Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino, a modest photo shot during a post-production on his extensive rock period piece Change Ling was quiet out on Christmas 2008, after which they proceeded to blow away all the Oscar-bait giants at the Box Office and win its 78-year-old star of the best reviews of his acting career. Both films and performances are consummately cunning - stand up with deceptive simplicity, only to evolve into something complex, powerful and surprisingly tender. Like Unforgiven was a tragic reflection on Eastwood's legacy in the Western genre Gran Torino caps and eloquent criticism of the urban heritage of Dirty Harry and his violent brothers. And on top of that, the movie is a savvy meditation on America in a particular historical moment, racially, economically, spiritually. Call it a "state of the Union message. But call it with a lopsided grin.
The new Dirty Harry is a sullen Walt: Walt Kowalski (Eastwood playing his own age), a widower, Korean War veteran, retired auto worker, and the last white resident of Detroit street. It is difficult to say who irks him - his blood relatives (a pretty lame bunch) or Hmong families who are his new neighbors. Kowalski is a racist, because it never occurred to him he should not be. Besides, this is the Flip Side of mutual ethnic baiting that serves as the currency of affection for him and his working-class buddies. Circumstances - and the two young people next door, the feisty Sue (Ahney Her) and her brother in battle Thao (Bee Vang) - Walt contrive to involve a new community, and anoint him as a hero after he turns his big guns some ruffians. The range of this may surprise you - several times over. Eastwood film chosen for economic misery Detroit - a shrewd decision, but its mapping of Walt's world that the classical style that really counts. Each corner of occasional lawn, terrace and cellar to matter - and by all means the workshop / garage that houses the mint condition Gran Torino sign that Walt helped build a more prosperous era. This is a remarkable film.
- Actors: Clint Eastwood, Brian Haley, Christopher Carley, Geraldine Hughes
- Directors: Clint Eastwood
- Format: Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language: English, French, Spanish
- Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Rating: R (Restricted)
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- DVD Release Date: June 9, 2009
- Run Time: 116 minutes
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