Gran Torino Review
Gran Torino
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Written by: Nick Schenk
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Ahney Her, Christopher Carley, Brian Haley, John Carroll Lynch, Brian Howe, Scott Eastwood
In his later years, Clint Eastwood has become a pretty prolific director, somehow managing to pack nine movies into the past nine years. At just shy of 80 years old, that is no small feat. He is now a man on a mission, accumulating Oscar nominations almost everywhere he goes, but never pausing to revel in these accolades lest he miss out on an opportunity to tell another great story. The thing is, with the number of movies he is churning out, there are bound to be a few misfires. Changeling, for example, wasn’t very well received (although I happened to like it quite a bit). Could it be that Clint is starting to put more stock in quantity over quality?
Gran Torino is Eastwood’s second film to be released this year, and quite possibly the last time he will step in front of the camera himself. Those who have been bored by his recent Oscar-calibre films will be pleased to note that the movie is sort of a return to his tough guy roles of yesterday (heck, there was even a rumour at one point, that Gran Torino was going to be a new Dirty Harry flick). Surprisingly, there have even been whispers of Oscar potential here as well, although personally, I don’t really see it. More than anything, Gran Torino is a rather generic thriller in the guise of a character-driven drama. It’s not exciting enough to be an action movie, but too corny to be taken seriously. Although it is entertaining on some level, the movie crosses the line to self-parody a few too many times and never expands upon its predictable premise.
Walt Kowalski is a Korean War vet who just lost his wife, and now finds himself living alone in his house somewhere in suburban Midwestern America. He’s a stubborn and misanthropic old guy who doesn’t have much of a relationship with his two grown up sons, and complains about the fact that there are a lot of Asians moving into the neighbourhood. (Yeah, he’s racist. But it’s okay because he’s old.) When some gangs in the area start harassing the teenage Hmong boy and girl who live next door, he reluctantly breaks out his shotgun and springs into action. Suddenly he’s making friends in the neighbourhood, and before long, he has taken young Thao under his wing. Unfortunately, standing up to gang violence only leads to further retaliation, and Walt soon finds that the only choice is to take a final stand against them.
Make no mistake, Gran Torino is an oddball film that doesn’t seem to fit into today’s cinematic landscape. You don’t see many movies with older main characters nowadays, and in that sense it is a breath of fresh air (with Rambo and The Wrestler also coming out this year, perhaps this is the start of a small trend). However, like the film’s protagonist and director, the movie itself feels somewhat dated, harkening back to a simpler time when good and evil were clearly defined, and The Karate Kid was a box office smash.
You can’t help but feel that the portrayal of gangs in the movie is grossly oversimplified, and it’s difficult to take most of the story seriously. If it had been intended as something more like Rambo (ie. an over-the-top piece of fodder for the sake of nostalgia and pure popcorn entertainment), I might have found it more palatable. In general, I can’t say I wasn’t entertained; there is something very satisfying about seeing Eastwood kick ass even as a racist old man. But the movie tries to make us believe that this character is real, and through all his one-liners and gruff exterior, I never quite bought it.
The slow, steady pace of the movie wants to bring us inside Walt’s head, but he’s just too much of a caricature, sitting on his porch and drinking beer all day long, and mugging for the camera when he gets angry at the people around him. For half of the film, it feels like a role that Jack Nicholson could have played; the bitter old codger who says mean things that are supposed to be funny because he’s just out of touch. Then the movie gets dark and serious, and suddenly we have to actually feel for him, which is made all that much harder because he’s been throwing around racial slurs all day.
Towards the end of the film, you do get emotionally involved with the characters, and I suppose it is to Eastwood’s credit that the film manages to pull a 180 so quickly. However, it is also manipulative. The tension in the film’s final act is palpable, but the conclusion is just too convenient and easy. As the credits roll to the tune of a hilarious song sung by Clint Eastwood himself, the whole thing kind of falls apart.
Most of the performances by the supporting cast members were a bit questionable (although Eastwood’s son Scott plays a great douchebag), and the only real appeal to this movie is seeing Harry Callahan school young hoodlums, like some kind of grey-haired superhero. For some that may be enough, but you also have to sit through plenty of clunky attempts at comedy and heavy-handed ruminations on justice, killing and prejudice in order to earn that pay off.
The movie never gets overly preachy, but it wants desperately to say something, and ultimately fails to impart any valuable wisdom on the audience aside from the obvious. Gran Torino is every bit as awkward and unbalanced as the trailer would have you believe. Powerful yet empty… not one of Eastwood’s finest moments. — Sean
SCORE: 
Recommended If You Like: Death Sentence, As Good As It Gets, Grumpy Old Men
Comments (95)
This movie sounds hilarious. That song is just over-the-top, I can’t wait to see this.
Posted by Henrik on December 23rd, 2008The “get off my lawn” line in the trailer makes me laugh out loud every time, and also that awkward POV shot of Clint staring right into the camera as he’s threatening to kill somebody, or whatever.
I’m shocked that this movie is getting any recognition at all. I bet it has more to do with Hollywood’s genereal love for Clint than the quality of the film itself. I also think it’s a way too competitive a year for him to get an Oscar nomination. There’s an outside chance, but with Rourke, Penn, Langella, Jenkins, DiCaprio, and Pitt, there’s no way he’s going to win.
Posted by Ashley on December 23rd, 2008What did you think of Eastwood’s other recent films Sean? I somehow remember you not thinking much of Million Dollar Baby either.
ANyways, GT is getting pretty good reviews, not 90% RT or anything, but good, and I’m still looking forward to seeing it because it does seem hilarious to me, and I do like Clint.
I can like Clint and his films though, and agree at the same time Hollywood has its tongue up his ass.
Posted by Goon on December 23rd, 2008My favourites are Mystic River and Changeling. Million Dollar Baby is alright, a little overrated in my opinion. Letters from Iwo Jima was decent, but kinda slow. Never saw Flags of our Fathers.
I probably would have enjoyed Gran Torino if it was meant to be a little more silly and tongue in cheek, but it just takes itself way too seriously.
Posted by Sean on December 23rd, 2008I can see that its going to take itself seriously, and if anything, thats why I find it so hilarious.
Posted by Goon on December 23rd, 2008Sadly, it’s not nearly as fun as it sounds.
Posted by Sean on December 23rd, 2008I will see this if his pants are that high in every scene.
Posted by Neil M on December 23rd, 2008Thanks for remarking on the trailer being “awkward and unbalanced” I thought the same thing when I saw the trailer. I wanting to go to the movies on xmas day and now I am going to wait to see this movie when it hits on DVD.
Posted by Jenil on December 25th, 2008Some people accuse me of liking something that “everyone” else hates, just to be different. But I loved Gran Torino. And I do know based on the advertisement blurbs that there are some critics who liked it as well. Hell, I’ll call it an instant Christmas classic, and if anyone wants to quote me, feel free to do so. I don’t know if Clint Eastwood deserves a best acting nomination because I cannot judge when someone is acting better than someone else. I do know that the movie held my attention and made me feel good at the end. I’ll concede that the script was old-fashioned.
Just to remind everyone, I am Chinese, so you would think that I would be offended by the use of the “C” word that rhymes with dink and all the other racist remarks that made Sean and Greg uneasy. The movie seems to imply that some people’s use of racist remarks is just harmless banter, and I don’t really understand why Clint Eastwood’s character was so initially racist to his Hmong neighbours unless it’s behaviour that was heldover from his years in the Korean War. It did seem kind of strange that the Hmong brother and sister didn’t take offense at the blatant racist remarks that Eastwood’s character initially made towards them although from experience, I guess I’ve ignored racist remarks myself.
Sean found the portrayal of gang members kind of stereotypical, but I thought that was fine. I guess Eastwood’s character thought it was too late to save them. Haha.
I loved the way how Eastwood’s character related better to his Hmong neighbours than to his adult sons and their families. In my mind, non-white people are generally portrayed in a better light than the white people in this movie. In light of the Eastwood / Spike Lee non-feud, it’s sort of funny though that black people come off badly.
I liked that this movie was a character-drama rather than an action movie. And yes, I love the Gran Torino theme song. (Is that really Clint singing at the beginning? He isn’t credited as a vocalist.)
Ignore what Sean says. This is a great film!
Posted by Reed Farrington on December 25th, 2008“Everyone” doesn’t hate this movie, it had good reviews overall. YOu have nothing to apologize for, Reed.
Unless I see it and agree it sucks. Then you shall pay!
Posted by Goon on December 25th, 2008Loved this movie! Had its hilarious scenes and dramatic sense. Clint pulls you in right from the beginning!
Posted by raidz torino on December 25th, 2008My wife and I just sawthis film and we both agreed it was excellent. It starts great and holds your interest throughout. Anytime you watch a movie and immediately want to see it again, shows how well it was put together.
Posted by Frank anthony on December 29th, 2008My wife and I just saw this film and we both agreed it was excellent. It starts great and holds your interest throughout. Anytime you watch a movie and immediately want to see it again, shows how well it was put together.
Posted by Frank anthony on December 29th, 2008I saw the movie. This is the most insulting movie to asians. It makes asians seem like idiots unwilling to stick up for themselves and tell Clint that he shouldn’t be saying derogatory comments about their race. They made asians seem okay with his comments. wow!
I was expecting Clint to change as he grew fond of the kid but right till the end of the movie he had derogatory nicknames for his asian teen friend.
Eastwood’s turned senile. I would never expect him to make a movie so insulting to EVERY ethnicity out there….most of the insults directed towards asians.
I can’t believe so many viewers and people in the entertainment industry don’t see this. The actors who did this movie are insulting their own race. Latins vs. asians…asians vs. latins…blacks vs. whites….whites vs blacks…..etc. etc.
A lot of asians I know are offended by this movie. It ain’t right.
Pathetic. RIP Eastwood.
Posted by noname on December 30th, 2008Stop crying over racial remarks. Those racial remarks were to portray Eastwoods tough war-fighting persona.
Posted by Davin on December 30th, 2008It was a great movie, I loved it. It was funny but more dramatic. You laugh now but you’ll probably have a sore heart or even cry when you get to the ending.
noname….
Posted by Davin on December 30th, 2008Need a tissue to wipe your tears?
The racial remarks were for something.
The race of the gangs were part of the plot.
Eastwood did grow fond of the Taio, it was rather jokes then insult.
Um, I’m sort of curious, noname. What do you do when someone makes a derogatory, racist comment to you? In the past, I’ve ignored it like the Hmong characters in Gran Torino do.
I think you and the Asians you know need to be a bit less defensive, and see beyond the surface. Anyone who makes a racist slur is insecure, and anyone who takes offense at being the target of a racist slur is insecure.
Or maybe you’re right and everyone should stop using racial slurs because people will get offended. Frankly, I think there will always be insecure people.
Actually, I’m wondering when some Hmong association will speak up and demand an apology from Mr.Eastwood, or start picketing theaters.
Posted by Reed Farrington on December 30th, 2008I saw this movie and I’m Hmong. It cracked me up. Mostly because I actually didn’t have to read the subtitles!
Hmong people should be far from offended. If anything the Hmong should be excited (I know I am)about getting cultural recognition of this magnitude. I mean, we’re talking Dirty Harry here eating Hmong eggrolls. It’s taken over 30 years to get this type of acknowledgement. Admit, how many of you even knew what Hmong was before this movie? My point exactly… I think it’s great.
My only disappointment was the Hmong actors. I know, I know, they’ve never acted before – but c’mon it was pretty bad (another reason I couldn’t stop laughing). Thank god for the script and Mr. Eastwood.
Posted by A Ha mong on December 30th, 2008Enough already with the whiny hand wringing over whether or not Eastwood’s character is a racist. So what if he is? How is that any worse than the Hispanic, Asian, and Black gangbanger/thugs in the movie? You think those kind of guys give a rat’s ass about diversity, racial harmony and inclusiveness? Grow the f*** up and give the rest of us a break from your hypersensitivity!
Posted by ize2dsky on December 31st, 2008For the record, Eastwood’s Kowalski was a bitter misanthrope who made politically incorrect comments about hillbilly Whites, Catholics, Italians, and everybody else under the sun.
There were a LOT of Asians in the theater when I saw the movie and all the ones around me were in stitches during the many intentionally funny parts of the movie. My wife(she’s Thai)loved the movie and wants to see it again. I do as well. It’s a helluva flick, no matter what the PC whiners want everybody else to believe.
This movie was made specifically for old-school Eastwood fans, who have wanted nothing else than to have him show up and smack around all the brats, thugs, and dip-shits that have irritated us our entire lives.
As soon as it was over I went on a quest to find some scathing reviews on how “offended” mindless people were by the racist slurs. If someone discriminates against -everyone-, it’s the same thing as not discriminating against anyone. It’s an impartial system of perception. Even when engaging the “spooks” guys he makes it quite clear that he finds the white dude significantly more contemptible than them– something a classic Klan member would never do.
I found the song at the end quite suiting, and sad, and somewhat nostalgic…with all of that, and the gran torino cruising down the road, it had a very nostalgic 1970s film feel to it.
The Hmong actors were terrible, but the girl was kind of cute. It often seems like they’re trying to act in a high school play, rather than a movie.
But what really sold it for me was that it takes place in Detroit, Michigan. My old home town..
“..we used to stack f*cks like you five feet high in Korea.. use you for sand bags..”
Posted by Gabriel on January 1st, 2009Well said Gabriel. I actually got a little ‘Misty’(pun intended) during the final credits because I couldn’t help thinking that I may have just watched Clint’s last film. He has hinted that it’s probably his last time in front of the camera. At his age you gotta wonder how much longer he’ll be able to continue directing as well.
The acting of most of the Hmongs did leave something to be desired, but I imagine the talent pool for trained Hmong actors can’t be that deep. I give credit to Eastwood for giving the Hmongs the opportunity to break into the business, instead of using actors of other Asian ethicities as substitutes.
“You ever come across somebody you shouldn’t have messed with? That’s me.”
Posted by ize2dsky on January 1st, 2009Walt Kowalski
Sean, your review sucks, I kinda get the feeling that you missed some of it, or were busy doing something else when you watched it.
Posted by Al on January 4th, 2009i agree with al i saw the movie it was great. and totally got the meaning and point across sean must have been trying to find his peeny and not watching the movie. Sean i hope you rub bengay on your testies and it burns like hellfire.
Posted by Pancho pants on January 5th, 2009Saw this movie over the weekend. Very un-PC but is was a breath of fresh air. We now have teenie-bopper movies, chick flicks and such but I miss the days of TV shows like “All in the Family” and “Jefferson’s” where a little racism was not looked at as something to shy away from. Great one line jokes and very suspenseful. The theme song played at the end was perfectly put in with the right scenary. I will see this again. Clint Eastwood, hand down one of the greatest actors and directors of all time.
Posted by Bill on January 6th, 2009I heard the song from this that Eastwood sings. At least out of context its maybe one of the worst things i’ve ever heard.
Posted by Goon on January 6th, 2009I’ll see this in a day or two and have lowered expectations. That said with some comments in this thread – listen, I can deal with a lot of racial stuff – ie I’m in the middle of Generation Kill and every race is ragging on each other over the top in a very hateable way all the time, and it doesnt make me want to turn it off.
But if Eastwood is really throwing slurs around and it comes across as awkward and forced, you should be able to say it was retarded without some “Derp I guess you’re a PC whiner” crap coming back in your face.
Posted by Goon on January 6th, 2009(posted here and on R3 with some filmjunk specific edits)
Gran Torino is SHIT. Absolute SHIT, easily the worst movie I’ve seen to pick up some noms here and there. I was trying to give Eastwood the benefit of the doubt and even with lowered expectations, I’m blown away by how awful the script of this movie is – saying everything in your head out loud, working the rule of three that if you keep bugging someone they will eventually let you in. The racism and shit like that doesn’t turn me off in some politically correct way – especially after just plowing through Generation Kill – it’s simply that it’s so obviously and lamely inserted.
“Okay, we have a scene where Eastwood first comes across his Hmong neighbors, what kind of thing can he say that almost nobody would say out loud, to make it clear he’s racist?”
The stuff with his son and daughter at the funeral and the garage – oh dear god it’s so over the top and lame to push the generation gap themes.
It’s heavy handed, obvious and hackish, like Linkin Park lyrics, like the use of flashbacks in “Ray”, like Dirty Harry fanfiction written by an amateur, like a Canadian TV movie. But you have Eastwood’s team making it look nicer than most movies, and the usual gang of people kissing Eastwood’s ass, and bam – awards?
I consider myself a big Eastwood fan, but I can’t make apologies for this garbage.
0/4
It’s not even ’so bad its good’ funny. Going back to the podcast and talking about Black Snake Moan as a possible defence – having seen BSM half a dozen times I can say there is no comparison even though the trailer does maybe have a hint at that. This movie sucks not because of sensitivity to the racist slurs, its simply due to one dimensional characters living through a piece of shit script.
Posted by Goon on January 8th, 2009Well I think you might be overreacting just a bit there Goonie, but I do find it interesting that most of the positive reviews I’ve been reading/hearing all praise Eastwood’s performance and then at the end just throw in a disclaimer that “Oh yeah, the dialogue was terrible and all the other actors sucked.” I mean, I didn’t absolutely hate it but this is far from Oscar-worthy material in my opinion.
Posted by Sean on January 8th, 2009I’m telling you, I watched this whole thing AFTER seeing the Growler trailer, and maybe its having some effect on me that seeing the Happening did after that SNL ‘talking to animals’ sketch… and I really can only hear how bad his growling is, and how much he sounds like Jay’s Eastwood impression.
It’s so extremely one-note to me, shit like “Lets get some of that gook food” is just embarrassing, the way the girl puts up with his crap on the truck, that everyone takes his posturing seriously. The whole thing is a joke.
Posted by Goon on January 8th, 2009“most of the positive reviews I’ve been reading/hearing all praise Eastwood’s performance and then at the end just throw in a disclaimer that “Oh yeah, the dialogue was terrible and all the other actors sucked.””
reminds me of the Transformers reviews that nitpicked the entire thing and then gave it their highest score.
Anyways I think when you have Eastwood’s acting style surrounded by nothing but shitty actors instead of great ones, he seems so much more out of place, the performance gets more stagey and bizarre, and all the little mannerisms, from the growling to the “heh heh heh” style laughing to oneself to all the looks, just seem so ridiculously awful, that the only thing for me preventing it from The Happening Wahlberg level terrible is that at least they spared us the close-ups.
Posted by Goon on January 8th, 2009Barbershop scene an hour and a half in = stupidest scene of the year.
Posted by Goon on January 8th, 2009Nicely written review/summery. I saw the film and was a little disturbed by the overall message which you you refer to as a failure to impart any valuable wisdom
Did anyone think this painted the Hmong as incapable of resolving their own issues or even cleaning their own yards. I understand the slur’s but I’m not sure the final message wasn’t that violence is the only way to solve violence. Was this really supposed to be a serious film??
I read another great review on Essentialgearguide.com
http://essentialgearguide.com/1/1344/gran-torino-clint-eastwoods-last-acting-role/
Although, I’m not sure if this is serious or mocking in parts
Posted by johnny on January 8th, 2009“Was this really supposed to be a serious film??”
I think it wanted to have its cake and eat it too – be part 80s Dirty Harryish badass movie, and part prestige film, and the end result is something I’d compare more to the Wicker Man in terms of ridiculousness than anything good. I really hope someone makes a youtube video of all the stupid shit from this movie.
Posted by Goon on January 9th, 2009I really think what Clint Eastwood’s character did at the end was the logical thing to do to resolve the dilemma. What are other people’s ideas for a better way to end the film? I suppose you could have had Clint’s character kill as many gang members as he could, but Clint’s character wanted a measure of redemption from his actions in the Korean War. Also killing just results in more killing as gang member families might seek revenge against not only Clint, but the Hmong family he wanted to protect.
johnny, for me, a movie doesn’t need to send the right moral message for me to like it. But I thought that Gran Torino was realistic. There will always be “bad” people. And there will always be “good” people who get corrupted by “bad” people. Clint’s character was just trying to make sure one “good” person didn’t get corrupted. And in the end, he did not resort to using violence. He sacrificed himself. And since he knew he was dying, it wasn’t a totally unbelievable act.
Posted by Reed Farrington on January 9th, 2009That doesn’t make it any less of a total Paul Haggis cheeseball oh-what-a-twist.
Posted by Goon on January 10th, 2009The film is easily one of the best films in a long while. It reaches deep into the heart of America and rips the lifeless and heartless soul from our bodies. The tone and language of the movie is a real as any movie in the last decade. Movies have to use stereotypes if they are fiction or make their own stereotypes. If there is not a person who can relate to this movie any form then the point of the movie is missed. The part about how men talk to each other is funny, because its true and neophytes such as the young boy struggle to relate with such talk.
Get past the color and racial lines and one could substitute any race or culture into any side of the story and easily see an old man protecting his turf with suspicion of the unknown, a young man coming of age, children and grandchildren coveting a parents/grandparents possessions but never really caring for them, wannabe hoods and bullies not used to being bullied, and a young woman subjected to verbal sexual innuendo and sexual assault.
If the lack of politically correct dialogue makes you cringe then wake up to the real world were people work and play. Racism is not words, but actions and the actions in this movie are about doing what is right as opposed to what is wrong. Eastwood’s character is about sacrifice from a man with seemingly nothing left to lose except his own perceptions. The symbolic gesture of the Silver Star holds as much value as any in the story.
Posted by Daniel Andrews on January 10th, 2009Everything you listed above was done in the most unrealistic pandering way imaginable. The shit with the daughter, good lord fuck that was such bullshit.
Posted by Goon on January 10th, 2009I keep coming back to this with snarky annoying snipes, but maybe that should be a clue that I’ve come to regard Gran Torino as my least favorite film of 2008.
Not ‘worst’ per se, because its no “Postal”, but Gran Torino has the most heavyhanded cliches and ‘twist’, the worst dialogue, the corniest sense of sentimentality.
At the same time I love Gran Torino for how horrible it is. If everyone was was to all the things I find wrong with it, I just might appreciate it like I appreciate “Showgirls” or “The Wicker Man” – the absurd ways characters relate to each other; ie how the Hmong girl has such patience for his bullshit the way Nomi’s roommate from Showgirls puts up with her retardedness, calling him a ‘good man’ out loud, having to make it obvious about what she thinks… the way the racism is worked into the dialogue is done not humorously or genuinely, but because the script is so pathetic it feels the need to remind us at every turn how grizzled and racist he is towards anyone, and make a cliched point and thus he treats everyone equally.
THere are around 7 or 8 scenes that go toe to to with Showgirls as the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen, as characters change on a dime, like the barber’s reaction to Toad’s ‘man talk’ and that whole obnoxious scene in general, the daughter’s lack of class in the garage and the fucking look on her face during the will reading, the Muppet singing at the end that makes Gonzo seem like Bob Dylan in comparison.
It’s a trashy 80s movie filtered through a prestige picture, and that just doesn’t work. I’ve been an Eastwood fan my whole life and seeing his acting here contrasted against these non-actors doesn’t make him look better, it actually makes me thing that all along he’s actually been a shitty actor whose character merely makes a good contrast against people who can actually act. He’s the worst in this movie, the absolute pits, and it’s a joke he’s even being remotely considered for a best actor oscar, and if he wins its only as a prize for his career now that he’s leaving acting.
His ‘two takes at most’ attitude is insulting to his non-actor cast and makes any scene where they are supposed to be taken seriously all the more hilariously awful – like when Toad is bashing against the screen to be let out to prevent Walt’s final mission.
The script in general is ridiculous, and mayb epartially on purpose but largely because they seem to be completely out of touch with reality – or maybe on the other hand they are completely in touch with the most cliched response mechanisms that won Best Picture for bullshit like Crash. This movie doesn’t touch on race issues or generational issues in any honest way at all, but for people who don’t know better or who want to prove they understand race issues, it appeals to some sense of how things actually are.
And I could go on and on, but I think maybe it’s clear I’m not exaggerating because I wasted my time on a bad movie, but because I feel like I’m on crazy pills as I watch person after person heap praise on this phony garbage.
Posted by Goon on January 10th, 2009“It’s a trashy 80s movie filtered through a prestige picture”
To be honest, the labeling of the film has no bearing on what I think of it. I could care less if people consider it to be a ‘prestige film’. I know I would take this over The English Patient, Life is Beautiful or any other ‘boy and his bike’ shows. But I guess if I cared about prestige films, I would find it to be grossly overrated and flawed as well.
Check out Sam Fuller’s ‘White Dog’ and you’ll see something just as heavy handed and clumsy. But it works because it’s operatic and grandiose. I like both films, regardless of the fact that one was made in 1982 and the other 2008.
Posted by Jay C. on January 10th, 2009I don’t care if something is prestige either, but in recent years Eastwood most definitely seems to care.
Posted by Goon on January 10th, 2009I thought this movie was very good. Although there will always be people who like to nitpick movies and complain about the acting, who cares? It is made for enetertainment with maybe a message to send and it clearly does the job.
If you didn’t enjoy it then your not american
Posted by RMC 27 on January 10th, 2009I agree with RMC 27 Goon.
YOU ARE NOT AMERICAN.
Posted by Jay C. on January 10th, 2009Classic.
Posted by Henrik on January 10th, 2009Amazing
Posted by Goon on January 10th, 2009None of you god damn film junk runners are american,
Posted by Drew on January 11th, 2009So far, I can count on one hand the number of Canadians who didn’t like Gran Torino: Sean, Greg, and Goon. Every Canadian review I’ve read so far has praised the movie.
A Pulse Magazine reviewer, Will Sloan, gave the movie 4 out 5 stars. He made a comment that I found interesting. Just as Unforgiven was Clint’s apology for his Man with No Name character who killed without blinking an eye, Gran Torino is his apology for his Dirty Harry character who more often than not dealt with minorities as the villains.
Many reviewers have commented on how Walt Kowalski could have easily been an older Harry Callahan. I wonder if Clint on purposely distanced Gran Torino from Dirty Harry to give the film more “prestige” as Goon would say. Or maybe he didn’t think linking the movie with Dirty Harry was necessary to generate box office? Or maybe getting the rights to use the Dirty Harry brand was more hassle than it was worth? Oh, wait. With the way Gran Torino ended, maybe they didn’t want to end the franchise, yet, even though Clint has been hinting that Gran Torino is his last acting gig.
Sean, you should have a Film Junk poll asking if our readers think Clint should have been Harry Callahan in Gran Torino. I think Warner Bros. missed the boat here, because they could have repackaged all the Dirty Harry movies with the Gran Torino DVD when it came out.
Hey, is there a Dirty Harry reboot in the works? I’m trying to think of an actor who could fill Dirty Harry’s shoes besides Clint, but no one is coming to mind. Mickey Rourke? Ha ha.
Posted by Reed Farrington on January 11th, 2009The guy from the Globe and Mail didn’t give it a particularly positive, but you can’t read it online if you’re not registered.
Here’s a quote from Rotten Tomatoes:
“By the time it jolts to an ending, followed by Clint rasping a tune to the closing credits, you’re more likely to be rolling your eyes than dabbing them.”
There were a lot of rumours initially that Gran Torino was actually going to be a new Dirty Harry film. And they did just recently repackage all the Dirty Harry movies anyway.
Posted by Sean on January 11th, 2009“Every Canadian review I’ve read so far has praised the movie.”
I dont know about the Star or the Sun, but both of Toronto’s alt weeklies trashed it. 1/5 from Eye, 2/5 from NOW:
Eye: “Supporters of Eastwood’s rep as a modern master might posit Gran Torino as an attempt to reckon with his urban-avenger persona, the way that Unforgiven deconstructed his gunslinger legacy. Except that Unforgiven didn’t play out as a camp classic: Gran Torino features a howler every five minutes, many courtesy of the young unknowns playing Walt’s charges. (Eastwood’s “just do one take” directorial philosophy tends to work better when Sean Penn is on hand.)
Those looking to play the “knowing self-parody” card should recall that there’s no recent precedent for Eastwood’s work having a sense of humour. As Sherlock Holmes would say, the simplest solution is the correct one, and the evidence onscreen is that of a debacle. ”
Now: “Gran Torino will only make your day if you have the deepest, blindest affection for Eastwood’s iconic laconic tough-guy screen persona… Eastwood obviously intends this as a eulogy for a simpler, more black-and-white (and red-white-and-blue) way of life. But the point is delivered with all the subtlety of a slug from a .44 Magnum.”
I wonder how much that ‘red white and blue’ stuff does resonate now that the “real American” card has been thrown down. Of anything I’ve trashed on say, Flixster, everyone normally leaves well enough alone. But I’m getting real emails from people’s real names over Facebook calling me a commie faggot over it – and my review wasn’t even particularly mean
I will heartily acknowledge that looking at average user reviews, there is a lot of full-on passionate love for this movie, and it just leaves me scratching my head in the same way that the (initial) love for Sarah Palin leaves me scratching my head. I don’t see what there is to even like, let alone love.
Posted by Goon on January 11th, 2009Ugh, I have no idea how that double post just happened. Sean if you could delete the first one?
Anyways, one thing I wonder about with so many user reviews being so blown away about the redemptive story, is if it has some sort of “Shawshank”-ish connection with people, or if that redemptive story for an old racist is something they want for themselves or a family member, or that they know an old racist who they know deep inside is good, that this movie is an avatar for who that person really is?
I know some old racists, and I don’t expect them to change at all. It’d be nice but it ain’t gonna happen. I’ve written that off, but maybe if I hadn’t it would have some resonance? I don’t know.
Posted by Goon on January 11th, 2009The Toronto Sun liked it:
“the movie is a heartbreaking homage to an older and apparently wiser generation. ”
Obviously something I don’t see at all, and wouldn’t agree with either.
Posted by Goon on January 11th, 2009Thank god for Goon. So glad that I wasn’t the only one that hated this movie. “Crash” is a masterpiece in understatement compared to this. Give me “Space Cowboys” any day.
Posted by Snorfle on January 11th, 2009The dialogue reminded me of my 14 year old nephew’s attempt at play writing. Sophomoric at best
Posted by John Doe on January 11th, 2009http://www.avclub.com/articles/av-talk-gran-torino,8248/
Good discussion (mp3) whether you like or loathe the movie.
Posted by Goon on January 12th, 2009This was a warm, heartfelt movie with superb acting all around, and a very original plot. I would have never expected those plot twists but they added to the movie and made it a timeless story that all should see. Also, the humor was pretty good, as the whole theater was in laughter. Overall, a 9/10 because it did move a little slow at some parts but overall, excellent and a good movie.
Posted by RMC 27 on January 12th, 2009this is a kick ass movie, not the best but it has a good meaning, clint is a bad ass in this film. showing off a little old school dirty harry is cool. I love Hmong People!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by jetlee on January 14th, 2009I love it that most of the comments are praising Gran Torino.
Goon, it seems to me that you were being reactionary in your 0 out of 5 star review of this film, especially since you admit the movie is entertaining. But I guess it’s your prerogative to be entertained by “bad” art. I think most people look at review ratings to determine whether they will be entertained or not. If you’re going to go with the “it’s so bad, it’s good” argument, then throw in some stars like most reviewers are doing. Most reviewers acknowledge the bad points, but still award the movie a decent star rating.
Posted by Reed Farrington on January 14th, 2009How did those who watched this NOT like it??? I think majority of you are completely missing the point of the movie. You go into a movie with expectations, the movie throws you off, and instead of appreciating it, you cry about it!
GET OVER IT… yes it’s racist as hell… OBVIOUSLY… so what!!! GET OVER IT.. it’s a freakin’ movie! Take it like a man and stop crying like a little girl… then you wonder where the racist remarks come from!!
Anyway, I thought it was great! I didn’t go into it w/any expectations… and even though the acting was cheesy, it “fit” the movie… from my point of view. If it there would’ve been professional actors, it would’ve killed the mood of the movie- the spotlight couldnt’ve been taken away from Clint- he’s the man, he owned the movie! everyone else was basically an extra to help build his character…
I give it a 9 out of 10.
Posted by J on January 14th, 20092 stars?? That’s ridiculous. I’m never coming back to this site to read another review! The movie was great!!
Posted by Esteban Diaz on January 14th, 2009I’m puzzled by your comment about the theme song being “hilarious”. I think it’s beautiful, subtle, and moving. You sound really cynical.
Posted by george on January 15th, 2009Sean, obviously you don’t know squat about movies or rather just have no taste. This was one of the best movies I’ve ever seen Clint Eastwood in. Actually for me, it was my favorite and has landed a spot with my all time favorite movies. I know several people who have seen this movie more than once and I plan to see it for the second time myself this weekend! It made me laugh and it made me cry. The storyline was great…it’s a story of the heart, one of friendship, justice and atonement. I’m buying this movie as soon as it comes out and I have told everybody they need to go see it! =) I think the numbers at the box office outweigh crummy “movie reviews”. GRAN TORINO GETS 5 stars!
Posted by LovedtheMovie on January 15th, 2009Esteban Diaz, will you still come back to read my comments?
Or were you being hyperbolical? If you happen to find a site with all of the reviews matching your opinions, let me know.
george, Sean isn’t that cynical. In fact, Jay and I are more cynical than Sean, I think, and both Jay and I loved Gran Torino. I think cynical people like to hear old people who can’t carry a tune. Eastwood only sings a bar or two, right? For the record (or MP3, as may be the case), I too enjoy the theme song. Imagine if Clint had used a hip-hop song instead!
Posted by Reed Farrington on January 15th, 2009Anyone who has ever heard Gonzo the Great sing “I’m going to go back there someday” and then hear Clint singing is going to agree he sounds like a Muppet.
“GET OVER IT” isnt a point, especially since i wasnt complaining about the racism, its about how awful the performance, the dialgue and the reaction to it by the actors are.
“If you’re going to go with the “it’s so bad, it’s good” argument, then throw in some stars like most reviewers are doing.”
Think of it like Jeapordy, if you answer more questions wrong than you get right, especially the important ones, you are going to end up in the minus column. The biggest things in GT are all wrong and I’d only give it points for the fact that it is shot and presented well. It’s absolutley shitty content in a nice box, and I can’t bring myself to give it any reward for the box.
Posted by Goon on January 15th, 2009And by the way Reed, feel free all you want to gloat about being in the majority, but when people are deciding Sean has ‘no taste’ and that they’ll never visit the site again because they didn’t agree with him, at least respect the dissenters who will argue their points at length.
It’s shaking out pretty obviously now that this is actually the most divisive movie of the year, and it seems some people want to treat it like a political debate where if they call the other person an idiot loud enough, they win, rather than actually push the other person away from giving it another chance. hear that J? “Get over it”.
Posted by Goon on January 15th, 2009I didn’t find the song at the end particularily funny either. Maybe if you’re the type of person who laughs at Tom Waits? (Not that Clint is anywhere near Tom Waits)
Posted by Jay C. on January 15th, 2009Jesus, over 60 comments?
the song was awesome, and not in an ironic funny way. off topic, if you liked that, you should look up the pre-Dollars films album that Eastwood recorded; a couple of clips are on youtube. Now that actually is comedy gold!
This movie for me was a mixed bag. I’d have to agree with the heavy-handedness of the dialogue. I didn’t have a problem with some of the amateurish acting of the Hmong kids; it felt right. and i have a huge crush on the girl! On the other hand, the hammy dialogue handed to Clint’s sons in the movie was hard to watch. All of the scenes where Clint was in control were spectacular though. The story was really compelling, the ending was one of the best of the year.
And Reed, you’re spot on with that bit about the racism being portrayed as some people’s harmless banter. It was about the leftover scars and insecurities of his character. Hey wait, “ching chong” doesn’t rhyme with dink? Oh well.
It was a mixed bag in the end, because some of the hammy stuff did bring the rest down. I’m interested that Jay compares it to White Dog, a movie I’ve been dying to see for a while. Gotta check that shit out.
Posted by Joel on January 15th, 2009Tom Waits doesn’t sing sensitive songs about a car that starts off “So Tenderly” after spending 2 hours calling everyone a gook, spook, or zipperhead.
For the record, I have a shitload of Waits albums, and never thought he was funny, but I laughed at this song when it was on the FJ podcast well before I even saw this movie.
Posted by Goon on January 15th, 2009Yeah Waits and Clint are both growling, so what? There’s a lot more subtlety and a different musical style. Just because Waits growls doesn’t excuse every other singer who tries to pull off the same also succeeds, and isn’t funny.
Anyways, even though i find the song ridiculous, its down the list as far as the major complaints i have with the movie. There’s shitloads of singers I like, from Billy Corgan to death metal singers, who sound ridiculous to a lot of people. But for me this particular case was just weird, and hearing it the second time after watching the movie added another level of absurdity to it.
Posted by Goon on January 15th, 2009People who have a lot of integrity who you don’t usually hear singing will also many times inherently seem funnier when they are singing.
Alan Rickman singing in Sweeney Todd was funny too, his “ba ba ba”’s got me giggling, but in that movie there is enough camp and weirdness inherent to it that it doesnt bug me. And then there’s this othe rsong he did, which is just crazy:
Posted by Goon on January 15th, 2009http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=bQtbK9flu2c
Hey Joel,
Just be aware that my comparison to Whit Dog is simply in terms of the heavy handed ways it deals with racism. And to clarify, I don’t mean that in a negative way. I loved every minute of White Dog. Gran Torino is definitely much more conventional and not really as good. (Did like it though)
Posted by Jay C. on January 15th, 2009Just saw the movie tonight and was extremely let down. Acting was par at best, there was no character development and it seemed as though the film jumped around on more than one occassion. When the movie asked you to feel upset or happy (or any type of emotion for that matter) it was difficult to be involved or relate to the characters because you never really feel connected. Don’t get me wrong, I love Clint Eastwood, but I think Gran Torino was a swing and a big miss!
Posted by Dano on January 15th, 2009Content, plot and everything aside, I just want to point out that yes some people will take this negatively while the others will take it positively, but the subject of racism is funny in that the group not attacked often dismisses the other groups of being overly serious. Substitute the groups in this movie, I guarantee that these same commentators would have very different perspectives, so for example, if the group attached was black, there’d probably be nation-wide protests against this racial/racist undertones, if the group attacked in the movie was caucasian and the ‘hero’ was black, caucasians would most likely dismiss it as another cheap shot against them. When it comes to smearing, dehumanizing or degrading asians, no one complains because the majority doesn’t care and anyone who complains is seens as making a big issue out of a trivial one. It’s always been like this, I recall those 2 famous movie critics some years back and when they reviewed a movie involving blacks ridiculing whites in every way imaginable, they didn’t like it, saying it was another typical treatment of whites by a group of blacks, funny how it hasn’t changed yet. All in all, as I mentioned above, if the ‘hero’ was of a different ethnic background, I’m willing to be decisively that all of these previously written comments would change completely in the opposite direction, don’t say it’s not true. It’s been proven how identity issues play out, just revisit the o. j. simpson case, yup, no doubt that whites and blacks held completely opposite views and both groups were angered as the long trial dragged on and of course with the final verdict, both groups’ opinions differed as to whether they saw o. j. as innocent or guilty. Here in the movie grand torino, same principle, the group attacked is asian, therfore, it’s a non-issue because most americans don’t fall into the category, so it’s either a good or bad movie according to the plot, acting, etc., the race issue is unimportant as evident in these postings because most don’t care because clint in the movie attacks a group most of us don’t belong to, this is just typical treatment. Final analogy, when obama was running the presidential campaign, a few racist groups/individuals opposed this, subsequently many blacks were disappointed and angered over this primitive hatred not yet resolved, I guess all the racial/racist stuff during this most recent campaign was just trivial, any wonder this country continues to fall behind others? We attack people when we’re attacked, but when others are attacked who are of another origin/background, we turn a blind eye and say, ‘hey it’s only a movie’. nuff said.
Posted by mp on January 16th, 2009this movie made me turn the person sitting next to me and ask her earnestly if i were dreaming.
this movie is like if your mom left the room for a second and your granny flashed her boobies at you while she was gone: you just can’t wrap your head ahead the experience. did it really happen? how? why? it couldn’t have. could it?
the scene where he refers to “yum-yum’s” brothers as “click-clack”, “ding-dong” and “charlie chan” gave rise to an order of laughter that i was neither able to control or conclude, to this very day. i continue to laugh and wonder if it will ever, ever stop.
Posted by Chris Hannah on January 18th, 2009possibly the worst movie of the year!
http://theworldsombudsman.blogspot.com/2009/01/cinema-ombudsman-gran-torino-pink.html
Posted by JM on January 20th, 2009I hardly know where to begin in response to the complaints against this movie… Firstly let me state that I am a rather liberal “hippie” sort of individual with a love-all, world peace, and unity sort of mentality, but political correctness makes me sick more often then not.
To the complaints about the Thao and his sister just “taking” the insults to their race, what the hell did you expect her to do? What would you expect a person in that sort of situation to do? Enter into open combat with his racist ways? Try and change him in one conversation? “Give up” on him as a person and let him be just another old racist white man? Get bent. For starters he saved her brother from being taken by her cousin and his gang members and then he saved her from a possible molestation or rape. She showed him kindness and humanity to get through, because a full on argument wouldn’t have changed a damn thing. They put up with his racial comments and slurs because they become friendly/playful insults. They recognized he wasn’t intending any real harm, and even fired back in their own ways. When she called him a good man, it wasn’t for the audience to understand (because no one is so stupid as to think she and Thao believe otherwise about the man at that point) but it’s for Walt because she knows he doubts himself.
As for him being so racist and his relationship with his family… First of all he reminded me a LOT of my great grandfather who fought in WWII around Japan and ended up getting shot twice across the neck. He doesn’t like “japs” or “gooks” because, well, he was shot by them and fought to the death with them when he was a young man. Duh. I don’t think it’s RIGHT, but I do think it is a reasonable, well, reason for someone to have a racist edge. Anyway, his relationship with his family and his selfish disrespectful grand daughter reminded me very much of my great grandfather’s relationship with some of my cousins and aunts and uncle. It’s actually a pretty realistic portrayal of the relationship between the generations within families.
Moving on to the film overall, I think it was wonderful. I don’t see how it’s any more “cheesy” or heavy handed than most other films these days, and was a hell of a lot more realistic. On the contrary, I think it was perfectly substantial and touching. It wasn’t about making him not racist so much as it was about him getting in touch with a more human side of himself.
Posted by Kyle on January 20th, 2009Well,
I really liked this this movie. I’m 55 and it totally reminded me of my racist father, a WWII vet. He may have seen like a caricature to you Sean but it was my father. He drank until he died and wouldn’t give an inch. Not that that’s a good thing but it was my dad. One incident I will remember forever (I was around 9 yrs old)is when 3 adolescent girls knocked on our door around 10PM and said that they were afraid. Some guys were following them in a car and the wanted my dad to act like they were his daughters. He said, “Well, I’m not your dad but I have a 300 Winchester mag and lets see what they want. He put the rifle by the door and stood outside daring anyone to come up. They never did, the girls thanked him and left a half hour later. The movie got me a little misty, I have to say.
Henry Ortiz
Posted by Hank Ortiz on January 21st, 2009I don’t know what you are talking about im only 21 years of age and i was never a giant fan of Clint Eastwood and this movie wasn’t even my first pick to go see i wanted to see the curious case of benjamin button but it was out of theaters around me so i went and saw Gran Torino with my 18 year old girlfriend and we both agreed that it was one of the best movies we have ever seen.Everybody in the theater left with the silence that they did when i went and saw the passion of the christ.This should be the one that wins it for Clint.
BEST MOVIE IN YEARS AND I HOPE THIS IS EASTWOODS LAST CAUSE THIS IS THE ONE I WOULD WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR!
Posted by Colin on January 21st, 2009AMAZING!
Plus i did the get off my lawn thing to the paperboy now he throws the paper on the driveway.So that to was pretty priceless to me!
Posted by Colin on January 21st, 2009Seems to be a very polarizing film. Hard to find anyone lukewarm. People who hate it want it to be something it’s not, instead of just accepting what it is. They just can’t relate. In my simple mind i thought Eastwood’s performance was excellent, even if the film itself was average. But then again, I’m not as pseudo-intellectual as some out there. Oh, well.
Posted by Jmann on January 21st, 2009Just saw the movie, and I probably will see it again. It is not an action movie, and definitely not Dirty Harry. However, this movie IS CHARACTER DRIVEN. There have been others of this type that have been much worse and gotten better reviews. It has a message, and everyone in the theater that I was in enjoyed it. If you can’t see the message in this flick, go find some Rambo flick to tickle your excitement. It fits the venue it was meant to. If you can’t see that- you’re the loser.
Posted by CaseyS on January 24th, 2009I think this movie was fantastic! The plot was believable and the acting was great all around! If you didn’t understand it, you missed out… I am glad we have the right to free speech, I am proud of our military and thank God for people who stand up for injustice. I believe that this movie will be understood better by the older generation vs. the younger as most young folks will see Clint as a crakey old man and not see the tranformation and the soft heart. You have to soul search on this movie and it’s more then just entertainment. It is life!! This movie was AMAZING! I hope it wins TONS of awards!!
Posted by Korry on January 26th, 2009I think there have been more comments for this movie than against, discounting the multiple entries from Goon.
Who knew that I had a mainstream sensibility?
Posted by Reed Farrington on January 27th, 2009This is a reply to Korry’s post 2 back.
Posted by Colin on January 28th, 2009I am 21 and when i went to see the movie it was far from a packed house there was a group of six people younger than me in the theater i would say from 16-18, my 18 year old girlfriend, and an older couple i would say in there mid to late 70’s and everyone there loved it.there were only 10 people in the theater and 8 of them were 21 or younger and i heard them all talking and everyone loved it.Old or young i think if you have sense you will understand this movie and know Clint Eastwood was snubbed from an Oscar nomination.
While focusing on Walt’s bigotry it seems some of the reviewers missed several of the broader and more interesting themes in the movie.
It is given, in the beginning of the movie, that Walt is a bitter man. He lost his wife, has no connection with his children, his old familiar neighbor is a wreck—in essence, the world as he knew it is gone. Not only is the neighborhood falling apart, he is too, as are his peers who peek out from their own windows to witness the degradation.
It is also given that he is haunted by his Korean war experience. As one reviewer observed, he has a seemingly justifiable reaction to the Asians as his neighbors. That he fails to realize that his bigotry is misplaced, unfounded and wrong is his flaw. One of many.
Balancing his bigotry is the bigotry of Thao’s grandmother, who sits on her porch, cursing her fate, and Walt, every bit as blindly and as vehemently as Walt himself does.
It does not take Walt very long to see that Thao and Sue are worth knowing. While Sue makes the effort, by inviting him to her family’s barbecue, Walt is quick to accept the invitation.
And, it does not take long before Walt’s racial slurs, awful as they may be, become terms of affection, however inappropriate. Just as he calls his barber, and his construction supervisor friend by equally appalling names, so he speaks to Thao and Sue. Walt is incapable of gentler words, it isn’t in him. It is, in effect, the only way for him to express affection. But his actions prove him to be a good man. As he takes Thao under his care, teaching him the skills he sorely lacks, Walt reveals his better nature.
In the process they help each other. They each gain. Thao and Sue get the protection of a father figure, Walt gets a family. The slurs are a reflex. His real bigotry and hatred is reserved not for ethnicity, but idiocy. He truly rails against the white boy who escorts Sue into the wrong neighborhood—for his idiocy. He truly despises the gang-bangers because, in essence, they are idiots, and dangerous at that. That they are Asian is irrelevant. Had they been white skin-heads his reaction would have the same or worse.
The anger Walt carries is unbalanced. Thao and Sue give him balance.
The theme of the church in the movie is a device. It allows the viewer to see several sides of Walt, first as a bitter man with no need of anyone, family or church. Later, as the movie progresses, Walt comes to see Father Carley for what he is, a caring but immature man. And, Father Carley comes to see that Walt has the strength of character to do what he, Father Carley, cannot do. They come to respect each other for their respective strengths. The theme is carried through to the end with Walt’s redemption, and Father Carely’s acknowledgment, confession, that he, Father Carley, had something to learn from Walt’s strength of character.
The film has a fatal flaw. While it is true that Walt protects Thao and Sue, and becomes a better man in the process, his pent-up rage causes him to react in the wrong way, which leads to something truly unsettling. He warns off the gang with violence, by beating and threatening one of the gang members. That was a mistake on his part. The revenge which the gang extracts, which could have been predicted, leads directly to Sue’s rape.
Whatever themes the movie presents, none are as powerful, and lost in the telling, as Sue’s rape. Thao’s ultimate coming-of-age wisdom gained through Walt’s guidance, is nothing compared to the pain which Sue endures, and it is glib of the film’s writers to offer such a tidy and saccharine ending. Walt’s ritualistic cleansing and self-sacrifice, replete with body-on-the-cross death, fails utterly to speak to Sue’s pain. While Walt will ascend to a heavenly reward (for his sins, as confessed to Father Carley, were trivial), Sue will carry the horror of her experience for the rest of her life. The writers do not see this, and it is a blatant failing, and it nullifies the feel-good ending.
In Million Dollar Baby, which is more or less the same movie, Eastwood’s character must do the unthinkable, commit a mortal sin by offering Hillary Swank’s character release. In doing so he is condemned. In Gran Torino there is no such recognition of Sue being condemned to her memories. In an otherwise moving film, it is unacceptable.
What Gran Torino does offer is a story of redemption. That a man of Walt’s flawed nature can embrace the very thing which he abhors makes the film of some value. His embracing of Thao and Sue is touching, and the process is funny and sad.
Something which goes by very quickly in the movie is the misunderstanding Walt has for the Hmong’s place of history. He sees them as he sees the Koreans he battled: as the enemy. In fact, as Sue points out while riding with Walt in his truck, the Hmong were allies of the United States and the South Vietnamese against the North Vietnamese during the Viet Nam war; who, as a people, sacrificed a great deal, including their homeland; for after the war, and the Communist victory, the Hmong were cruelly treated, that is to say either killed or displaced, for their association with the Americans and the South Vietnamese. That the film’s writers acknowledge this is important.
Another theme the film suggests is race on race bigotry. That the Hmong gang preys on their own is, in Walt’s mind, beyond the pale. For those viewers who see only Walt’s bigotry, they should also see the bigotry which lies within all cultures.
Gran Torino is a small film, and it is flawed. Still, on many levels it is a touching and meaningful movie, and worth seeing. It is a gift for most viewers to get a glimpse two marginal worlds: Walt’s crumbing America, and the Hmong culture as it is integrated into the American fabric.
Ultimately I am haunted by Sue’s rape. I am glad it is only a movie.
Posted by Hanque on February 5th, 2009Gran Torino is GENIUS.
Fine, fabulous film.
Posted by G-Nap on February 7th, 2009Goon, you are still goon of all goons. Gran Torino was a well written movie, and you must have been asleep or blowing your boyfriend not to like this movie
Posted by jerry on February 11th, 2009Way to defend the movie with a gay joke. you really learned a lot.
For the record, if the movie weren’t so hilarious in how bad it is, I would recommend people sleep or blow their boyfriends instead.
Posted by Goon on February 11th, 2009How is blowing your boyfriend a joke or an insult? If he was your boyfriend, I’d imagine that’s what you wanted to be doing.
Posted by Henrik on February 12th, 2009The commentary here is pretty balanced between positive and negative reviews, except the same three people seem to be posting all the negative reviews. Why continue shooting the same a dead horse?
All of the really thoughtful and insightful reviews of this film are positive, while the negative reviews seem to possess that awkward laughter that comes out when you don’t really understand why a joke was funny, even though the joke seems obvious enough.
To the baffled haters of this movie; surely the fact that just about everyone -loves- it has to give you pause, that maybe there’s an element or a dynamic to it that happens to be lost on you.
I found this film to be an unparalleled display of integrity, on Walt’s part. He isn’t bitter because he’s weak and weathered, he’s bitter because -everything and everyone else is-. He gives voice to men with standards, who are too polite or apathetic to go on the constant offensive. I think it may be a lack of integrity or self respect that cause people to wonder what’s so great about this film…because if you’ve never felt like you were the only sane person in a room full of idiots, with 100% conviction, you’re really not going to understand his motives.
SHUT UP PUSSY! This film is for people with balls.
Posted by Gabriel on February 12th, 2009…felt like you were the only sane person in a room full of idiots…
Oh, Gabriel, you’ve just explained why I probably like Gran Torino so much. But I get the nagging feeling that everyone else thinks they’re sane and they think I’m the idiot in the room.
Seriously, I don’t think the positive reviews are any more justified than the negative reviews. To have a positive opinion about Gran Torino doesn’t make your opinion about something else more valid even though the majority may be on the positive side.
Posted by Reed Farrington on February 12th, 2009I was randomly going on different sites…bored to death and what I’m going to say is not a review at all.
One I have not seen the movie being meantion, but too the effort to read most of the comments before it too boring, so who ever wrote the first half of the comments on this page, I read yours.
So I didn’t watch it, but I did watch some clips/scene on youtube and I agree Hmong people are horrible actors. So yeah I’m hmong. I don’t ever plan to see this movie.
Not only is there acting horrible, but most of the races were sterotyped/archtyped through out the movie. Blacks being the gangesters that walk on the streets and group over innocent victims, the gangster Latinos, asians and how they willing except people so easily or someother crud…again I only saw clips of the movie.
But I heard something funny from some person who watched the movie…how at the end the gangester got these huge machine guns…hahahaha man that was funny…hmong people don’t have enough connection to get those type of weapons LOL I am so dissing my own people.
And about the Asians who are offended by the movie…*shrugs*…I don’t really care, since it’s just a movie based off a book by some guy, causcasion guy. It’s not like it’s real…I wished that during the selecting process they picked people who knew how to act…but it’s not like I watched it.
Posted by nothingatall on March 4th, 2009“Not only is there acting horrible…”
Boo hoo, at least they used actual Hmong people; you know how many times they try to get people to speak Korean or Vietnamese in war movies and them actually speaking Chinese because they couldn’t find any or were too lazy to find the actors because other races can’t tell the difference?
“blah blah blah races were sterotyped blah blah”
Hate to break it to you buddy but yeah, some of those stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason. I like how you mention all the minority stereotypes but miss the stereotype where white people just throw their elders in retirement homes, but wait, you’re only mentioning minority stereotypes cause you like to manipulate information to make your point across. You must be a fan of John Stewart. To bring another stereotype in, I thought Asians were supposed to be smart; too bad you can’t spell or use a spellchecker.
“gangester got these huge machine guns….hahahahha [...] hmong people don’t have enough connection to get those type of weapons”
Wow, I never knew an Uzi was a huge machine gun, being that it is actually a submachine gun, slightly larger than a pistol and fires pistol rounds. Let alone, all of the other gangsters had handguns. And wow, aren’t you stereotyping your own race by saying that? Quite contradictory to your claim that the movie was stereotypical which is a negative. Hate to break it to you again, but money is the only “connection” that you need to get anything in this world.
“again I only saw clips of the movie.”
Posted by Vinner on March 14th, 2009Wow, your review means a lot. Thank you for contributing your vast knowledge and experience.
awesomw movie
Posted by josh on May 10th, 2009My opinions about this film have already been made – in most of Goon’s postings. Unbelievably crap. Bad acting, bad script, cliched… I rarely quit on a movie before the end, no matter how bad, but this made my skin itch, I had to turn it off. Tonight I will attempt to watch the rest of it just to be even more sure of how shit it really is. Poor poor poor. Watch it out of curiousity – you really won’t believe what you witness and that some people actually find this kind of mediocre shit entertaining.
Yak.
Posted by bird on May 27th, 2009Gran Torino follows in the footsteps of Million Dollar Baby – more sentimental claptrap for over-the-hill macho men who like the idea of being heroes. When will these guys get over themselves?
Posted by carol on June 5th, 2009GOON! I know this post is old, but I JUST saw Gran Torino, and I would like to personally thank you for review #38 above. You totally hit the nail on the head, I’ve been fighting tooth-and-nail with close loved ones who swear this movie is brilliant, and I couldn’t eloquently express my supreme dissatisfaction with this abysmal turd, not nearly as well as you have. So thank you. My fianceé and I literally cheered as I finished your last remarks. Relief. Again, thank you. @erichmetz
Posted by Erich on August 28th, 2009Leave a Reply