Movie Review - Gran Torino

I will be honest. I hated that I loved this movie so much! I am not a huge fan of Clint Eastwood. In fact, I would practically cringe at the thought of seeing a movie with him in it. I guess I'm in the minority when pretty much everyone I know loves his films. So you can see why I wasn't too thrilled to see it.

So why did I, then? Because after having seen the trailer two and a half dozen times (as it seemed to be shown before every single movie I went to the theater to see), it started looking like it might be a pretty decent story. Despite the fact that it starred someone that I would under normal circumstances avoid at all costs.

But from the first opening scene until the very last, this movie was so incredibly enthralling that I am now making sure that I tell everyone to see it.

Basic storyline: Walt just lost his wife and now that his kids and grandkids are thinking that he doesn't have much time left, they are trying to take advantage of him every way possible. The son is wanting to put him up in a nursing home and the granddaughter is wanting his furniture for her dorm room, just to name a couple of examples. But Walt has no intention of leaving his home and even decides to suffer living next door to his racially different neighbors so as not to change his normal everyday routine. (It's kind of a big part of the plot to explain what race his neighbors are, so I have decided to leave that part out of my review, so you can learn for yourself, when you see the movie.)

His prized possession is his Ford Gran Torino of which everyone wants to get their hands on...including the kid next door who has been told to steal it in order to be initiated in a gang. Saying anything more than that would be spoiling the experience.

I found this story so completely wonderful and captivating and the acting was so terrific that I know I want to see it again before it leaves theaters. Clint Eastwood did a very good job, but I favored newcomers Ahney Her (Sue) and Bee Vang (Thao) who will hopefully get huge roles thanks to this movie. And there were excellent scenes from John Carroll Lynch , who provided a little bit of comedy relief. (However, this was far from his role of brother to Drew Carey.)

While there were LOTS of funny moments, this was not a light-hearted comedy. Far from it. Very dark and adult content (and quite a bit of language, too) that it is clearly an R movie. In fact, I think a few of the scenes if viewed by youngsters, might tramautize them. Seriously.

So as long as you are over the age of 17 (or possibly a mature 15) and are in the mood for a truly excellent story with great actors, go to your local theater and see Gran Torino. As I am proof, you do not have to be a Clint Eastwood fan to thoroughly enjoy this movie.

Vixy :]