Gran Torino (SPOILERS)

[snurri]

You know how so many "Law and Order" episodes are about how young people are disrespectful and dangerous, and decent hardworking (older) people will never be safe until everyone under 25 is locked up? Gran Torino is like that, except without the cops. Yes, you get a cultural lesson about the Hmong, probably the first in a major motion picture, and that part of the film is at least interesting. But Eastwood's 70-something angry Korean War vet is predictable down to the way he bonds with his [insert unpleasant racial epithet here--the script gives you plenty to choose from] neighbors after they offer him a beer. Eastwood displays all the dimension of Dirty Harry, only crustier (sure, it's played for laughs, but he actually delivers the line "Get off of my lawn" THREE TIMES), and with the casting he's stuck with his recent folk-art ethos; while the young first-timers playing his young neighbors are charming, they fail to be intriguing. I'd give the film some points for not going with the traditional Eastwood ending, except that it's been replaced with a Christ-on-the-cross sacrifice, so in the end there's not a lot to like here.

Comments

[barbmg.livejournal.com]

Clint Eastwood is a lousy director.

There. I said it.

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

Aw, man.

I wanted it to be good 'cause it was written by a local former Teamster.

Ah, well.

[maggiedr.livejournal.com]

I echo your disappointment. Eastwood was just terrible and the plot was ridiculous.

I was never a huge fan of Eastwood, but I did love "Million Dollar Baby". I don't know why he bothered with "Gran Torino" because MDB said it all so much better already.