Customer Reviews

Gran Torino

5 star:		(305)
4 star:		(60)
3 star:		(22)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(24)

 

 

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.

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.

The Academy went down yet another notch in my estimation for all but ignoring this masterpiece from the master, Clint Eastwood. Others here have described the rich plot. The group of unknown Vietnamese actors are PERFECTLY led by Clint Eastwood, as the silent, grouchy, proud, imperfect, highly principled American guy we all know--or wish we knew better. Gran Torino is poignant, at times funny, and inspirational. It could be Clint Eastwood's career best, Dirty Harry come full urban-American circle. Shame on you, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. You goofed by ignoring a lot of classics we all love now, and you goofed on this, big time. (And they wonder why ratings for the Oscar show continue to dive, year after year.)

Highly recommended.

This is an outstanding film, brought to us by a legend of the industry. This movie has it all: solid acting, great characters, cinematography, pace, and plot. This film will make you think, and this film will make you feel.

Eastwood is simply great in the tailor-made role of Walt Kowalski. Like any great actor, he shows you all the dimensions of his character. At first, you think he's just a cranky old man. Then, his bigotry is front and center. Little by little, you begin to understand him and why he is the way he is. Before you know it, you are identifying with, and sympathizing with, a guy who needs love more than contempt. Of course, he does find his redemption, through the most unilkely of people.

That Clint Eastwood is great in this film should come as no surprise. The real surprise comes via two completely inexperienced actors, Ahney Her as Sue, and Bee Vang as Thao. These two most unwelcome next door neighbors help Walt find his redemption, and give him the love and respect he gets from no one else. Sharing the screen with Eastwood is no small task for any actor, no matter how experienced they might be. These two rose to the occasion.

The details is this film are just perfect. The casting is excellent, from top to bottom. Eastwood's son, daughter-in-law, and grandaughter are played to perfection by Brian Haley, Geraldine Hughes, and Dreama Walker. They are self-absorbed and clueless as to the needs of Walt. Walker is the teenager you love to hate, especially when she is lusting after Walt's prize Gran Torino in anticipation of his ultimate death. Haley and Hughes' good scene was when they showed up to Walt's house with what they thought were perfect birthday gifts. The gifts of a "grabber" and a phone with huge numbers to this man who was still so vital was tasteless. The scene played out perfectly.

The extras and smaller parts were fantastic as well. I especially enjoyed watching the thugs and gangbangers. They looked great and were very believable. The locations in gritty Detroit were just right. Whatever time Eastwood and Team spent scouting locations really paid off.

Finally, to release this most un-PC of films in hypersensitive Hollywood was ballsy on Eastwood's part. You will hear more racial slurs than you thought existed. These slurs are not gratuitous; rather, they define the Walt character and make his actions all the more important.

Don't miss this one. Highly recommended.

Walt Kowalski is a Korean war vet and a retired auto worker. He has lost his wife and has seen his neighborhood deteriorate. He lashes out with hatred and contempt at everyone around him. Underneath all of this though is a man with high morals and a real sense of what's right and wrong. This is easily the most powerful acting performance of Clint Eastwood's career. He was snubbed for the Oscars, but no matter. This is the performance of a lifetime, even outdistancing his role in "Million Dollar Baby". Eastwood also produces and directs this drama that takes us deep inside Walt Kowalski's soul. The ending is an absolute shocker too. Rumor has it that this is Eastwood's final film as an actor. If this is so, then he has saved his best for last. It is the partial ending (hopefully he will continue to produce and direct) of the career of one of America's greatest film makers.

The Gran Torino with Clint Eastwood should be given the best director, actor, screenplay. This was the best movie Clint Eastwood has done in a long time. It is definitely superior above all those other nominees in 2008.

I've watched this flick over 5 times and it never gets old. Eastwood is a true icon in cinema and this movie confirms it. Mr. Eastwood, thank you.

Didn't hear much buzz about this while it was in theaters and had no interest in seeing it because I misread it as a touchy-feely racial harmony film. I was completely wrong. This is a great movie, a classic, in so many ways. It was 100% the opposite of what I expected. I wouldn't have minded if it were 5 hours long thats how much I enjoyed it.

"Gran Torino" is a gem of a movie that once again affirms Clint Eastwood's brilliant abilities. From beginning till end, I found my attention transfixed on the screen, the story is that compelling.

Clint Eastwood plays an aging Korean War vet, Walt Kowalski who has recently been widowed. He seems irascible, perpetually squinting in disapproval, basically a curmudgeon. He does not seem to have a loving relationship with his two grown sons who are both married with families of their own. Walt is also something of a racist, spewing some racial slurs at the Hmong family that has moved next door.

Within this setting, Walt's path crosses that of the Hmong family next door with some surprising results - the young Hmong teenager, a boy named Thao [Bee Vang] is an alienated teen who is being pressured by a group of Hmong gang members to join them. Although Thao is disinterested, he is forced by the gang to steal a prized 72' Gran Torino from Kowalski's garage. The attempt fails when Thao is interrupted by Kowalski, and this acts as a catalyst for all the events that follow.

The gang members, infuriated by Thao's failure, return to bash him up, but are faced with Kowalski's wrath instead [he just wanted them off his lawn]. Later, Kowalski rescues Thao's sister, Sue [Ahney Her] from being harassed by a group of black guys and she worms her way into Kowalski's good graces, taking all the slurs in her stride and eventually gaining Kowalski's genuine affection. Gradually the Hmongs next door cease to become just another group of "gooks" but like a real family to Kowalski, something he has never really had, except with his beloved late wife. But, the Hmong gang refuses to let Thao alone and this sets off a chain of events that truly reveal the depth of Kowalski's bond to the family.

There are so many complex themes explored in this movie - aging, loneliness, racism, peer pressure, evil , faith, courage, alienation, and many more. Yet, in Mr Eastwood's capable hands, these myriad themes are all linked together in a seamless fashion, giving viewers a movie with real soul - insightful and deep, and thought-provoking. The climax when it comes, is simply mind-blowing and so very beautifully executed, delivering a powerful message.

The movie is definitely carried by Eastwood's portrayal of Kowalski as the old racist war vet who in fact embodies real courage, steely determination and plenty of heart. The actors portraying the Hmong seemed rather stilted in their performances, especially Bee Vang's Thao, though I liked Ahney Her's portrayal of the acerbic and candid Sue. There was also another highlight performance, that of the Catholic priest, Father Janovich [Christopher Carley] who seems initially way out of his depth in trying to get Walt to confession [as per Walt's late wife's wishes], and whose baby-face actually belies a strong character, determined to do the right thing.

"Gran Torino" is a gem of a movie, and is one of those rare dramas of substance that had me pondering about issues long after the credits rolled.

My last name is a long Polish word which translates into "parsley" in English. Eastwood's acting and directing is flawless. Walt Kowalski, as Clint portrays him, reflects quite accurately just what my father's and uncles' (old-fashioned) Polish characters were very much like. We also had Italian in-laws in the family... and the exchange of verbiage, during family get-togethers, was a lot like that which occurred between Walt and his barber in the movie.
The movie does reveal a marvelous fluidity of Walt's character; Walt does drop much of his ingrained structures of prejudice, at times... and this change from prejudice to compassion is very bright and sunny. Humanity can change from rigid perspectives to more insightful and compassionate intelligence.
As an aging man, I could relate to Walt's sagacious reflections and physical ailments and problems. My favorite philosopher, J.Krishnamurti (who lived part of each year in Ojai, California), when he was alive, was very appreciative of many of Clint's films; Krishnamurti died at the age of 91. He would have relished Grand Torino, with its perceptions beyond organized religion and its probing into flowering insight/compassion, i'm sure!