Reel Geezers- Gran Torino

[dutch04]

Clint does not play the worst person in the world in this film. Yes he hurls some insults but words are just words. That I think was one of the main points of the film. Being a bigot and talking down to people may make one an asshole but in the end he is a good man who faces his own demons and stands up for whats right. These Geezers clearly dont get the film. Oh My I hope I did not offend any old people by using the word Geezers. We have a right to say what we want to say in the USA.

[jalmari1000]

Huhheh hah!

[DimpleScot]

I agree it's very common, my family are divvying up my grandparents possessions now that my grandmother has passed on ignoring the fact that my grandfather is still in the house, its rude and horrible. I have one book I wanted to borrow but since my grandfather is blind I may as well keep it. Otherwise I don't want anything. It feels like his house is being looted by people who should know better.

[HeRsHeYsKiSsz]

I LOVED this movie!!! Clint Eastwood is just amazing. Nuff said there. The story was touching n made a 18 yr old [macho man] shed a tear in the end...yeah, me! The Hmong actors were terrible [xept for the girl that playd Sue; she playd it VERY simplistically n realistically!] I wish Clint keeps making movies FOREVER! :]

Btw the theme song-- "Gran Torino" --deserved a shitloada awards! Beautifully sung, especially the film version where Clint gets behind the mic too!

[condensedclassics]

Clint Eastwood & Jack Nicholson are the last real hollywood stars still standing. People go to see their movies because they're in it, like they did in the old days to see a Bogart, Cooper, Grant, Davis, Garbo etc. movies. Today the stars are the COMPUTER that won't last.

[wasteland70]

I like the thoughtfulness of Marcia's review. She's not just spewing out a reaction, this is what she thinks. I don't agree with her, I think the film goes much deeper, but I do like the fact that she talks about an image of the "american man" and how it is distorted, not by Mr. Eastwood, but in general.

[shine4362]

You are both adorable, I love your reviews. I think sometimes you have to live the life to apreciate this sort of film and that old saying "when in Rome" really applies when it came to "Walt" teaching that young boy to be a man, especially in the envirionment he lived in. I'm not trying to say that everyone needs to relate to one another using fowl language but Clint's character viewed that young boy as too passive for his suroundings. He was being taught survival skills for a tough hood!

[zorkpig]

Wow, this review is just awful. They don't understand the main character at all. The "bigoted" language that is used is there for a reason. To show how times have changed and that he lives in a world where his values and ideals are no longer the norm.

The reason people laugh at the theater is because of how against the Political Correctness grain it is. PC is nothing more than someone else's issues being forced on others and inherently we don't like to be told how to act and think.

[Interests2009]

Well said. I was wondering why all the North Carolina fucks were laughing for the entire duration of Gran Torino. I find nothing funny in it. Then again, people down here will laugh at almost anything b/c they are stupid. PC is a bunch of bullcrap is what it is. Blame the baby boomer generation for that one.

[mrmott44]

Bigoted language is real bitch. You old wrinkled flaky skinned bitch. Get with the program.

[mrmott44]

It's not "mong" it's Hmong--pronounced "hmung". This lady is a loser. Walt never broke a law in this flick--legal self defense in all situations and could have fired many times but never did--Walt had restraint.

[HDprodpreshil09]

omg marcia you have no clue what your talking about, its an instant classic and NOT a hollywood movie itll be remember for many years as one of clint eastwoods best role not to mention his last acting role, it was fucking fantastic and amazing and spectacular

[LickMyCuntMoFo]

Oh please. This movie will not go down in the history books. And knowing Clint, he will more than likely act again.

[bux49]

Mr. Eastwood plays the role as I remember how my Dad and Uncle played their roles in life. They were both Vets of WWII and Korea. What they saw in the Wars colored their views for the rest of their lives. Mr. Eastwood plays those roles. The point was made that they depended on themselves to get it done. They made America the Great nation it was. They kept their word and saw it through to the end even if it would mean their lives. We could all learn a lesson from that generation. GGGRRRRRRRRRRR!

[Interests2009]

bux49--Very true. Now we have those AWFUL, North Carolina-loving, baby boomer FUCKS who did nothing but screw things up and feel all this bull into our heads; my parents. Clint Eastwood's character in the film was bigoted but at the same time he cared for the Hmong family after a while. He plays his role only too well. Walt's family deserved nothing from him.

[wasteland70]

I agree. The family wasn't worth a damn. His grandchildren were assholes. I'll tell you, I only saw my grandfather 3 times. He was a drunk, a criminal and many other things. I still remember him fondly, however, and wish he'd lived around the block.

[Interests2009]

Exactly! I saw the movie again recently and discovered some other things with Walt's nauseating grandchildren (especially the girl.) Asking someone when they are going to die so they can get their car? When I saw that scene, I was, like, ''what a little bitch.'' Also, the other two were snooping through Walt's personal stuff. They were also very disrespectful at the beginning at the funeral of their grandmother. Walt's family got what they deserved - NOTHING.

[Interests2009]

(cont.) If I had a family member like that I would not talk to them (and I thought my family was bad.) The Hmong boy earned the Gran Torino fair and square. The nauseating, ungrateful, little bitch did not deserve it. Of course Walt's offspring were a little to blame for their lack of parenting. I also did not like the character of that Irish, mick, actress who plays the role of Walt's daughter in law. I can't believe his family also treated Walt like someone who couldn't do things b/c of age.

[LFiers]

This review was shockingly bad. The old geezer dude was more on point minus the "a real hollywood movie " part. Change that to "a real movie" and then hes spot on. Fuck Hollywood they dont make em like this anymore. Gran Torino is gold! Just brilliant!!!!! 5 STARS FOR THE MOVIE!

[shinto29]

Walt would say GGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRR who are these people.GET OFF MY LAWN!

[markjeppo]

Marcia was right about the acting concerns, but she's making a minor criticism to pull the while picture down. Lorenzo is spot on. It's a great comedy with a surprise ending.

[ImTylerDurden99]

marcia has been a little harsh lately :( i thought gran torino was easily in my top 5 this year, second only to benjamin button which she didnt like either

[klopov]

ben button really sucks

[Spo8]

I kind of thought the message (really driven home at the end) is that Clint's "old" attitudes of what a man should be and how he should act are dated, for better or for worse, which is what leads in part to what happens at the end.

[suchAnoob]

clint's character swears sooooooooo many times but you slowly sympathize with him

[DrDMovieMadness]

i love this movie man, this movie is so good i saw it five times

[blairtoo]

i saw it twice: the first time i didn't like it...the second time i did. do figure.

[theotormon]

Though I think the criticisms of the movie are valid, I liked it quite a bit. As to the acting, sometimes it is almost better if things aren't too polished. Most Hollywood movies suffer from too much gloss. This one, thankfully, did not.

[LFiers]

I coutldnt agree more. This is a real movie, and an instant classic imo easily.

[ytlover09]

My Rate [10/10]

Why ?

Simple,

I liked it ^^

[jesusknudd]

Enjoyed review. At 1:55 the criticism is made that nobody ever thinks to call the police. Do you think the police can solve the gang problem? Do you think police can protect you from gangs? Police don't have the resources to deal with all the crime. Police couldn't do anything about the drug dealing prostitute that moved in across the street from us. Neighbors wrote down license numbers, etc. but cops couldn't help. Landlord threw her out eventually.

My wife and I loved Gran Torino. 9/10

[Xmenfan246]

Changeling was better.

[therevEJW]

i enjoyed the film. The acting, other than Clint, was average but didn't distract from the film

[granamedia]

I will see it, and agree with both of your perspectives.

[towerman123]

I think that Eastwood's character's racism was exaggerated for comic effect. His character was living in the past. One should not take his racist rants seriously.With the exception of Ahney

Her, who plays Sue, I found the acting weak among some of the inexperienced actors he hired to play the youngHmong characters especially Bee Vang who played Sue's brother. He lacked the ability to display emotions when a scene called for it especially when Clint locked him in the basement.This is my opinion.

[Havenscope]

I will admit that for the most part, other than with Eastwood, particularly with the Hmongs, there is little impression with reference to acting. Still, this film is undeniably excellent.

[TerribleTimes]

there was a good hunk of grough humor, and a nice ample does of kind hearted honesty. Mr. Kowalski wasn't a racest so much as a straight shooter, a guy that tells ya the way things are, a "thats that" type of guy. He respected you if you were honest with him, weak hearted pussies need not aply...

[McKennahLane]

I watched the film... and thought the same, as these two did, about the acting of the characters other than Clint (namely the family next door and the police). My kids are very close with a number of Koreans (first and second generation to the U.S.).. and I have noticed that hesidency and delivery in their speech. So, this wasn't poor acting, it's their natural speech patterns. This is the same style that MANY have in my home and neighborhood.

[okonh0wp]

does lorenzo have any other writing experience in the biz outside of batman? it's hard to take him seriously when you start watching the episodes of batman that he wrote.

[AbsoluteQi]

Wrote the screenplay to a great film, "3 Days of the Condor" with Robert Redford & Faye Dunaway. Don't know what else (besides Bman)

[MadScout]

He also co-wrote Papillion starring Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen and The Parallax View starring Warren Beatty and Hume Cronyn.

[XXLpinut]

Clint is always awesome, Period!

[tuttidog]

btw assuming you two lived through the 50's I'd love to get your take on 'revolutionary road'

[tuttidog]

Good review but the production quality of this video is pretty terrible. The stereo audio is incorrect and the video is horribly blurry and letterboxed. Also I object to the offensive language used in this review :p

[safiresea]

Spot on as to how I feel about this movie! Clint is great but his supporting actors needs more work!!! I'm an Asian and I'm embarrassed at the below par acting in this movie. Gave it B, enjoyed it, it was funny, great ending, but as a whole it still need more work.

[greenridge10]

I usually agree with Marcia but think she's wrong on this. Clint probably plays the same character in every movie, but the point in this film is ABOUT racial antipathies. If you think we are beyond epithets think again. This world of Highland Park is the real world, like Baltimore in "The Wire." You try to "pretty up" the real world with political correctness and we all lose touch.

[hoz49]

God bless Clint. He doesn't miss a racial epithet and yet redeems himself at the end.

[SwanginBros]

I can't stand the way the guy constantly looks over to the old woman for reassurance.

[jewbie999]

He's trying to address both the camera and Marcia as he speaks. He needs to be having a conversation with her, while informing the viewers. He's not looking to her for reassurance.

[ElPulpoTX]

the left and right audio channels are switched.

[banoboman]

I loved the movie and Clint was great in it. The young Hmung girl should get a nomination she was great. As to Marsha's comment that the people never call the cops. Welcome to my world! There is a code of silence in many inter city communities. Ask any big city cop.

[MAZZ0Murder]

If the movie didn't have Clint...I wonder if people would want to see it

[Tradermike2005]

I liked the movie, but guess it was a modern day western.

[yehzhaofeng]

"Anyway...see it..it's Clint!"

haha

Very interesting takes on this movie! You two are great!

[UltimateHigh]

This was a very entertaining film.

[SivartAlappes]

Only reason I watched this movie was that it was filmed here in Detroit and I knew a lot of the cast and crew.

[heatmiser86]

The young boy was just terrible as an actor...I have no idea why he was even in the movie. It reminded of the movie "School of Rock" and the kid who was the guitarist. He was cast purely for his skills with the guitar.

[peanut18544]

is that even your house?

[Badahwood]

Yes indeed, Marsha. "You can tell." My alltime worst film every made (Blindman w/Ringo Starr) has been pushed off of it's perch. This is the worst film I have ever seen. It's awful on every level.

[JensAddictions]

I absolutely agree with you Marcia that it felt like Clint was only directing himself. The supporting actors gave an unconvincing performance. The boy that played his "protégée" was such a bad actor that it ruined the movie for me. But I recommend seeing it for Clint Eastwood and for the story, which despite the amateur thespians was very compelling.

[billfenner1967]

My thoughts exactly regarding the actor playing the boy. His performance in the scene where he's locked in the basement and screaming was so unbelievable that I began to think, "Maybe this terrible acting is deliberate???" I just couldn't understand how Eastwood cast this amateurs and then, seemingly, gave them zero direction for their performances! Made me cringe a lot.

[JensAddictions]

That boy had the acting abilities of a Paris Hilton as the lead in a Broadway production of My Fair Lady :)

[bmobaggins]

all the best in 09 for you two!

yah saw it, didn't like either of his 2008 films. but it's nice to have him back acting again.

[WeirdAl68]

Good to see you guys back in 09!

[floysie21]

clint did not send the message that the man should be like that, he was mocking how "being a man" is sometimes precived.

[bradleysmith1996]

You guys are good.

[floysie21]

96, haha.

[Isabella8466]

Eastwood is not my cup of tea or bottle of beer, regardless, I enjoyed the review.

Oscar predictions? Hope these are next on your list.

[UkrainkaIvanka]

you geezers are allllright!

[snlfarley]

I dont think she GOT the movie like he did...the racist language was needed for character development.

[wolfgar45]

the lovable racist......lol

[tadshackles]

LMFAO

but yeah, the movie looks enjoyable but I have a penis so OF COURSE I would enjoy clint eastwood... wait, did that sound gay?

;-)

[Philinspaces]

I always love hearing your opinions. Thanks. I just might see it after all.

[LickMyCuntMoFo]

I can't wait for your Oscar predictions!!!