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Movie Review : Grand Torino
- Author: Izarrudin
- Category: Movies
- 3,252 page views
Mar 30,2009
Impressively directed, emotionally engaging drama with a strong script and a terrific performance from Clint Eastwood.
Clint Eastwood directs and stars as Walt Kowalski, a grizzled Korean War veteran who has just lost his wife and is furious when his family tentatively suggest he might want to move into a retirement home. Fiercely proud, Walt doesn’t want to move, despite the fact that he’s one of the few white people left in his multi-ethnic Michigan neighbourhood.
However, when Walt catches the teenage son (Bee Vang as Thao) of the Hmong family next door trying to steal his mint condition 1972 Gran Torino car as part of a gang initiation rite, he reluctantly decides to take Thao under his wing, much to the delight of Thao’s older sister, Sue (Ahney Her). However, the gang don’t take kindly to Walt’s intervention and soon target Walt, Thao and Sue for revenge.
Walt Kowalski is Eastwood’s best role in years and he seizes it with both hands, delivering a terrific performance that will stay with you long after the credits roll. It remains to be seen if his growled delivery of “Get off my lawn” will reach the catchphrase heights of “Do ya feel lucky?”, but it certainly deserves a shot.
As a director, Eastwood also coaches two great performances from unknowns Bee Vang and particularly Ahney Her, who brings enormous warmth to the film as Sue. In addition, he paints a believable portrait of a multi-ethnic neighbourhood, expertly capturing the simmering tensions between the different groups.
Eastwood’s main strength, both as actor and director, is in ensuring that Walt remains a likeable and sympathetic character, despite his entrenched racism (although he continues using racist language, long past the point where someone would have pulled him up on it). Similarly, Nick Shenk’s excellent script manages to be suspenseful, shocking, emotionally engaging, thought-provoking and frequently laugh-out-loud funny throughout.
In short, Gran Torino is a superbly made, brilliantly written and ultimately moving drama that’s worth seeing for Eastwood’s performance alone. Highly recommended.
credits: ViewLondon | Yahoo! Movies Singapore
Official Movie Poster |
Singapore Date: 26th March 2009 Language: English Running Time: 117 mins Rating: NC16 Genre: Action Starring: Geraldine Hughes, Clint Eastwood, John Carroll Lynch, Ian McShane, Cory Hardrict Directed by: Clint Eastwood Company: Matten Productions Singapore Distributor: Golden Village Pictures iZone Rating: 9/10 |
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I have seen this movie multiple times (something I never do) and each time I see it I like it more and more. I find more small and even subtle layers in it – like when Walt is supervising “Toad’s” work on the house across the street and says to the Hmong owner “you said it brother” – a sign of accepting the change in his neighborhood. Or when he comes around with all the neighbor ladies bringing flowers and food. I love how Sue and Toad are better to him then his own grandchildren who just want to ignore him. Sue and Thao become more like his family than his family – and he repays them with his time, his friendship, his protection and finally his life. This is really a serious movie with a great understanding of people and how people can change when people care about them.
This was a great movie and shows great moral values from Toad’s family on how they honor and respect there parents and people something that Walt’s family never did this is why Walt well one of the reason’s why he left his car to Toad I thought it was a very touching movie the family imagrents Toads family are very honorable people I think that’s what’s missing in american fmamilies now adays or any family.
I generally like Clint’s movies but not really high on them, just decent entertainment. However, this one was exceptional. Yes, some mediocre acting but the content was funny, heart warming, serious and sad. The ending was fantastic! However, I’m biased
For those that can’t believe a minority can like a grizzly old guy like this, believe. I am Chinese, grew up in Boston and hung out at the Boston University watering hole called the Dugout. I made friends there and was invited to a card game. This is where “Poor Old Kennedy” and I first met. Our mutual friends stood close by ready to break up the fight we were about to have. Kennedy also fought in Korea as my dad for the US Army. Once we got past the yelling and screaming and started to listen to each other, things went well. Long story short is that Kennedy became my of best, oldest drinking buddy friend. You’d be surprised how “grizzly” is probably the most honest, true to yourself kind of person.
For me Clint hit it out of the park!! If you can just believe a little, you will love this movie!
WOW~ Clint really based this story well! Born in Southfield, Michigan 1968… I was raised around Detroit for the first few decades. Every bit of this movie rang memories of things I heard, saw, and lived. A good point to this film I would worry about people missing, is that friendship, honor, and trust can breach racial boundaries, without intent. Detroit, home to many of us grew into, yes, a multi-racial conglomeration of sub-worlds… in other words… no matter our ethnicity, we had our space, and tried to stay in it. (eventually, moving about two hours out of Detroit) I believe that through the 80′s till now, the ethnic issues have calmed to their quietest… hopefully everyone that views this movie, takes the friendship and sacrifice to heart… rather than dwell on a few slurs that are very prominently spoken. I am white, and thought the movie was funny, and truthful, however, I am not too sure I would be happy with it if I were black, of color, negro, (which most of us have no idea what word is acceptable today, because I have seen that change overnight.) I really think the movie could have used a few seconds more to enhance a wider spectrum of satisfaction throughout the community around “Walt”.
I think everyone in the Detroit community should be given a copy of this film… Kind of in a way to say “thanks” for pointing out what baby boomers have tried to bury! Love you Detroit!