Gran Torino

Post by **Worm of Despite** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:42 am

Wow...what a film.

There was some very great tension, more humor than I expected, and just an overall commanding performance by Eastwood. This man has perfected and honed his craft as a director and actor; the imagery and colors are stunning, just the way the camera moves. The film is rather conventional in certain parts, but again, Eastwood's attention to detail and his delivery as Walt push it to impeccable. Definitely buying it and watching it repeatedly, like Unforgiven.

Post by **Zarathustra** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:50 am

If it's as good as Unforgiven, I'm sold.

Post by **Cail** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:45 pm

I think it's far better than Unforgiven. Eastwood's performance is fantastic.

Post by **dlbpharmd** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 4:17 pm

It's not as good as Unforgiven, but it is excellent and Eastwood's performance is indeed fantastic. I wouldn't mind going to see it again in the theater. I will definitely buy the DVD.

Post by **AjK** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:06 pm

I always struggle comparing movies to other movies. Suffice to say that even if I wasn't a hardcore Eastwood fan I would still have been blown away. I also will see it again in the theater (the first showing of the day in our theater is only $5!) and purchase it upon release. Great balance of humor and seriousness (for lack of a better term.) Clint had to kinda carry the movie in terms of acting ability but the other characters were good, too.

A lot of people & reviewers refer to Walt Kowalski as a composite of all of Clint's previous characters. Aside from the fact that he did spit tobacco a little like Jose Wales I never bothered with the comparisons. I am sure that many of us approaching fifty years old remember folks like Wal ... I mean ... Mr. Kowalski. Great character! I hope Clint finally gets Best Actor.

Post by **Montresor** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:52 am

Excellent film.

Post by **Zarathustra** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:03 am

I read that it cost Clint 33 million to make, and has already made over 100 million. Good for him. I'll have to check this out.

Post by **Brother Charn** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:06 pm

It was a very good film. Struck just the right notes. I have heard others argue that Mr. Eastwood has a bit of a Jesus complex in this movie... but I just don't care - the movie is good enough that he gets a pass from me on that.

D

Post by **AjK** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:01 pm

Malik23 wrote:I read that it cost Clint 33 million to make, and has already made over 100 million. Good for him. I'll have to check this out.

That is what happens when you don't need to spend an extra $67M on CG and special effects (and salaries of other famous actors.

)

Brother Charn wrote:It was a very good film. Struck just the right notes. I have heard others argue that Mr. Eastwood has a bit of a Jesus complex in this movie... but I just don't care - the movie is good enough that he gets a pass from me on that.

Agreed. I only really noticed this at one specific point but I won't say in order to avoid a spoiler.

Post by **Mysteweave** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:16 pm

This was a great film. I saw it last night.

Post by **danlo** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:39 am

Solid-killer flick!

Post by **AjK** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 3:35 pm

danlo wrote:Solid-killer flick!

Agreed. Just treated myself to purchasing the DVD. I shall be watching it again today as part of my "ignore that the weekend is almost over" ritual...

Post by **Zarathustra** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:04 pm

Weekend's almost over ritual . . . I like that. I think I'll go out and rent the Blu-ray today. I'm ignoring that the weekend is almost over by having a noon beer.

Post by **Orlion** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:23 pm

As soon as I can, I'm buying this DVD, I absolutely LOVED this movie! Some might say that's because I'm a huge Clint Eastwood fan, others that Eastwood's character embodies all the characteristics that I wish I had, either way, excellent movie, up there with Heartbreak Ridge and Unforgiven.

Post by **Zarathustra** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:49 pm

I finally saw it. Wow, what a fantastic film. I loved how they set up the confession issue. I don't want to spoil it, so . . .

Spoiler

When Walt told the priest that the things that haunt a man the most are the ones he wasn't ordered to do, we know that a dark act lurks in his past. And we know that at some point in the movie, it's going to be revealed. When he finally goes to confession, we are led to believe he'll finally reveal this "crime." But he doesn't. He reveals it to the kid instead. And the point of this being his real confession is driven home visually by the metal screen door he used to lock the kid in his basement--very similar visually to the confession booth thingie (I'm not a Catholic, forgive my ignorance of what this is called). That was a nice detail.

But this movie wasn't as good as Unforgiven. That movie transcended a genre, redefined it and made it into something we've never seen before. It took the cartoonish, mythic and sometimes ridiculous heroism of the Western and made it real. It took all the cliches and expectations built into a Western, and self-consciously critiqued them while simultaneously making use of them.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:21 am

I haven't seen Gran Torino yet, but I totally agree with Malik's comments on Unforgiven.

Post by **Orlion** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:57 am

dANdeLION wrote:I haven't seen Gran Torino yet, but I totally agree with Malik's comments on Unforgiven.

Orlion snarls a little bit, and then growls, "Get off of my forum"

Post by **kevinswatch** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:30 pm

I saw it in the theaters a few months back. Loved it. Outstanding film all around. Already picked it up on DVD yesterday.

-jay

Post by **AjK** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:15 pm

Malik23 wrote:
Spoiler
the confession booth thingie (I'm not a Catholic, forgive my ignorance of what this is called). That was a nice detail.

Spoiler

IIRC the confession booth thingie is called a Confessional. At the risk of offending any fellow/former Catholics I have my own "confession" to make. About 20 years ago when visiting friends in my old stomping grounds in Pittsburgh, PA they took me to a former Catholic church that had been purchased and turned into a bar. The novelty was that they kept intact as much of the church's interior design as possible so that you felt that you were drinking in church. To this day whenever I hear the word "confessional" I internally translate it to "urinal". Sigh...

Malik23 wrote:That was a nice detail.

agreed!

Post by **dANdeLION** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:55 pm

Orlion wrote: Orlion snarls a little bit, and then growls, "Get off of my forum"

This isn't your forum.

And your delivery pales in comparison to Eastwood's.

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Gran Torino

Gran Torino