1

Am I the only one who really didnt like this film? Granted Clint's performance has the ability to attract all the attention, but come on! The story was weak, the hmong actors were terrible, the entire middle of the movie forgot about the gang conflict. Good directing job though (as always).

ramez on Jan 5, 2009

2

i also thought that the hmong actors were the weakest part of the film… but clint eastwood carried the movie so well that you forget about it. it was a great movie

Janny on Jan 5, 2009

3

this is great, not spam, related to the movie syff.ytmnd.com (kinda not work-safe, just foul language and you'd want the sound down if the kiddies are around)

will smith as hancock to the rescue! on Jan 5, 2009

4

Good Post, Alex.

xerxerxex on Jan 5, 2009

5

Agree with 1, throughout the entire movie i cringed at almost all of the acting, though what could the actors have done anyway since most of the dialogue was extremely weak… Granted, Eastwood's performance is as good as everyone expected it to be, and he does carry the entire thing, also the scenes with john carroll lynch were a big big plus. Overall i don't really think Gran Torino was anything to write home about.

Florian on Jan 5, 2009

6

i love this song, so i dig the video. thanks for posting.

As for number 1. You had to kinda of put the gang on the back burner to see how Clint goes from a cold racist to forming a relationship with the family. If you didnt see how he changed his attitude towards Toah then the whole ending wouldnt have worked. Yes the acting was all around bad, these were all 1st time actors. I was able to look past it due to clints performance and the story. I can see why you didnt like it tho.

bret on Jan 5, 2009

7

I can't believe the first 5 comments were giving negative reviews of this film.

It was satire people! Eastwood took a subject matter that people rarely talk about and threw it in your face in a manner that allowed you to see the point of view of the grumpy old man (who everyone can relate to). Then by the time he had you on his side feeling sympathetic for him as a character and wanting him to go in guns blazing to mess that gang up he does a complete 180 and leaves you feeling guilty for wanting bloodshed.

In regards to the critique on the Hmong actors not being up to par, of course their acting chops aren't going to be of superior caliber. How hard do you think it is to find actors in Hollywood that speak English and Hmong?! I think for the limited talent they found the actors did a fine job and I commend a veteran like Eastwood for giving them their 15 minutes of fame to shine. Even if we never see them again Eastwood is the only director that can fill a cast with completely no name actors and still make the story compelling while teaching his near century of experience in a couple months to a group of ambitious artists.

It's a beautiful story of family, life and death, friendship, and becoming a man…What more could you ask for from such a perfectly written and finely executed piece of film making? I'd like to see any one of the above posters direct, star in, and produce a film close to this caliber.

peloquin on Jan 5, 2009

8

I think I actually prefer Clint singing it at the end of the movie.

The acting isn't ALL bad, tho. The only character I thought was poorly acted was the priest. The rest of them were sorta rough, but I think the two main kids in the flick did a pretty decent job, considering it's their first work. Especially Toah's (sp?) sister. She was actually pretty natural most of the time, and was a good counter-weight to Clint's grouchy old coot character. Some stuff, tho, felt really odd.

I don't think the movie is going to get nominated for anything tho. It's a nice movie to watch once, but it's not exactly ground-breaking on any level at all. Clint Eastwood confirms that he can play a really good "stubborn, ornery old bad-ass". That's about it. It's actually sort of a shame that this is his last movie, cause it's not a really high note to end on. I mean, how could he not at least end his career with a western? Even if he's just directing, or just playing the bartender or something. I so want to see him in another western. >sigh<

Squiggly on Jan 5, 2009

9

Great user review I found online. I couldn't agree more:

I found the film borderline unwatchable. The script is ridiculous, the acting is uniformly terrible, and the conclusion of the film is as cliched as anything Eastwood has ever directed.

Gran Torino is a hamfisted morality play devoid of subtlety or believable characterization. It is amateurish in every respect, from its approach to relationships between ethnicities and generations (one of the keys to the film that has been ignored in most reviews) to the production values and acting.

You always go into a film wanting to give it a fair shake, but when a screenplay squanders its audience's good will with a cartoonish scene every five minutes (teenagers texting their friends during their own grandmother's funeral, old men growling for kids to get off their lawn, ridiculously foul-mouthed barbers who keep shotguns next to their razors and combs), the film deserves every last drop of bile it receives.

This film is going to polarize viewers in the same way as Crash and MDB, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it capture several awards in a few months. Don't be fooled–this film is Crash's kissing cousin and another in a long line of preachy, manipulative, and insulting attempts to address the cultural gaps existing in the United States.

Film Fan on Jan 6, 2009

10

I think 'great' is a bit of a stretch… Mediocre is a bit more appropriate.

Joel on Jan 6, 2009

11

It's actually a pretty terrible film with only one redeemable quality, and that is Clint.

Although that isn't nearly enough for me to actually like it.

Angelo on Jan 6, 2009

12

I liked this movie, is like the version ultimate of karate kid

toonfed on Jan 6, 2009

13

To the anti-hmong performance haters. How do you know these guys were acting? Meaning… Clint could have just had had the the ability to craft an honest performance from these actors so that they were just being themselves. Anyone on this board ever live in a Hmong community? For all you know, they probably bought their experience of "that outside culture looking in" right into the screen. Anybody who wasn't moved by the performance of the Grandmother, (esp. in the scene when Sue comes home… I hope i didn't spoil anything…) is just plain nit-picky.

I really liked this film. And I wish all the newbie actors (Bee Vang, Ahney Her et al.) much success.

D. on Jan 6, 2009

14

I like the song and the video. Although, it's not what I typically listen to, but I like it. I really look forward to watching this flick! Clint Eastwood is one of my all time favorite actors….and it's a pretty short list!

Spider on Jan 6, 2009

15

lol for a second there I thought it was the priest from the movie singing this song. But yeah, the movie was great, the story was great, but the Hmong actors is what ruined it for me. Then Clint Eastwood saved the movie…

Mikey on Jan 6, 2009

16

I for one still look forward to seeing this, in spite of the haters.

Clint Eastwood has now spent almost an equivalent amount of time as an outsider, independent filmmaker as he has an A-list actor.

The films I have seen of his leave deep, lasting, unresolved impressions fairly consistently. They read like long short stories, certainly not blockbuster novels.

Given a choice last night w/ a friend, I elected to see Slumdog again b/c I knew it'd please his rather judgemental indecision (he's a former film student who hasn't done much since school but travel the world on his parent's dime. Go figure!).

He dismissed this film - as I see many people will. I'm pretty sure Clint Eastwood is aware of that, as he has been for two and a half decades as a filmmaker.

I'm still looking forward to seeing Mr. Eastwood's (potential) sayonara performance in one of his own films. And despite all the haters' knee-jerk reactions, I'm perfectly willing to give in to Clint's tendency for mixed bag film-making, will go alone to see it without expectations, if necessary.

Hmmmm on Jan 6, 2009

17

"Anybody who wasn't moved by the performance of the Grandmother, (esp. in the scene when Sue comes home… I hope i didn't spoil anything…) is just plain nit-picky."

This is just nonsense.

I love Eastwood as a director, especially his later films and he hadn't disappointed me in a long, long time, but this just fell flat.

I'm not nit-picking, I was honestly shocked at how bad everything was. I know bad acting when I see it, it gets on my nerves and how harder the "actor" tries, the more cynical I become.

The grandmother was just screaming in her own language the whole film long, without any, and I seriously mean ANY form of acting than maybe the two most basic forms which are anger and sadness. - I honestly believe that the story at hand, although quite cliché could've definitely been moving.

But when you throw the most basic stuff around without any form of subtleness, or actual redeeming quality at all, it just doesn't work for me.

Angelo on Jan 6, 2009

18

Aight, Angelo. I hear you buddy. I shoulda just said that I was moved by the performance, cuz it's my opinion. I get why you're cynical…. but like I said…. maybe Clint wasn't going for 'good' acting… maybe he was trying get a certain level of genuineness from his actors.

Take the whole barbershop scene with Tao… leading up to the scene on the construction site.

Again, I apoligise for any spoilers.

Screenwriter Nick Schenk beat us over the head with how racist Clint's character was. Every other word was 'g**k' or 'zipperhead', so we were constantly reminded that Tao and Sue (and the rest of the family) were Hmong. He looks it. And has a thick accent. When we get to the construction site, Tao has a dialogue with the Foreman that tries to establish how men relate to each other. Now, the method may have been questionable, but the point that Clint and the writers I think gets effectively made. In my opinion, part of it being so effective was Bee Vang's performance. A Hmong kid in a grown up, white-male (albeit still multi-cultural, with Walt's Polish American and The Foreman's Irish American background) setting trying to have a dialogue with two American men.

So, I think that I appreciated (in that scene as well as others) that the actors were 'raw'. It helped me get into the story. So Angelo, I won't say you're nit picking. I'd say, like me, you have an appreciation for good storytelling and screen performances. We differ in this view, which is cool. It allows others to check it out for themselves.

Its all good.

D. on Jan 6, 2009

19

It's a great movie with a hugely enjoyable performance from Eastwood. Its themes about American values, the all too recognizable characters & situations, & the movie's winning mix of comedy, drama & tragedy are going to make it a huge smash with middle America. It has a real shot at being the no 1 movie when it finally goes wide this opening weekend. Action geeks & cinema school snobs will hate it but who gives a fuck about them?

Frank on Jan 6, 2009

20

Very well said number 18…very well said

peloquin on Jan 6, 2009

21

I found the music video and the movie itself to be very moving. Is it the best movie of the year? No, but it doesn't have to be an A+ to be very very worthwhile. I thought one commenter said it best, about how the performances were genuine. I also think the overall emotion of the movie was true to itself. And watching Clint onscreen, even aged as he is, never gets old for me.

The Jack Sack on Jan 6, 2009

22

whats wrong with his face? he has a stroke?

johnny on Jan 7, 2009

23

@johnny

my perseption was that his face was melting. im not a doctor or anything, though.

Eric on Jan 7, 2009

24

Watch the movie again. There's a lot more to the story than the critics here have mentioned. Did you miss Walt's Korean experience? Do you think it had anything to do with the non-relationship he has with his sons? Re-watch the scene where he talks about the 17-year-old he shoots in the face. Then fast forward to the part of Walt's life that we see in the movie. Why does he get so involved with his neighbors? He could have turned his back and continued drinking beer and polishing his car, but he sees people who are wronged and tries to make it right. Remember his
comment, "That's what I do, I finish things."? The part of Walt's character that responds to his young neighbors' plight is far stronger than his prejudice against them. To him, it doesn't matter who they are or where they came from, the danger they face far outweighs his bias against them. Have you ever said, "It's just not right."? Walt doesn't verbally say that, but his whole response to the gang is portraying that sentiment. It's not right and he can't stand by and watch bad things happen as long as he has the power to change it. Sure, you can criticize the ending, but how else does he remove the gang from the scene without further endangering innocent people? Regardless of what you think of the priest's role and acting, he says one thing about confession that gets through to Walt even though the audience doesn't realize until the end of the movie. Walt knows he needs to atone for his Korean experience. He doesn't know how to do this but he does know that confession isn't going to erase the horror that lives in his soul every day. When he does confess, we find it humorous that he admits to kissing Betty at a company party some 20 years before. To Walt that is the kind of thing that confession will take care of. What scars his soul can't be erased at confession. He has to do something that redeems himself in his own eyes, not just God's. I'm not saying this is how it should be or how the Catholic church has failed him, I'm saying that it is how Walt sees it. I could go on for hours about all the subplots in this movie — the critiques here address only the superficial, most obvious story line. So, watch the movie again. How many characters redeem themselves? More than the obvious one or two. This is a story about redemption and sacrifice for principles. After you've watched the movie again, listen to the words of the song a dozen times and then come back and write your reaction to the total package. Think about what you've seen and heard and then react.

lindadj on Jan 9, 2009

25

That's what I'm talkin' about, # 29.

Good movies pop popcorn & leave you smilin'.

Great films often reveal themselves well after you left the theatre, still thinking about what you just saw.

Hmmmm on Jan 9, 2009

26

Sorry - #24, not 29.

Hmmmm on Jan 9, 2009

27

we went to the theatre last evening, was different. This is what we truthfully living in today, with gangs, drugs, etc. The language is what the young people hear and say, such a shame. We are faced with this in real life on a daily basis. Our area was safe when I first came here in 60s, today it is knocking on the doors to let the HooLums in. The world needs a Spiritual Awakemning. The priest (Padre) was needed to present right from wrong. Teens should see this movie, is this the road they are headed toward and then the doors would be shut to keep them in. It was Not a Racists movie, you would agree once you see it

M J & CW Rouse on Jan 10, 2009

28

I just read COmment #24. Suggest all others should read this one again,Good writer and truthful.

M J & CW Rouse on Jan 10, 2009

29

#24 you are so on target..thank you. My husband and I are 40 years old, but looking around us at all the Clint Eastwood era folks.. you absolutely didn't see a dry eye at the end. Loved it.

A10hawgmom on Jan 11, 2009

30

Where was the last scene along the water front filmed? I really enjoyed the film. Great performances.

James Doss on Jan 12, 2009

31

That scene was filmed in Grosse Pointe Michigan. The Grosse Pointe Yacht Club is in the distance. The whole movie was filmed in Michigan, mostly the metro Detroit area. I loved the movie, and since I live in Grosse Pointe I'll be buying the DVD as well. Clint was in town all summer of 2008. Many sightings of him. I was there the day they filmed that last scene on the water, saw the Gran Torino brought into the park on a flat bed. Sweet car!

SLS on Jan 14, 2009

32

Clint Eastwood used his outward crankiness to come across as tough and yet also heroic at the same time, well done i'd say

coffeerama on Jan 16, 2009

33

The movie was wonderful, and the Hmong actors were fantastic. I think all of these negative comments are just amateurs wanting to sound like they know something. The movie is not perfect as a production, but the story is so good and real. Another thing I really liked is the glimpse into the Hmong culture.

Jean on Jan 18, 2009

34

Liked the movie a bunch, while sure it might have been a bit predictable, it really was a touching, albiet familiar story.

Matt on Jan 18, 2009

35

One of the best movies, stories and entertainment I have ever seen. It was great. Clint should get several oscars for it and so should the young girl. Unfortunately, our society is so sick and messed up about reality that they enjoy sin and homosexuality more than moral truths. Thanks Clint and all those that put this together. I recognize the brilliance of the movie and I hope many others do also. George

George Palicki on Jan 23, 2009

36

Fantastic! I loved the movie. It is not what I expected at all.
Are we so spoiled and shallow that we require perfect actors and scripts to hear a wonderfully heartfelt message addressing many layers of the human condition?
This film is a lovely attempt to deepen our understanding and to look past superficial stereotypes and realize we are all accountable as individuals.
This movie made me laugh, cry and think!

Lisa on Jan 25, 2009

37

me encanto la pelicula, tal vez un poco exajerada la actuacion pero no muy desentonada con el papel que tiene que cubrir. En mi opinion deja varios mensajes para pensar.

guillermo on Jan 30, 2009

38

I've seen this movie twice so far, once in Michigan and once in California, and I loved it. Both audiences seemed to share my reaction; in Michigan nobody left the theater until the end of the credits. The depictions of the various ethnic youth gangs in the Detroit area were pretty true to reality; the actress who played Sue is from Detroit.
Yeah, it was a little bit of Dirty Harry hits Highland Park, but Clint isn't a character actor, he's Clint Eastwood. Who would have it any other way?
For an interesting discussion of some of the spiritual themes in the movie (sin, confession, redemption, etc.) check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94SV0T5Q8PE. Don't watch it until you've seen GT, though, it'll spoil it.

Siobhan on Feb 13, 2009

39

George(#35) please keep in mind that you're commenting on a movie about tolerance and acceptance when you make those comments about "sin and homosexuality" Racism and sexism are simple ignorance, wasn't that the whole point of the movie? How anyone could speak about the morality of this movie while spouting bigotry is beyond me.

Jesse B. on Mar 6, 2009

40

If you watched the preview of this movie then you seen just about all the best bits…waste of money

Roy on Mar 13, 2009

41

You haters are idiots! Clint was dealing with a real life current issue that many people face, racism is a big thing and he overcame it. He did an awesome job being a bitter old man and this was possibly the only chance the Hmong actors got to ever be in a film, the acting wasn't as terrible as you say, i think that being awkward and uncomfortable was part of the film. I would like to see any one of you act and speak the two languages, you probably couldn't even act decent in a English only movie!! haha I think it is so funny how people criticize so harshly when they could never be any better. Its a real truth and it was very well done.

Diana on Mar 15, 2009

42

This movie has a lot of weak performance.

Loose of points and poor scene control.

Jay on Jun 14, 2009

43

This film really moved me! At 78, Clint Eastwood is at the top of his game. He and his son also co-wrote the themesong that Jamie Cullum sang beautifully. Its one of the few movies that you need to see more than once.

Kathy Orne' on Jun 16, 2009

44

I thought the acting (besides Clint) was so over-the-top bad, that it had to have been done on purpose. Maybe similarly to what #18 D. had to say, he had some good points; perhaps to magnify Clint's performance?? Maybe for other reasons. But I'm not buying the fact that anyone in the casting room, on the set or in post production we're trying for anything but exactly what we saw.
Just no way that gets by that many people.
I still really enjoyed the movie, especially after coming to that conclusion about halfway through it.
Clint is still a bad~ass

Eric on Jun 17, 2009

45

The only weak point of this film I see is that every character in the film is stereotypical. Great story. The face-shut's plan to just die and not shoot a single bullet, I didn't see that coming. I liked that the film set the zippyhead as a kindof American value or a Gran Torino that should be preserved.

AprilCoolsDay on Jun 26, 2009

46

what happens when and if they get out of jail no turn down but the cop say there going be look up for "a long time" not for the rest of there life great movie sorry to put that on you but sure beat Micheal bays transformers 2

james dicola on Jul 1, 2009

47

sorry guys and girls the cop (says)……. locked up for a long time….. sure beats… sorry

james dicola on Jul 1, 2009

48

I saw the movie yesterday on DVD July 02, 2009. The movie was great but the music was even greater as it captured the meaning of the Gran Torino; Clint himself was the Gran Totino an era gone by. Just one word incredibly touching at the end when Clint's voice accompanied Jamie Cullum with the soundtrack. Kudos once again to Clint.

John Battiste on Jul 3, 2009

49

Well ive just got say >comment 24 was spot on:)
film was just brilliant and ive just been playing the song at the end for about 2 hour's…
FANTASTIC..

NEWY on Jul 9, 2009

50

I'm rather glad I'm not the only one who saw how abysmal some of this film is. I don't know about you lot but I love to meticulously scrutinize. It's very well saying that Eastwood wanted this and this but at the end of the day, the acting in general was S***; that goes for MOST of the actors. Yes, some of the movie was funny, especially the laughable mistakes. These aren't really spoilers, more things to look out for:
Eastwood/Walt repeatedly talks to himself and his lovely Dog.

Yes, as someone mentioned above, the gran of the Hmong family next door just shouts in her own language throughout the film.

I'm pretty sure Walt walks into a bush when going next door (and the moment wasn't intentionally humorous).

As everybody has picked up on (And I'm happy that you have) the Hmong gang members were useless. "HEY MAN. COME ON MAN. MY LITTLE CUS', MAN. HEY MAN!" Man… I certainly got the impression that they had a fetish for out-dated trendy idioms.

Speaking of horrible acting, (as If I haven't been) Sue isn't exempt: *SPOILERS*. She's being hassled by a gang of, and I quote from Walt himself, 'spooks', and she quite rightly calls them stereotypical when they call her a w**re. I suppose this may have been down to the terrible script.

Walt, in a feral rage, throws rather weak punches at his glass cupboards and they break with incredible ease. Yes, I know the whole idea was to have it as a stunt but they can at least make it LOOK real.

There are other cartoon moments (not a good thing), such as when Walt asks Thao if he can count. Responding with a yes, Walt walks away. Thao tests himself, counting the clouds in the sky. "One. Two. Three." You'll understand it when you see it… It's NOT funny. It's rather cringe-worthy.
The list goes on, to be honest. I digress.

The terrible acting was liberated by the beautiful story of the film, although there are many miniature stories, too many to care about, the main story (which I shall not state for the sake of spoiling the movie) starts well with Walt being a racist (not that racial discrimination is a good thing XD) but he gradually develops a respect for the Korean cultures and Walt finishes the story virtuously. It is excellent that we get an insight into another culture and that an example has been set; that people such as Walt can change. I'm not a hater, I just point things out.

In a movie I like a good façade and first impression. I'm not analysing or looking into anything with great depth if I've paid for it. I get plenty of that in English Lessons!

D? on Sep 13, 2009