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| Gran Torino
Warner Bros. Pictures | |
MPAA RATING: R for language throughout, and some violence StarringClint Eastwood,Bee Vang,Ahney Her, andChristopher Carley Retired auto worker Walt Kowalski fills his days with home repair, beer and monthly trips to the barber. The people he once called his neighbors have all moved or passed away, replaced by Hmong immigrants, from Southeast Asia, he despises. Resentful of virtually everything he sees--Walt is just waiting out the rest of his life. Until the night someone tries to steal his `72 Gran Torino. The Gran Torino brings his shy teenaged neighbor Thao into his life when Hmong gangbangers pressure the boy into trying to steal it. But Walt stands in the way of both the heist and the gang, making him the reluctant hero of the neighborhood--especially to Thao's mother and older sister, Sue, who insist that Thao work for Walt as a way to make amends. Though he initially wants nothing to do with these people, Walt eventually gives in and puts the boy to work fixing up the neighborhood, setting into motion an unlikely friendship that will change both their lives. (Warner Bros. Pictures) | GENRE(S): | Action | Drama | Suspense/Thriller | | WRITTEN BY: | Dave Johannson (story)
Nick Schenk (& story) | | DIRECTED BY: | Clint Eastwood | | RELEASE DATE: | DVD:June 9, 2009
Theatrical:December 12, 2008 | | RUNNING TIME: | minutes, Color | | ORIGIN: | USA |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review.Learn more... 91 Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum A movie at once understated and radical, deceptively unremarkable in presentation and ballsy in its earnestness. Don't let the star's overly familiar squint fool you: This is subtle, perceptive stuff.  90 Village VoiceScott Foundas Above all, it feels like a summation of everything he (Eastwood) represents as a filmmaker and a movie star, and perhaps also a farewell. 90 Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan Perhaps the best thing about Schenk's script is that it enticed Eastwood to end his self-imposed acting hiatus and bring his one-of-a-kind aura back to the screen. 90 The New York TimesManohla Dargis Mr. Eastwood is also an adept director of his own performances and, perhaps more important, a canny manipulator of his own iconographic presence. 89 Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten Eastwood finds the humorous aspects of the character as well, no more so than when the appetite of the widower who lives on beef jerky and Pabst Blue Ribbon becomes the center of attention among the Hmong women cooks. 88 Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez The movie is supremely entertaining -- and often hilarious. 88 Rolling StonePeter Travers A lifetime in movies runs through this prime vintage Eastwood performance. You can't take your eyes off him. The no-frills, no-bull Gran Torino made my day. 88 New York PostLou Lumenick It's also a terrific, career-capping role for Eastwood, who claims he's now retired as an actor. He shows off his comic chops more fully than in any film since "Bronco Billy" more than a quarter-century ago. 88 Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert Stars Eastwood as an American icon once again -- this time as a cantankerous, racist, beer-chugging retired Detroit autoworker who keeps his shotgun ready to lock and load. Dirty Harry on a pension, we're thinking, until we realize that only the autoworker retired; Dirty Harry is still on the job. 80 Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern It's a meditation, as affecting as it is entertaining, on the limits of violence and the power of unchained empathy. 80 Washington PostAnn Hornaday If you can survive the F-bombs and the near-constant ethnic invective, Gran Torino is not to be missed, if only as the gutsy, thoroughly unexpected valedictory of an icon fully willing to spend every bit of his considerable capital. 80 The New YorkerDavid Denby The movie was not written for Eastwood, but it still seems to be all about him--his past characters, his myth, his old role as a dispenser of raw justice. 80 EmpireAngie Errigo Simply terrific, enormously watchable and an absolute must for all Eastwood fans. Gotta say it: this film will make your day. 75 Christian Science MonitorPeter Rainer This is Eastwood's first acting job since "Million Dollar Baby," and his range, like his raspiness, is fairly one-note. 75 Portland OregonianShawn Levy Gran Torino amounts to one more elegiac movement in Eastwood's astonishing late-career symphony. 75 Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey For those who gripe that America doesn't make cars or movies like it used to, Clint Eastwood has two words for you: Gran Torino. 75 Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam Arnold This movie seems even rougher around the edges than much of his past work. Still, it's hard to resist. 75 USA TodayClaudia Puig Earnest and understated, Gran Torino is an unflinching examination of themes that have fascinated Eastwood in most of his recent films: family, war, loss, faith and unexpected human connection. 75 ReelViewsJames Berardinelli An amazingly over-the-top anti-racism parable but, despite its obvious shortcomings, it is nevertheless effective and affecting. 75 The Onion (A.V. Club)Keith Phipps Eastwood directs with his usual relaxed pace and bursts of intensity, a style that's pleasing to watch--and which, also as usual, never fully compensates for any shortcomings of the script handed to him. 70 SlateDana Stevens Eastwood's furthest venture yet into the comic possibilities of his flintier-than-thou persona. 70 VarietyTodd McCarthy Highlighted by the star's vastly entertaining performance, this funny, broad but ultimately serious-minded drama about an old-timer driven to put things right in his deteriorating neighborhood looks to be a big audience-pleaser. 70 New York MagazineDavid Edelstein The movie is ludicrous, but Eastwood’s consistency is poignant. He has an agenda and sticks to it. 70 Film ThreatScott Mendelson Gran Torino is not a masterpiece. It’s a fun character drama that features a knowing but winning final performance by Clint Eastwood and just enough commentary to make it worth discussing. 70 Salon.comStephanie Zacharek Until Gran Torino starts rumbling headlong toward its tone-deaf, self-serious ending -- the script is by Nick Schenk -- it's often enjoyable, satisfying and funny. 63 Boston GlobeTy Burr An endlessly fascinating movie. If only it were a good one. 60 The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt Eastwood has always had the gift for comedy in his acting repertoire, but he indulges in it only rarely. His fans might embrace this return to comedy. 60 New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman Eastwood's performance is the movie's centerpiece, and as you might expect, it's just tough enough to hold everything together. 50 Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips Eastwood's foursquare directorial aesthetic tends to heighten, rather than camouflage, a screenplay's shortcomings. 50 San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle Maybe this mixed-up and weird, awful but awfully likable movie is what Dirty Harry had coming to him, after all. 50 Chicago ReaderJ.R. Jones Eastwood is still a primal force on-screen, but his unusual practice of shooting scripts as written, which served him well on "Unforgiven" and "Million Dollar Baby," here leaves him exposed to Nick Schenk's familiar situations and awkward dialogue. 50 The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey Gran Torino skids into the narrative ditch. By the time it jolts to an ending, followed by Clint rasping a tune to the closing credits, you're more likely to be rolling your eyes than dabbing them. 50 Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman Nick Schenk's well-intentioned script employs the creaky old Hollywood device of reversing everything set up in its first half. 38 Baltimore SunMichael Sragow It's no compliment to say a movie is "all of a piece" if the piece is all worn out. For all its surface harshness, this movie is a star vehicle at once rickety and cozy. 
 The average user rating for this movie is8.5 (out of 10) based on227 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Tim W gave it an8:
My favourite movie of the year so far. I have never seen a better performance from Clint Eastwood. More curiously, I have never seen a man appear so utterly consumed by anger. That disturbed me. In Dirty Harry he was pissed off. Here, he's the living embodiment of anger. Terrence M. gave it an8:
Very well realized and believable characters made this film's portray on er, gangster US enjoyable and not cringe worthy like many other film's pretentious 'dis be real' take on the urban underbelly. Clint Eastwood does a great job of getting across the tough guy persona even at his age of 82! Lyle S gave it a6:
Besides Eastwood's own performance, the acting in the movie was pretty forced. Jeremy B gave it a6:
Take Clint Eastwood out of the picture and it crumbles on itself. But ultimately it's really just an update of the Karate Kid in reverse, with a little more violence. Scott C. gave it a9:
Classic Eastwood...gritty portrayal of current urban existence. Bradley C. gave it an8:
I liked it, but it wasnt worth the hype. he has done a good movie. but the asian actors...AAAARG! thao totally cannot act. what were they thinking John M. gave it a10:
This film packs the biggest emotional pay-off of the season. The ending is beautiful and deeply satisfying. So are the photography and music. The acting by the amateur cast seems out of kilter at first, but finally it all comes together and convinces. Read more user comments... Discuss this movie in our forums | |
