the film you can't help but concentrate on it. But he takes it from Archie Bunker territory with character development and plot arc to the point where you no longer actually hear the stupid words. You are too focused on the man's character and who he really is. A real racist would never have entered his neighbor's home, and certainly wouldn't have eaten their food. The reviewer who said he's racist because he doesn't know any other way to be is spot-on.
The Hmong cast is outstanding. I especially loved the interaction between Walt and Grandma - two peas in a pod. Bee Vang as Tow was solid as the boy who becomes a man. Ahney Her as Sue is the driver of the changes in Walt. If she couldn't hold her own with Clint the film wouldn't have worked. She does, and in the bargain, Gran Torino is a very satisfying, impressive film.
Like Gran Torinos, and Clint Eastwood, they don't make 'em like this anymore.
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a phenomenally good film about an elderly man who can come to see things in a new light. While I think it is too easy to describe him as a racist, he is of the glib, crusty, irascible curmugeon type. Indeed, he reminds me of my father - hard-edged and seemingly offensive (some people would get hurt and insulted, to be sure), but in fact with a good heart and natural nobility. Eastwood plays it with unmistakable charisma. I marvelled at the skill with which Eastwood pealed away layers of his character, from his crudeness to his soul-searching and ethic of community.
The situation is that, his wife having died and his sons alienated, he is wondering what to do with himself. He is rude to his Hmong neighbors, but comes to see them as truly worthy people in need of help and nurturing. His evolution from suspicion and a playful hostility with the Hmong grandmother are totally believable. In particular, he befirends a boy who is at a crossroads, even taking him to a barber in order to teach him how to trade manly insults. Their chemistry as it evolves is beautiful, to the point of bringing tears to my eyes. When his plans to help go awry, he hatches a very clever plan.
I watched this twice and was moved each time and noticed more detail. It is a masterpiece and an unusual story for Hollywood to do. Warmly recommended.
The situation is that, his wife having died and his sons alienated, he is wondering what to do with himself. He is rude to his Hmong neighbors, but comes to see them as truly worthy people in need of help and nurturing. His evolution from suspicion and a playful hostility with the Hmong grandmother are totally believable. In particular, he befirends a boy who is at a crossroads, even taking him to a barber in order to teach him how to trade manly insults. Their chemistry as it evolves is beautiful, to the point of bringing tears to my eyes. When his plans to help go awry, he hatches a very clever plan.
I watched this twice and was moved each time and noticed more detail. It is a masterpiece and an unusual story for Hollywood to do. Warmly recommended.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Love Clint Eastwood
We have watched this movie a number of times, the only problem is that he speaks very low and it's hard to catch every word that he says.
Published 1 day ago by Elizabeth Kolczynski
5.0 out of 5 stars
down to earth
this movie show how you can respect other races and dam the greedy one in your family./get to to know other races don't judge them
Published 6 days ago by michael
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great movie
Very good movie, that tells a good story. Makes a great coment on what life can be like at the end. And what you will do to fix what needs to be done.
Published 7 days ago by Siffin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Eastwood (but aged out)
Any Clint Eastwood fan will enjoy this movie. You'll get the guttural Eastwood utterances as he intimidates the bad guys. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Systems_Consultant
5.0 out of 5 stars
I liked this movie
It shows todays inconsiderate ways of Todays America, the treatment of a generation of us older people, who will be gone before you know it. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Daniel B Morin
5.0 out of 5 stars
grand torino
It was a good movie. I would recommend for people to watch this movie any time. I give it five stars.<3
Published 10 days ago by Chelsea
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome movie!
I've seen this movie about 4 times, and still it holds my attention from start to finish. Who says you have to have crazy action scenes, or a lot of big stars, to make a great... Read more
Published 15 days ago by J. Cole
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my favorite Clint Eastwood movies
I have watched this movie over and over. I am a big fan of Clint Eastwood and this is one of my favorite movies.
Published 16 days ago by Virginia Davies
5.0 out of 5 stars
Racist meets funny
Wasn't expecting this movie to be this good. It has an old man who lives in his old ways...with some racist slurs I never even heard before make a change. Read more
Published 17 days ago by Meddersman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funny Movie Lines Littered Throughout Movie
This movie was great, The quality of the disc was excellent, no skips, hardly any wear on disc, overall happy with this!
Published 17 days ago by Anonymous
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