"Get off my lawn!"
Written: Jan 20 '09 (Updated Jan 20 '09)
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Clint Eastwood may be almost 80, but he's still got the Dirty Harry in him.
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: I might just go see this movie again!
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| matthewn's Full Review: Gran Torino |
If you've not seen Gran Torino, I suggest you do it quick before it leaves theaters. You're talking to a guy who doesn't go to movies that often anymore as I just don't pay attention to popular culture and when I do take note of movies playing, I'm just really not into them. Gran Torino is a new movie with and directed by Clint Eastwood, starring many actors and actresses with no experience in acting whatsoever.
The main character is Walt (Clint Eastwood). His wife has just died, he is retired from working for the Ford Plant, his sons were never close to him, he is a man still haunted by fighting in the Korean War in the early 1950s, hates the young priest who keeps insisting he go to confession because Walt's wife wanted that, (even calls the priest a "overeducated, 27 year old virgin who holds hands with old widows") and is very bitter and prejudice towards anybody that's not white. Bascially, Walt is Dirty Harry meets Archie Bunker from All In The Family. Every racial slur and ethnic stereotype that Walt holds about asians, blacks, mexicans, jews, italians, etc, he says it freely. Myself and the audience laughed our butts off when he made these politically incorrect comments. Not necessarily because any of us find racism or bigotry funny, but I laugh at the shock of it. I'm shocked that someone can be so controversial and say/do whatever they want without any fear. Hell, even the blacks, hispanics, and other minorities I saw in the theater were chuckling at Eastwood's comments.
The main thrust of this movie centers around his prized 1972 car. A Hmong boy that lives next door tries to steal his car to get into a gang, but Eastwood stops him in the process. He also saves this kid (and his sister) from the gangs around their neighborhood. In turn, the Hmong are very grateful towards him and shower him with food and gifts to so thanks. He rejects them trying to be his friend and hang out with him, but he gives in and is almost a father-figure to the Hmong teenage boy. He helps him get a job, learn how to pick up girls, learn how to "talk like a man" in the barber shop, stand up for himself, etc.
I know I'm not giving much away except the plot, but that's because I really don't want to spoil it for you. Everyone in this movie grows, even the old prejudice Walt.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Serious Movie
Viewing Method: Sneak Preview at My Local Theater
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing
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Epinions.com ID:
matthewn
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Location: For me to know and you to find out!
Reviews written: 266
Trusted by: 49 members
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