Gran Torino

For his grand finale, Clint chose one of his best ever stories. The decrepit and permanently pissed Wall-E Kowalsky is also one of his most original characters. He deals out snappy lines and threats with style, beats Koreans in the face while even having time to mentor another (this time good) Korean. Eastwood planned everything carefully and his Gran Torino has a lot to say and manages at the same time to be entertaining to watch, sometimes making you laugh out loud and sometimes (mostly at the end) shed a tear. A picture that I would happily watch again anytime. (02/21/2009)

Another leisurely trip to the afflictions of old age and the desires of youth, and after Million Dollar Baby, another demonstration of Clint Eastwood's mastery. To obtain several excellent refutations of clichés, even while showing himself as the hero of the year, Clint once again defies cinematography according to his own principles. 90% and an unstoppable finish afterward. (03/03/2009)

Gran Torino is practically flawless on its own terms. Sure, it’s predictable, but that’s entirely beside the point. Any attempt at subversion would only undermine its core message. The film is like a piece of timeless wisdom we all know but often forget. What makes it powerful is its delivery — straightforward, unapologetic, and real. It feels like having a conversation with an old, wise neighbor over a few cold beers in his backyard. (03/22/2020)

Clint's Farewell, or Empties by the American badass. The film has a tendency to slide into cliché and calculation, but the character of a grumpy old man who finds redemption (?) in his old age has the kind of gradation that will make you swallow the two hours of mentoring and lamenting the good old days to the max. Objectively, there are many things that could be criticized about it, but subjectively, it affected me so much that I don't want to have any reservations regarding it. (05/15/2009)

“Dirty Harry" with one foot in the grave looks back on his live and ponders over questions of life and death. Clint approached this rather tired topic with great verve, and with transcends it and has a feeling of quality about it that only he has the knowhow to imprint into his movies. He follows the simple maxim “what you don’t do yourself isn’t yours". He played his best role for many years, shot his best role for many years, produced his best role for many years and partly wrote and sang his best song for many years. Shame that he didn’t shoot his best movie for many years. But still, it’s a great movie. And that’s what’s most important, isn’t it? P.S.: I couldn’t name another movie where a simple background song for the credits would make such an impact. It’s by far the best song in the whole movie. It says exactly the same, but needs just a couple of minutes to say it. (12/14/2008)