Directed by:
Clint EastwoodScreenplay:
Nick SchenkCinematography:
Tom SternCast:
Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley, Bee Vang, Ahney Her, Brian Haley, Geraldine Hughes, Dreama Walker, Brian Howe, John Carroll Lynch, William Hill (more)VOD (5)
Plots(1)
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. (official distributor synopsis)
Videos (4)
Reviews (16)
While in Million Dollar Baby, Clint Eastwood never left the boxing ring, here he never leaves his own front porch. Gran Torino is even more intimate than his recent boxing opus and delivers an even harder knockout blow to the audience. Eastwood portrays one of his most interesting characters in an incredibly smoothly flowing movie – the easy-to-follow setting of the simple story emphasizes the seamless continuity of individual scenes composing an intriguing character study of Eastwood’s Kowalski. Everything in this movie has its place and meaning, including a brief lawn-mowing shot. Not to mention the song in the end credits...
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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.
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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.
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“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.
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After several times, it really doesn't work anymore. Eastwood dusts off his proven plot concept, which remains completely identical with minor modifications. Only this time, instead of an emancipated boxer, he threw in an old good-hearted grump. The melancholic music, minimalist direction, and emotionally packed moments are there, including the interesting finale. I didn’t pay much attention to the several storylines running alongside the main plot. Eastwood is capable, but instead of taking turns in an effective loop he knows what to do, he just drives straight ahead like a heavyweight truck. Some people are pulled along with him, some manage to avoid him, but having three attempts to escape is a somewhat bigger luxury than would be appropriate.
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