Product ReviewsGran Torino (DVD, 2009, Widescreen)

GRAN TORINO

Cynical Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski played by Clint Eastwood
(Million Dollar Baby, Blood Work, Outlaw Josey Wales, Unforgiven, etc)
must confront his Hmong immigrant neighbors- and his own long-
held prejudices-when the family's tennage son, Thao (Bee Vang),
tries to steal Walt's beloved 1972 Gran Torino. Walt soon assumes
the unlikely role of guardian angel to young Thao and his sister
Sue (Ahney Her), both of whom are vulnerable to local gang influences.
The movie is also directed by Eastwood who has done his best work
recently as director in such movies as CHANGELING, LETTERS FROM IWO
JIMA, FLAGS of OUR FATHERS, MYSTIC RIVER, etc. and here he does
another excellent job of acting/directing. While not having quite
as much action as many of Eastwoods movies-it does have a bit of a
surprise ending that many will want to go another way. Overall, this
is a very good movie that will give most Drama movie lovers a good
night of entertainment and that devotees of Clint Eastwood s movies
will find to be a mandatory purchase. Good movie overall.Read full review...

Dirty Harry becomes Mild Milt!

The TV previews for this film would have you believe that Dirty Harry was back, trading his badge for a Social Security card; such is not the case. This is the story of Walt Kowalski, a retired auto worker, Korean War vet going through changes in his life; the death of his wife, illness, declining neighborhood with an influx of Asian immigrants, alienation with his family, and fiercely maintaining his independence. His only anchors are his home and a 1972 Ford Gran Torino he helped assemble at an auto plant 50 years ago, and has pride in keeping in immaculate condition. But life has changes in store for Walt's self-imposed isolation. Yes, there is profanity, firearms, and violence, but in the context of powerful drama. The ending is a surprise, but not totally unexpected. This is masterful, new-era Eastwood, but Dirty Harry fans will be better served by the new, Blu-Ray Ultimate Dirty Harry collection. "Get off my lawn!" will NEVER replace the popular catchphrase "Make my day!".Read full review...

Clint Eastwood is a natural born actor and director

...And not many can pull that off. I pride myself in having seen every Clint Eastwood movie. Some were good, some were so-so, some were outstanding. Before watching "Gran Torino" I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was it was about an aging Korean vet living in a neighborhood with Asians. A clash of cultures, prejudice and especially war memories. Eastwood's character doesn't respect Asians; in fact he hates every aspect of them as well as their culture. But he learns as he gets to know them. The friendship between Walt and the Asian boy develops as the movie progresses. I am not going to spoil the end of this gem of a movie but I want to say that the ending could make you feel sad, but it doesn't. Very weird but that's the magic of movie making and Eastwood proves yet again he's a pro before as well as behind the camera.

I can't recall having enjoyed a simple movie like this over the past couple of years. It's a delight to watch. Yes, Clint is older, but he's not ready for a retirement home, meaning he can still kick butt (and does so)! In fact his character could be described as an old and cranky Dirty Harry but with moral standards and a touch of humanity.

Even if you're not an Eastwood fan, this is truly a great movie from start to finish. I would even go this far in saying that it surely ranks as one of the zeniths of his career. Thank you Clint. You were and are a giant!Read full review...

Salvation through the eyes of regret!

A well made film which deals with a myraid of topics, love, hate, loss, regret, estrangement from fathers and sons, the pallid comfort of a ritualized spiritual life founded superstition and little else, friendship in budding, blooming and full bloom stages. It underscores the fact that life is worth dying for if it comes to that but to be true to yourself and to aid a friend is the highest give of a human life. I read the review of this film and the critics should find another profession if their is one left for them to find. In short, "I am my brother's keeper." Read full review...

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Clint Eastwood Deserved an Oscar Nomination for His Performance

Gran Torino is a multi-layered movie which is brilliantly acted by all involved showing the personal challenges faced by an aging auto worker played by Clint Eastwood faces as his neighborhoods changes due to immigration, gang violence increases, and how prejudices can be overcome when people open their hearts to see each other as people. While Eastwood was pass over for an Oscar nomination by his Hollywood peers, the film was given the award for best foreign film at Hollywood's counterpart movie awards in Europe. Highly recommended, even if you are not a fan of Clint Eastwood. This is not a Dirty Harry movie. It is a complex, well written, well acted, moving story that will touch anyone with an open heart. This is not an "action" movie. It is cultural change movie about the underlying values we share as Americans. I recently was on a plane talking to my seat mate about movies who brought up Gran Torino as a great movie overlooked by Hollywood. I heartily agree. Read full review...

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Fitting

This is a fantastic movie. All the characters are great
Even Clint Eastwood's family. They play the selfish ,don't want to be bothered with him perfectly. You actually dislike them so much and are so glad that at the reading of his will they get nothing which is exactly what they deserve.Read full review...

GREAT MOVIE

This is definitely one unforgettable film with an unforgettable performance by Clint Eastwood as both Actor and Director. At 78, he proves age has not withered his talents, or taken the luster from a marvelous career. The buzz is that he may receive an Oscar nomination for this simple but character driven story. Clint, as Walt Kowalski, is a Korean War Vet, retired Auto worker, who has lost his wife. All he has left his his beer, his dog, his gun, and his negative racist attitudes. Things are at a boiling point as Hmong immigrants move into Clint's blue collar neighborhood, and things spill over when Eastwood's neighbor, Thao, (Bee Vang) (encouraged and harassed by neighborhood thugs) attempts to steal Eastwood's mint condition '72 Ford Torino. Eastwood, ever the scowling curmudgeon accepts Thao's offer to make amends. He and his sister Sue (Anney Her), soon become a part of Kowalski's (Eastwoods) life. Some of the sharpest moments are when Eastwood's character confronts harassing neighborhood thugs in typical, snarling Dirty Harry mode; in that moment, the magic returns and Eastwood's performance is as strong as anything in his past. This is the Eastwood, as we want to see him, and if this is his last performance (as he has mentioned it might be), this is definitely Eastwood, the actor we want to remember. Definitely a triumph. He's the man. CLINT EASTWOOD SHOULD HAVE WON BEST ACTOR FOR THIS ROLE!Read full review...

Great Movie

This is definitely one unforgettable film with an unforgettable performance by Clint Eastwood as both Actor and Director. At 78, he proves age has not withered his talents, or taken the luster from a marvelous career. The buzz is that he may receive an Oscar nomination for this simple but character driven story. Clint, as Walt Kowalski, is a Korean War Vet, retired Auto worker, who has lost his wife. All he has left his his beer, his dog, his gun, and his negative racist attitudes. Things are at a boiling point as Hmong immigrants move into Clint's blue collar neighborhood, and things spill over when Eastwood's neighbor, Thao, (Bee Vang) (encouraged and harassed by neighborhood thugs) attempts to steal Eastwood's mint condition '72 Ford Torino. Eastwood, ever the scowling curmudgeon accepts Thao's offer to make amends. He and his sister Sue (Anney Her), soon become a part of Kowalski's (Eastwoods) life. Some of the sharpest moments are when Eastwood's character confronts harassing neighborhood thugs in typical, snarling Dirty Harry mode; in that moment, the magic returns and Eastwood's performance is as strong as anything in his past. This is the Eastwood, as we want to see him, and if this is his last performance (as he has mentioned it might be), this is definitely Eastwood, the actor we want to remember. Definitely a triumph. He's the man.Read full review...

Amazing film

An excellent movie that reminds me of my service in the Navy on the USS Kitty Hawk CV63 Post the Vietnam war and people in Washington state and Oregon and California attitudes towards Asians !!!

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BIGOT WALT soon takes on his asian neighbors and the local GANGS 5 STARS

PLOT: Korean War vet is the ONLY white person left in his Detroit neighborhood.

BIGOT Walt (excellent EASTWOOD) widowed and not close to any of his family who *tolerate* him. He is angry and bitter as his world is changing for the worse. His once middle class neighborhood is now turning CRAPPY in his view with asian and black gangs. He is the ONLY one with an american flag and he actually mows his yard. When the young asian boy next door attemtps to steal his GRAN TORINO~ he stops him with a gun and attitude. an HONOR debt had the boy ~ working like a dog to pay off his honor debt and they both clean up the elderly asian mans home across the street and become friends. Walt is a chain smoker and coughing blood and gets some BAD results at the local clinic and changes his AGENDA on how he wants to LIVE the rest of his few remaining days. EASTWOOD both stars and directs this excellent modern drama with some humor. He learns that the asians he worked so hard to kill in Korea treat him better than his own children. This is about changes bad and good and the value of the human spirit. ONE OF EASTWOODS BEST. I GIVE THIS 5 OUT OF 5 FOR ACTING, PLOT AND LESSon IN LIFE ~~ WALT NEVER CHANGED BUT HE AFFECTED THE BEHAVIOR OF THOSE AROUND HIM. GREAT MOVIE~Read full review...