Gran Torino (2008)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Cast: Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski, Christopher Carley as Father Janovich, Bee Vang as Thao Vang Lor, Ahney Her as Sue Lor, Brian Haley as Mitch Kowalski, Geraldine Hughes as Karen Kowalski, Dreama Walker as Ashley Kowalski, Brian Howe as Steve Kowalski, John Carroll Lynch as Barber Martin, William Hill as Tim Kennedy, Brooke Chia Thao as Vu, Chee Thao as Grandma, Choua Kue as Youa, Scott Eastwood as Trey (as Scott Reeves), Xia Soua Chang as Kor Khue

Gran Torino - They don't make them like they used to....

Mr. Eastwood has a knack for storytelling. Instead of being preachy or
having an all to obvious agenda, he lets his viewers make up their own
minds. His characters don't have a message, they have a life and make
no excuses for who they are. In so many subtle and intelligent ways we
are allowed to make our own choices. Like with Kowalski in the movie,
you are not confronted with a role model hammering home all those
"life's important messages", but rather with a movie saying "Look! This
is the way it worked out for me. And I think I know a few tricks that
might help you, but in the end it's your own life. However, you have to
trust me when I say that there are a some things you don't want to see
or experience!". Some people will leave this movie entirely untouched,
others will certainly be crying their guts out. Not because some people
"get it" and others "don't", but because it is a brilliant piece of
entertainment reaching out to every viewer in its own specific way.

Eastwood's acting is top notch again, although the years have not been
very kind to his voice. The rest of the cast are fine, but one can
certainly spot their more amateurish backgrounds here and there which
is the main reason why I could not give this one a 10/10.

Apart from that there is little to criticize. It's not an action movie,
not a drama movie and certainly not a comedy (even though you get a few
laughs out of this one). It's simply a good story about life.....and
death.