Gran Torino - welcome back Clint the actor!

Basq

You know that bloke Clint Eastwood? The director of such acclaimed films as The Changeling, Unforgiven, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby? Did you know he's actually quite an accomplished actor also?! Seriously, I no kid!

Ah no.. people seem to neglect and forget Eastwood the actor, as his directorial efforts has been in the limelight more often that not?

Well, along with the good (though over-rated) The Changeling.. Eastwood also directed a more low-key lesser known film called 'Gran Torino'. Sat down and watched it last night and made me remember the Clint I've always respected and loved as an actor.

Clint plays the war vet racist role down to a key.. yes, there are many MANY inappropriate and racist terms uttered by him, but you will probably at least giggle at them. In between all this, there is a wonderful and endearing performance by Clint. It's a shame most of the supporting actors are absolutely atrocious - probably makes Clint's performance that more powerful.

Skip The Changeling.. and give Clint's better film of 2008 a watch - his best performance in years.. welcome back Clint the actor!

Trailer below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuJjTyEnKFA

EDIT: Hmmm.. turns out Gran Torino is higher regarded than The Changeling at IMDB, RottenTomatoes and Metacritic - so why haven't I heard a bloody thing about Gran Torino? And everyone's raving about Changeling-this-Changeling-that?!

Posted a thread with the trailer a few months back. Really looking forward to seeing it, have it for awhile but have'nt had a chance to watch it. While I enjoyed The Changeling I did feel that it was a bit of a wasted opportuinity at the same time.

Neamhshuntasach

Watched this a few nights ago. Really good movie. Clint sure can play the absolute bastard.

joeking

lads claiming you guys have watched this a few nights ago and its not even released?
trailor looks good.

Pigman II

I think when they write the final words on him Clint will be remembered more as a moviestar than as a director. I certainly think of him as the former when his name is mentioned.

mike65

More torrentz?

norrie rugger

Pigman II wrote: »

I think when they write the final words on him Clint will be remembered more as a moviestar than as a director. I certainly think of him as the former when his name is mentioned.

I am afraid that he is and always will be Dirty Harry to me

MisterAnarchy

Good film ,thoroughly enjoyed it.

Wavey

Agreed.

Best movie I have seen in ages.

Not The Real Scarecrow

One of the best movies I've seen over the christmas,Clint is brilliant in it.KInd of reminds me of a weird Karate Kid movie but far funnier.Him singing at the end credits just freaked me out though, Shatner better watch out.

Voodu Child

I thought it was decidedly average. There's some truly terrible acting in there.

Galvasean

Saw the trailer. looks good.
Can someone tel me does Clint really have throat cancer? Someone told me he does.

Karl Hungus

Definitely a film I'm looking forward to seeing. With reguards to people focusing on Clint as a director, any surprise there? The man's a magnificent director, from The Outlaw Josey Wales to Letters from Iwo Jima, he's got a lot of quality films under his belt.

cruizer22b

Looks a very good film, one to watch I reckon.

DingDong

norrie rugger wrote: »

I am afraid that he is and always will be Dirty Harry to me

I thought it was kinda like he was playing as an old version of Dirty Harry, a bad ass who takes no crap. I thought it was funny too, loved the bit were he

kicked his son and wife out for trying to put him in a home

.

lostexpectation

do we really need another young person and old mentor film from him?

i still don't know why yerone wanted to fight.

Royale with Cheese

An 80 year old man kicking peoples asses. Cool. This is what Rambo 10 will be like.

LovetohateTV

Yeah saw it a couple of night ago. Its goodish to ok film overall.

Cactus Col

Really enjoyed the film. Certainly Eastwood carried it, some of the other performances (particularily the priest) paled by comparision.

cruizer22b

Watched this last night, very good film IMO.

mike65

Its got by far the best box-office stats per screen - $34,957 at the moment.

MagicMarker

Just watched this now, really awesome movie!! Clint is a fúcking legend!

I have to agree though, the supporting actors were absolutely awful!!

ginoginelli

I enjoyed this.. Back to the good ole "dont f*ck with me clint eastwood days!" I hope its not the last time we see clint as d hardman, as he really is one of a kind..

BopNiblets

I'd like to see this when it's out, I could download it eventually but I've never seen Clint beat fools up on the big screen.

IMDB says out in the UK on 20th February.

mailburner

great movie

meldrew

Great performance by Clint but the kid playing the neighbour was a terrible actor

Galvasean

I see Clint Eastwood's son is in it. He plays the part of 'Trey'. Is he any good?

Basq

Galvasean wrote: »

I see Clint Eastwood's son is in it. He plays the part of 'Trey'. Is he any good?

Can't even remember him in it...

Was he (spoilers for those who haven't seen it) the white guy

with Sue when she was being hassled by the two guys on the street corner, and Walt came along

?

Galvasean

Scott Eastwood.
Anyone recognize him?

MagicMarker

Galvasean wrote: »

Scott Eastwood.
Anyone recognize him?

Yep, that's the guy, he was only in it briefly.

Basq

Is currently sitting at a well-deserved and suprising #1 spot at the US box office..

With two new films being released this past weekend with specific target markets (BRIDE WARS - chicks and fans of rom-coms & THE UNBORN - teens and fans of horror flicks), it seemed very unlikely that Clint Eastwood's umpteenth film in the last 3-4 years would beat them out, especially since the film, GRAN TORINO, hadn't been receiving any sort of major buzz so far, but don't ever count Clint out, baby! The film opened in 1st place with close to $30M, the biggest movie opening of Eastwood's career!! (his previous best was $18M with SPACE COWBOYS back in 2000)

The film had already earned about $11M in the four weeks of limited release it had back in December of 2008, and is now in the driver's seat.

Galvasean

Space Cowboys? Woah..
Good to see Clint packing them away.

kensutz

Great film, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Fizman

kensutz wrote: »

Great film, thoroughly enjoyed it.

+1

Very good indeed. Clint is an absolute legend in it. Had myself and 3 mates in stitches at times with some of his one-liners and bad ass attitude. Lost count of the number of hilarious racial slurs he came up with.

Alicat

Saw it this weekend. Didn't know much about it and was expecting a quiet, depressing movie but it was really quite funny. Clint's a racist old f*ck in but good God I couldn't stop laughing at some bits.

TheDemiurge

Movie was cornball but I loved it. Basically a western set in suburbia.

Dave147

Cactus Col wrote: »

Really enjoyed the film. Certainly Eastwood carried it, some of the other performances (particularily the priest) paled by comparision.

His name is Clint, don't call him Certainly.

Dave147

On a serious note, just finished watching the movie and really enjoyed it. OK the Hmong actors weren't great and that Spider character couldn't intimidate a sick puppy but Clint's performance was superb. He played the asshole racist bastard perfectly and maybe it's cliche that he became friends with the "gooks" as he so affectionately called them :P but would you rather it any other way?

Sanjuro

Welcome back Clint the actor, and so long Clint the actor. He's stated that it will be his last performance as an actor. And what a performance to go out on. He was bad-fúcking-ass. Agreed on the support. Pretty weak all-round. But Clint's racist growling and general bad-assery was more than enough to carry the film.

D-Generate

Clint Eastwood carried the film. "Booga Booga" part had me watching like it was a car crash happening. Thoroughly enjoyable film though that had you cheering for Eastwood all the way.

WhiskeyGoblin

Great movie
and some great quotes :P
Too racist to share though

LordSutch

Saw 'Gran Torino' last night, great film for Eastwood fans > really Great film.

Snarling Clint back to his Dirty Harry best (but just a little older) )

WhiskeyGoblin

It was quite a great movie
i was just waiting for him to say
"You Feeling Lucky Punk"

TheDoc

I wouldnt put it in the same light as Dirty Harry though. You could say it bout loads of films.

Pale rider, midning his own business until a member of the community gets put down like a dog, then goes repays the favour.

Every film nearly carries that theme, minding business, tragidy, clint goes kicks ass


Superb flick though, I wanted a Josey wales ending big style, but what happend was more then satisfactory.

Air Cav ftw

GhostInTheRuins

Finally got around to seeing this tonight, by far the best film I've seen in a long, long time.

jdscrubs

Saw this film the other night.

Thought it was very good. Clint was bloody briallant in it. Dont really agree with all the posts about the supporting actors being terrible, thought they were all quite good, especially the young asian girl.

Liked how the ending was not the ending I thought it was going to be.

I really liked The Changeling and this film so Clint has had a fantastic 2008. Shame about the lack of oscars for both films especially with the crap that got all the awards

Bethrifty

Awful film
Major disappointment!
Worst acting i have seen in long time!

krudler

Was it eligible for the oscars this year? it opened on Jan 9th on general release only got a small limited run in december so it'll prob be in next years ones

The Pontiac

Thought Clint was great in this. Massive performace. Good enough film although i thought Changeling was a better picture overall. Mystic River is a class film

jdscrubs

krudler wrote: »

Was it eligible for the oscars this year? it opened on Jan 9th on general release only got a small limited run in december so it'll prob be in next years ones

It came out in the states before the 31st of December on a few screens so it could qualify for nominations. A lot more screens were added on the date you mentioned. When that happened it became the most successful movie by Clint ever. I can see why as it was a good film and for it to get no oscar nominations was a disgrace. The reason might have been due to the character Clint played and the stuff he came out with

jdscrubs

zudo wrote: »

Thought Clint was great in this. Massive performace. Good enough film although i thought Changeling was a better picture overall. Mystic River is a class film

I would rate both Changeling and Gran Torino the same. Both were very good. Would agree about Mystic River. However it lacked a few things the book had especially near the ending