Gran Torino - Discussion and Grading (Clint Eastwood)

[Dream]

Clint Eastwood's newest movie will be released wide this Friday. For the last few days I've been watching the Dollars trilogy to get ready for this movie. I purposely haven't read too much about what Gran Torino will be about since I want to watch it for myself but I've heard good things about it. All I know is that Eastwood's character has a rifle and it has a car in it. There are rumors in the media that this will be Eastwood's last acting role so it's something I'm definitely going to catch in the first few days!

Anyone else here planning to see it? Those that have already seen it, how was it?

 

[sidious618]

I caught it in limited release and was really wowed by it. I think you'll love it.

 

[Captain Craig]

I to have been itching for this to come into wide release.
I've read up on it perahps more than the OP but what I've read weren't full on spoilers. I've seen a heavy amount of positive reaction from those fortuante enough to see it as its expanded across the country.

 

[DarthPipes]

I give it an excellent. Eastwood might look ancient but he can still bring it. The fact that this movie is so politically incorrect alone has my respect.

 

[jep316]

I still can't help but wonder if Eastwood made this movie just to poke Spike Lee over their fight about the lack of Blacks in his Letters from Iwo Jima movie.

 

[Lookingglassman]

I just want to know if he kills anyone in it? For some reason I get the impression he just scares kids.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I've not seen it yet, but I know two people who have, and both said it was fabulous.

Might even go and see it myself now!

 

[Venardhi]

Great movie, though some of the acting (mostly from the kids) is a bit uneven. An easily forgivable fault though, and on the whole I really enjoyed it.

 

[Darth_Pazuzu]

I actually have yet to see it, but I'm really looking forward to it! Man, Clint Eastwood's a ripe old 78 years old and he's showing absolutely no sign of slowing down these days. I mean, we've got Million Dollar Baby and his WWII duology Flags Of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima, all of which were just fantastic. I haven't seen Mystic River or the more recent Changeling yet, but I'd like to eventually.

I had gotten together with my family for Christmas recently, and my younger brothers and I were watching TV. We caught an ad for Gran Torino, and upon seeing Clint aim his shotgun at the gangbangers and snarl "Get off my lawn!" my youngest brother was like, "Yes!!" It's been a while since he and I have seen a movie together (the last being Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull last summer, which feels like ages ago), and I'm kind of thinking of arranging to go see Gran Torino with him!

 

[od0_ital]

I'm goin' to an advanced screenin' tomorrow night - it hasn't opened in Austin yet.

 

[Dream]

I just checked out one of the 30 second tv spots on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ7B_6o9C3w

Looks very interesting. Eastwood is the only big star in this right? It must have been nice for all those new actors in the cast to get to the chance to work with him.

 

[DarthPipes]

Right. Eastwood is the only big star.

I recognized two of the actors in smaller parts. There's Geraldine Hughes (Marie from Rocky Balboa), who plays his daughter-in-law and the guy who plays his barber was on the Drew Carey Show as Drew Carey's crossing-dressing brother.

 

[CaptainCanada]

Eastwood's like 100 years old, but I totally buy that he could kick pretty much anyone's ass; the guy just radiates "don't mess with me".

 

[Captain Craig]

^^^
I know your being "tounge in cheek" but Eastwood is 78 if anyone is curious.

I'm at this movie either tomorrow or Saturday.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Any movie with my place of birth in the title gets automatically my respect. And no, I was not born in a car.

 

[firehawk12]

I just want to see if the issue of race is handled here as delicately as it is in say... Crash.
I have no idea why, but there's something about the reformed racist story that sort of rubs me the wrong way...

 

[Dream]

I just want to see if the issue of race is handled here as delicately as it is in say... Crash.
I have no idea why, but there's something about the reformed racist story that sort of rubs me the wrong way...

I heard that Eastwood's character makes lots of racist remarks in this movie but he also hates everyone equally so it's not as big of a deal. The reviews in the topic haven't mentioned anything about his character being too unlikable or anything like that.

Alright! The movie is out now.

 

[Captain Craig]

Tonight--7:35

 

[firehawk12]

I just want to see if the issue of race is handled here as delicately as it is in say... Crash.
I have no idea why, but there's something about the reformed racist story that sort of rubs me the wrong way...

I heard that Eastwood's character makes lots of racist remarks in this movie but he also hates everyone equally so it's not as big of a deal. The reviews in the topic haven't mentioned anything about his character being too unlikable or anything like that.

Alright! The movie is out now.

On a podcast I listen to, they say that Eastwood's actions are justified by the Hmong gang being extremely evil with no explanation. It gives his character an out simply because he's not the worst person on screen.

 

[sidious618]

On a podcast I listen to, they say that Eastwood's actions are justified by the Hmong gang being extremely evil with no explanation. It gives his character an out simply because he's not the worst person on screen.

Then the people in the podcast didn't understand the film.