Gran Torino Review

I haven't seen that many Clint Eastwood films except for the more modern ones. I really enjoyed Million Dollar Baby a few years ago and of course i know the guy is a legend. There as a lot of hype for this movie and i even heard people saying it could be the best movie of the year. The problem with this movie is not the movie itself but the hype surrounding it. While i would say it is a good movie, in no way is it the best movie of 2008.

Clint Eastwood plays a retired, racist, war vet who is alone because of his wife's death. He is not close with anyone in his family and he is afraid of dying alone (he never says that but that is what i am getting out of it.) The film takes place in michigan and most of the gangs seem to be asian. I work at a correctional facility and i can't remember seeing more than 1 asian person at the prison for the past 8 years so i had a hard time relating to that aspect of it. The "Asian" gang thing seemed fake to me and i didn't think the acting was great. As a matter of fact the only acting i liked in the movie was Eastwood and the girl that he becomes friends with.

Without telling you to much, basically he gets involved with an asian family and they help him enjoy life while in turn he helps them with some gang activity that is effecting their family. He also helps the families son out and shows him how to be a man. (No not in that way.) Eastwood is great in the film. A different actor and it probably doesn't work.

Overall i recommend it. It was a good film with a fairly predictable ending. I laughed quite a bit at the jokes and i would say it was well written.

7 out 10.