Gran Torino
Heavy handed, sentimental trash - pandabat
Clint Eastwood's been slipping directorially of late. For me the "Flags Of Our Fathers"/"Letters From Iwo Jima" pairing and "Changeling" have not been of the same class as "Millionaire Baby", "A Perfect World" or the excellent "Mystic River". His latest effort, "Gran Torino", sees him playing Walt Kowolski, a Korean war veteran whose wife has just died leaving home alone with his dog, his guns and his 1972 Ford Gran Torina. He also finds himself surrounded by Asians who have moved into his neighbourhood and made it their own, a fact that Walt does not like. When one of his next door neighbours, Thao, tries to steal his Gran Torino, it triggers a chain of events that lead that to Thao doing odd jobs for Walt and his attitude thaws a bit. Thao's sister, Sue, also helps in bringing Walt in from the cold but the actions of a local Asian gang threaten everything. "Gran Torino" looks well enough and Clint can be amusing the cantankerous role but that's where the positives end. Either through bad writing and/or casting, no one is close to Clint's performance here: is it a conspiracy to make sure he looks good in his last film role? Perhaps! The film is overly heavy handed in how is handles any topic. If you like your movies with post-its, huge fingers pointing you out the way to go and characters literally explaining every nuance then you may enjoy this. For me, the story, acting, pacing and lack of any subtlety means that this is really not worth seeing. I can see what Clint was trying to do but this isn't even worthy of a made-for-tv venture and fits nicely in the extensive list of 2008/2009 movies that were frankly mediocre or worse - in this case, the latter!
Review published on the 26 February 2009 14:05
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed here are those of the viewer and do not reflect those of Entertainment.ie. Entertainment.ie accepts no responsibility, legal or otherwise, for their accuracy of content. Please contact us to report abusive content
More uLike Viewer Reviews
fantastic! - Sarah
Well it took me long enough, but I finally got around to watching Grand Torino. Why did it take me so long? I cant stand clint eastwood. No idea why, but I never liked him as an actor or any of his... MORE
19 December 2010 12:58
Proof that Clintwood's directorial career is better served when he stays out of the movie - Hanley
Gran Torino was a movie I was looking forward to for a long time. A potential swan song for the great Clint Eastwood. Unfortunately, I was met with an overrated, hyped drama created only to dazzle... MORE
14 July 2010 17:06
Excellent movie - Patrick
Great film. Eastwood is superb. good story and some great dialogue. definitely one to see MORE
31 October 2009 13:03
Eastwood makes this film....literally! - JACK
This film is all about Clint Eastwood, and not just because it's the last one he'll act in. His performance is extremely enjoyable to watch and he's perfect for this role (old age aside). I'd have to... MORE
28 May 2009 00:00
You feelin' lucky punk? - Fania
It is a real shame that this could be Eastwoods last ever performance because it was nothing short of stunning. Kowalski (Eastwood) finds himself the only remaining American resident on a street now... MORE
21 May 2009 22:02
One to Watch - Stevo
Its a pity that Gran Torino could be Clint Eastwood's last acting appearance on screen as he puts in a fine performance in this movie. The film focuses on Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) who's wife has just... MORE
13 May 2009 10:01
WHAT A JOY!!!! - FILMFREAK
WHEN THE HUBBIE SAID THAT THIS FILM WAS BRILLIANT I HAVE TO SAY THAT I WAS TEMPTED TO GIVE IT A MISS. RARELY DO WE FIND MOVIES THAT BOTH OF US REALLY ENJOY, BUT I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THIS MOVIE... MORE
08 May 2009 23:26
78 Year old Dirty Harry is anything but incontinent - Rob H
We've all heard a lot about the the importance of remaining active as we age. By conventional supposition getting out of the house will suffice. Nothing too laborious; the venerable denizens amongst... MORE
21 April 2009 02:26
brilliant - m
might sound strange to others, but i have never seen clint eastwood in a movie (well at least from what i remember) i have seen films directed by him so watching my first performance of his was, to... MORE
17 April 2009 13:12
A great watch - FergalCollins
Eastwood plays his role brilliantly and some of the one liners are excellent. I really enjoyed how he interacted with his two sons after his wife died and also the poor priest trying to get him to... MORE
14 April 2009 16:06
Solid Entertainment - Mick Jordan
Clint Eastwood can't put a foot wrong these days. Ever since 'Mystic River' he has been putting out cinematic gems and 'Gran Torino' is no exception. Plus he's even in this one as well! When we first... MORE
08 April 2009 13:56
HE ROCKS!!!! - TERMINATOR
CLINT EASTWOOD ROCKS. DIRTY HARRY GETTING OLD. LOOK BACK AT ALL HIS FILMS. BIG HOLLYWOOD MOVIESTAR. BORN 31 MAY 1930. RETIRED FROM SHOW BUSINESS? I WANT HIM TO CONTINUE DIRECTING EVENTHOUGH HE IS... MORE
01 April 2009 13:20
Grand entertainment - Keith R
You've got to hand it to Clint Eastwood. As 21st century comebacks go, he's surely top of the pile of Hollywood's old-stagers. While heavy-hitters Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro's... MORE
27 March 2009 21:24
What a way to go out... - foz_e_bear
They say this is the last time we'll see Clint Eastwood in front of the cameras (one of the few remaining of a golden era). We'll miss him, but Clint is bowing out gracefully. This film acts out as... MORE
27 March 2009 14:58
vintage - Bunny Starr
who remembers vanishing point..? Kowalski, the american dream hero driving across the desert... coincidence .. perhaps... eastwood growls but says nothing for the first five or so minutes.. his... MORE
19 March 2009 19:59
excellent but flawed - slick
Enjoyable and recommended but rough editing and terrible acting, except from the snarling Clint who's years are catching up fast. It's a feel good movie in total paradox to the issues raised - best... MORE
13 March 2009 12:06
Gran Torino - sharon
I thought this was a great movie. Clint Eastwood was very funny which i did not expect, i dunno how he got away with saying half of the comments. I would definitly recommend this film. MORE
12 March 2009 18:57
Gran Torino - emer breen
It's that time of the year - Oscar time - when we're bombarded by a plethora of glossy, ambitious movies based on renowned books, politics, historical events and lavish classics that promise razzle... MORE
12 March 2009 15:56
Class - Locky
Brilliant film. very funny and a good story. Really good ending. Just watch it. MORE
10 March 2009 17:41
Such a soft, quiet movie that touches a nerve - kellier
I went to see this and loved it, I was pleasantly surprised, Eastwood is a master at direction and plays a grumpy, obnoxious man to perfection. I'm going to see it again I enjoyed it so much its rare... MORE
10 March 2009 12:28
Excellent - RarelyGetsOut
Very good movie, although forget about the Dirty Harry comparisons. It's not the same thing. MORE
10 March 2009 12:20
Enjoyable Flick - Ian
Not his greatest but not his worst, this is a an enjoyable film with Client still showing how to hold the screen. He's the old guy next door who hates everyone even himself and doesn't believe in the... MORE
09 March 2009 09:31
Very good but no masterpiece - brianmol
This is a thoroughly enjoyable film with a great performance by Clint Eastwood with some great laughs right through the film. I was fairly dissapointed by the quality of some of the other cast... MORE
08 March 2009 18:49
gem of a film - johnfitzgerald0
So many of American societys ills and issues highlighted in this gem of a film. Walt Kowalski ( Eastwood) a disgruntled Korean war veteran is angry at the changes in his neighbourhood and is openly... MORE
08 March 2009 12:56
Very Good Film - Caso Meath
I thought this was a very good film, i seen it with my girlfriend and the 2 of us really enjoyed it,great film.*****5 stars and he dose say some funny things in it 2 very good..... MORE
07 March 2009 18:04
Great movie! - Craig
Clint Eastwood stars as Walt Kowalski, a bigoted Korean War veteran who loses his wife and is left to live alone with his dog and his prized '72 Gran Torino for company. The movie opens at the... MORE
06 March 2009 16:45
Classic Clint - Siobhan L
Clint plays Walt, a former soldier and Ford worker who has recently been widowed. The neighbourhood that used to be middle class white has become run down with many poor asians moving in and he does... MORE
06 March 2009 10:54
Superbly Crafted - Grainne Toher
Clint Eastwood stars in and directs this story of an aging war veteran who is disillusioned by his family and modern life in the country he fought to protect in the war. Irritated by society and... MORE
04 March 2009 19:49
spirited must-see for any fan of Eastwood - mart1n
Clint Eastwood sneers and growls his way back onto screen in an, allegedly, farewell acting performance as the hostile Walt Kowalski, ex Korean war veteran, nearly five years after his previous role... MORE
03 March 2009 21:15
masterpiece - stonecold
if this is his last ever film then what a way to bow out. brill film. would recommend to anyone. Clint plays racist Walt Kowalski, a gruff Korean War veteran who, as irony would have it, lives in an... MORE
02 March 2009 13:39
Clint Eastwood Moves Are Always Great - jellab
What can I say, this is one movie you should go to see in the Cinema, Clint plays a racist war veteran and it is very funny at times. He becomes friend with the asians next door and opens up to them... MORE
01 March 2009 21:53
Fair enough - movielover
Clint is brilliant in this & his scenes with the barber are the highlights of the film, but the other actors' acting is so bad that if Clint didn't star in it, I wouldn't have given it any stars! MORE
01 March 2009 19:14
Action - Martin
Someone said Fast paced action, what film did u watch? Because i didn't see any action just Clint growling at people MORE
01 March 2009 15:50
dull - Martin
Really expected so much more from the hype that surrounded this movie. I was expecting one of the films of the year, instead I got 2 hours of clint growling at people. MORE
01 March 2009 15:46
Powerful - Lorraine
In Gran Torino Clint Eastwood plays Walt, a cantankerous retired Ford factory worker who's prejudiced against just about everyone, his own children and grandchildren included. A Korean War veteran,... MORE
28 February 2009 18:31
Must See - Shel
Was never a Clint Eastwood fan but I loved this movie. The story unfolds slowly and is really engaging, with a great ending. Will definitely be recommending this movie to my friends! Eastwood growls... MORE
27 February 2009 20:27
Been there,seen that - John S
Supposedly Clint Eastwoods' final appearance in front of the camera sees him play Walt Kowalski. Walt is a racist widower who served his time in Korea, now living in a neighbourhood of Asians. He... MORE
27 February 2009 17:58
unexpectedly brilliant - jeremy ratcliffe
Not being a big Clint Eastwood fan I very reluctantly went to see this movie. I was gripped by the superb performance by Eastwood and the fast paced action throughout. I felt, though, that the lead... MORE
27 February 2009 08:59
Great film - go see it - Elvo
Since I'm not looking to make review points I'm going to keep this short and give one piece of advice - do not read any of the reviews for this film. Some of them give away the whole story and you... MORE
26 February 2009 12:15
Made My Day! - HSP
So this is where Harry Callahan got to. I often wondered whether Clint would ever give Dirty Harry another outing. We have seen Sly Stallone resurrect Rambo & Rocky successfully so now it's... MORE
26 February 2009 03:36
Funny, Moving, But slightly cliched?? - Evey
There is no doubt that this was an enjoyable watch and Eastwood was fantastic - funny, believable, moving. He was prefect in this part as a stubborn, grumpy, troubled war vet, with a grudge against... MORE
25 February 2009 10:21
A fitting tribute to a screen legend - The Reeldeal
After watching this, it's hard not to form the opinion that it will be Clint's last film. If it is, it's a fitting tribute to the great man. I was also struck by the amazing similarities between this... MORE
24 February 2009 22:44
Pretty Impressive - Horatio
Now, I wouldn't call myself the most critical of people...nor would I call myself the most complimentary of people. Gran Torino is, as you probably know, the story of an ex-soldier living in a rather... MORE
24 February 2009 21:24
old dogs, new tricks? - Darragh
In what is rumoured to be Eastwoods final swan song as an actor, this performance is testament o the great man's distinguished career. Gran Torino charters the antics of a retired old Korean war... MORE
23 February 2009 20:26
Simonconnolly - spoiler alert!! - bella162
Simonconnolly's review was the only one up when I checked the reviews and, of course, I read it only to discover too late that he gives away the entire storyline! I just found out that Walt goes down... MORE
23 February 2009 16:58
Dirty Harry as an OAP - Keith C
Pretty much as you would expect from Clint Eastwood in his last acting role. This is as you might expect Dirty Harry in retirement. Thoroughly enjoyable film, with Eastwood growling and spitting his... MORE
23 February 2009 14:08
One of the best films I've seen in a long time - Dlk1
I'm not a big fan of Clint Eastwood, either as an actor or a director, but he really came up trumps with "Gran Torino". It's one of the best films I've seen in the last couple of years and... MORE
23 February 2009 09:13
Absolute perfection !!! - hmurray949
Gran Torino is one of the most evocative films of the year. Eastwood at his very best! After watching this film I want to sit down and watch every film that Clint Eastwood has produced, directed and... MORE
22 February 2009 12:48
A Flawed Masterpiece - simonconnolly
In Gran Torino Clint Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, a disgruntled Vietnam war veteran who due to his experiences hates Asians. His wife has just dies and his sons want him to leave his house and move... MORE
13 February 2009 00:15
12° 
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter