Genre: Drama / Crime
Duration: 116 minuten
Country:
United States / Germany
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang and Ahney Her
IMDb score:
8,1 (836.712)
Releasedate: 12 December 2008
Gran Torino plot
"Ever come across somebody you shouldn't have f#cked with?"
Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood), is a grumpy war veteran and former factory worker who has just lost his wife and has no good contact with his sons. He barely sees his neighbors. It was once a good neighborhood, but now it is mainly surrounded by Asian Hmong immigrants. And Walt doesn't like that at all. Because of his experiences in the war in Korea, he hates Asians, but really hates just about all cultures. He prefers to be left alone, by everyone. Until one night his beautiful car, a Gran Torino, is almost stolen. The perpetrator is his neighbor who did this under pressure from a local gang. This sets in motion a series of events that will change the lives of Walt and his neighbors forever...
Actors and actresses
Walt Kowalski
Father Janovich
Thao
Sue
Mitch Kowalski
Karen Kowalski
Ashley Kowalski
Steve Kowalski
Barber Martin
Tim Kennedy
Reviews & comments
Fisico (moderator films)
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- 9974 messages
- 5391 votes
Really enjoyed Gran Torino. In the first place because of the always grumpy grumbler Kowalski. Very beautifully played by the aging Clint Eastwood. Great actor, but also as a director he has already delivered a number of very solid films, always to the point, often raw and with some drama. 87 in the meantime and there is no wear and tear, although it does start to creak and squeak, be sure to remember that this Gran Torino is now also 10 years old.
The film is entirely carried by the character of Walt Kowalski. His sarcastic and racist comments are great to watch. Of course not that it is easy to talk about, but it produces fine fragments. His witty remarks to the "over-educated 27-year-old virgin" were also great. Rough-mouthed statements are interspersed with funny naming conventions. It produces beautiful dialogues.
Walt leads a lonely life, has few friends and is largely responsible for it himself. Still, I felt some pity for him. He's probably hurt his family at times, but his children and grandchildren aren't exactly saints either. On the contrary: their behavior at his wife's funeral was below par. They didn't even care. They prey on his inheritance and house and try to get him into the retirement home as quickly as possible.
He gradually gains confidence in his neighbours, Hmong people who fought on the side of the US in the war, but his repentance is not only determined by this. That also has to do with Sue and the helpful Thao when he picked up the groceries from the neighbor across the street.
His war past is a stain and a heavy burden. Later it becomes clear why he struggles so much with that past. It also determines the ending of the film which I really liked. You expect a cowboy hero who simply shoots the gangsters, but nothing could be further from the truth. Partly for this reason, the 4.0* rating is justified.
JJ_D
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- 3805 messages
- 1337 votes
Racism misunderstood…it makes me cry!
The question that the film deftly circles around is: why do young people form gangs and fall into crime? Were they born crap, or wait: could it be that their behavior is a response to a society that systematically excludes them, offers them underpaid jobs and above all makes them feel unwelcome, in short scum… in other words, maybe they crawl in the role that we, the so-called natives, have already devised for them in advance?
As far as I'm concerned, 'Gran Torino' is a sentimental fiasco that completely squandered its thematic peg. Right, as a veteran, Walt Kowalski is the product of a context in which racism was encouraged to condone murders, but gradually portrayed as a saint—a saint with flaws, but still—is an insurmountable problem for me. After all, Walt is American racism, not the answer to it!
1.75*
Boneka
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- 2560 messages
- 1336 votes
Gran Torino has quite a high point I must say. I had seen it once a long time ago and it didn't impress me then. Anyway, it is a kind of mini classic that scores high in all reviews. I don't know whether that is correct. Gran Torino is nevertheless a good film with a lot of layers. It is (too) thick so you sometimes have the feeling that you are looking from their thoughts. I think but don't say it. Not just at good old Eastwood but at everyone. The racist swear words are not strange here. Strikingly East plays a Pole. A good role is reserved for Ahney Her who can have Clint with witty comments that even get through to Clint. Fortunately, there is room for an opening. Striking in this film are all the groups that are independent and have no connection with the other. But something good comes out of something bad. The ending is different than you might expect. Maybe not a film for the average viewer, but that doesn't make it any less good. I found that patre less successful. It wouldn't have fit for me.
Movie 4.0
Image 4.5
Sound 4.5
Extras 4.5
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