Gran Torino Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

Clint's last as an actor?

This is billed as Clint's last outing in front of the camera and if it is, then it's a great swansong. Admittedly i'm a huge Eastwood fan, so this might not be for everyone but if you liked Dirty Harry, Unforgiven and Heartbreak Ridge then you'll like enjoy this and his character will ring some bells.

A brief plot summary: recently widowed, Walt Kowalski (Mr Eastwood) has to adjust to life without his wife who, i'd imagine, kept his vulture kids from the door and his racist views in check. The latter come to the fore when a gang of hmong (oriental immigrants) harass his neighbours but make the mistake of encroaching on his lawn. Without giving much away, the plot (grumpy old man takes lonesome teenage outcast under his wing) treads familiar territory but Eastwoods screen prescence raises the standard a couple of notches. Some of his lines are deliberately hilarious and the banter he strikes up with his young hmong neighbours is a joy. The irony of his initial hatred (of immigrants) due to his surname isn't lost, but isn't shoved down your throat either.

To sum up, if you're an Eastwood fan then you'll love this movie. If not, you'll probably still enjoy his performance.

Grandad Torino

After many good reviews we had high hopes for this film, but ended up leaving after about an hour. Quite simply it was awful. Clint became a caricature of himself, the supporting cast's acting was very poor, the story line predictable, the racist jokes (which many of the audience seemed to enjoy rather too much - 'he said 'gook' again - tee hee') tiresome. The film simply didn't know what it was trying to be, swinging from near slapstick comedy to worthy melodrama. Maybe the last third of the film was better, maybe the ending wasn't as predictable as expected, but somehow I doubt it. And even if it was it would most certainly not have been worth the wait.

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[Highly rated reviewer]

Gran Torino

Eastwood at almost 79 years old should get the plaudits for just turning up on set these days, however there's no room for sentimentality here, as though it may not be perceived in years to come as his best offering it is pure gold nonetheless. Walt Kowolski (Eastwood) is a recently widowed Korean Veteran and a real hard nose son of a bitch. The neighbourhood he has lived in for years is swamped by a melting pot of nationalities, much to his irritation and the relationship he has with his two sons and their families is almost non existent as his high moral standards and ideals means they never quite match up to his expectations.

During a dust up at his neighbours a young Hmong teenager Thao ( Bee Vang) is 'roughed up' outside his property by a local street gang and Walt takes the law into his own hands and scares them off. Eternally grateful the Hmong community bombard Walt with gifts of food and flowers and an hilarious situation unfolds as the more he pushes them away the more they come back with gifts. However underneath it all there is suspicion on both sides, but slowly and surely through Thao's older sister Sue Lor (Ahney Her) Walt begins to warm to their community, a community that still gives respect to their elders and where family life (something Walt has always found difficult) is of paramount importance. In a crucial episode when Thoa is pressurized into trying to steal Walt's beloved 1972 Ford Gran Turino, despite his anger and outrage, the tide turns and Walt begins to appreciate how difficult it is for kids like Thao to avoid getting sucked into the street gangs.

A real friendship develops between Walt and the family as one by one the barriers come tumbling down, until one night Sue is subjected to a vicious attack, and Walt who is full of rage is forced to make a life changing decision in order to get retribution.There are some geuinely funny moments in this film , but it's also tinged with sadness, and I suppose the cynical among us might just see it as a Geriatric Dirty Harry, but somehow it works , from the verbal tussles Walt has with the young catholic priest Father Janovich (Christopher Carley) to the wise cracking tongue in cheek diatribes he has with his Barber (John Carroll Lynch) it's cinematic dynamite. The younger actors are blown off the screen by Eastwood's seasoned presence, but it really doesn't matter as the main message of this film is how we live side but side on this planet with our fellow human beings. This is not a film for the easily offended political correct brigade, as it pulls no punches with a script that is peppered with racial insults but they are there for a very good reason and speak volumes about our society, in fact I found the whole experience refreshing. It's a gem of a movie .....In a word ........ Dynamite!

[Highly rated reviewer]

you dont mess with the ...eastwood

totally superb. it just wouldn,t work with anyone else.the guy can do no wrong.if this is to be his last screen performance then he goes out on a high.go see it now!

Absolute Garbage

Terrible script, poor acting, bad camera work & editing, need i go on.....??

Ok then i will, i had to turn this movie off after an hour, it is that bad, Clint, your not doing your credibility any favours staring in films like this....

Dont waste your time......

Eastwood gets better with age!

Clint Eastwood, is one of the few actors ever that personifies what being really cool is all about. Even severely wrinkly,he's STILL cool! And that has alot to do with his screen presence, plus it also helps that he is mega talented in front and behind the camera. This film for me was better than his last 'Million Dollar Baby' and that film was like Gran Torino, amazingly soulful with a strong message and alot of heart.At the core, this film is about the 'humanising' of war Veteran Walt Kowalski. Set in his ways, with incredibly judgemental views of anyone else in the world but him, Walt now lives without his wife (who died) with his dog Daisy. He is estranged from his two sons, who seem to only want his possessions/money.In so many ways he carries the war he fought in Korea with him well into the present :his views have been hardened on reality (as war is bound to do to anyone fighting in one). Worse still he discovers he has a terminal illness and his days are numbered, but he tells no one. This story was poignant to me because it takes the viewer on a very touching story of the man's last days. How he softened and changed drastically by meeting his 'gook' neighbours next door (as he called them) and how their presence in his life allowed him to make the ultimate decision that made his life count, in the most significant of ways!

It addressed many issues, one significant issue is the futility and cowardness of waving a gun about and being part of a gang, to feel respected or more like a man.As he demonstrated in the end, to show true courage a gun is not necessary. See this film, it is superb, and it hits home on so many levels since the message relates to us all ! Just wish Clint would keep going as his films just get better!

Excellent

What a refreshing film. Amidst all the political correctness of today this film is blatantly politically incorrect, with some trulyclassic lines. It's all harmess stuff, but keeps you chuckling throughout. Nice story line and great acting.

A must see.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Fantastic

I saw this last night and it is so good, OK suporting actors are not that good, but then I've heard that they are not real actors, Eastwood makes you love his character even though he is a grumpy old man! it will make you laugh, shock and even want to cry! the guy is a genius this film is superb.

go watch it!

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[Highly rated reviewer]

brilliant

Gran Torino is rumopured to be Eastwoods final film as an actor,if it is,thenm this is a hell of a way to go out. Eastwood plays walt kowalski a bitter ex korean war vet who's wife has just died. He hates everyone,even his own family and walt is especially disgusted with his spoilt grandchildren who show no respect. When a vietnemese family move next door walt is appaled as he's a racist. When Tao (the youngest son) tries to steal walts prize Gran torino car in a gang innitiaition the film shifts gear into a bonding drama with lots of humour and warmth with walt gradually bonding with Tao,his sister and their family. Local hoods who want Tao to join their gang cause mayhem in the neighboorhood..can walt lead Tao away from a life of crime and put him on a straight path?..well you'll jsut have to see this for yourselves to find out.

Eastwood has never been better and there are echoes of Dirty Harry in walt kowalski!!

touching,funny and a joy to watch!

Awful awful boring cliched film!!!

Cant believe how many good reviews this film got! Boring, predictable with Clint Eastwood as a characature! Blah blah blah old daft old man (which is used as an excuse for him being racist) spends 2 hours realising Korean people arent that bad or different to him blah blah blah. Incredibly dull