A simple story, very well told. In lesser hands, this movie could have come off as smaltzy and trite, with a lead protagonist who could have been a cartoon. In Eastwood's hands, "Gran Torino" is funny, sad, violent, and uplifting and the character of Walt Kowalski stands alongside William Munny, Bronco Billy, and Harry Callahan as one of Eastwood's finest performances.

I thought I was the only guy who thought Bronco Billy was one of Eastwoods best films, and agree completely about Gran Torino.

It really was a great movie. I watched it the day after seeing "UP" and decided that "Gran Torino" was the story of the same characters, just in the real world.

The car was incredible too, a truly great subject to build a model of. My brother actually had a blue version of the same car when he turned 16. It was brand new and he took me to school in it almost every day. Does anyone make a model of this car?

A true movie classic!

I completely enjoy this movie. Clint's been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. To see him come full circle and play a flawed character that has a heart under the crust and still be a tough guy was just great. Really was a sad and uplifting movie at the same time.


"Get off my lawn!"

I thought Clint was great, but some of the supporting actors' performances were a little sub-par. I, however, did get to see some behind-the-scenes filming in Royal Oak, Michigan:

http://www.hollywood-diecast.com/gran%20torino%20eastwood%20barbershop_small.JPG (http://www.hollywood-diecast.com/gran%20torino%20eastwood%20barbershop.JPG)http://www.hollywood-diecast.com/gran%20torino%20eastwood1_small.JPG (http://www.hollywood-diecast.com/gran%20torino%20eastwood1.JPG)http://www.hollywood-diecast.com/gran%20torino%20eastwood2_small.JPG (http://www.hollywood-diecast.com/gran%20torino%20eastwood2.JPG)http://www.hollywood-diecast.com/gran%20torino%20eastwood%20ford%20pickup_small.JPG (http://www.hollywood-diecast.com/gran%20torino%20eastwood%20ford%20pickup.JPG)

And earlier this year, I tracked down the owner of the Ford Pickup Truck.
Here's me behind the wheel of the actual truck Clint Eastwood drove:

http://www.hollywood-diecast.com/GT%20joe%20in%20ford%20pickup2.JPG


- JJ

Most of the HMong actors were not professional, but, knowing Asians the way I do, they did seem authentic to me.

jage1966

Is that a 1972?

Got the DVD for fathers day. Clint really did a hell of a job in this one. What shocked me was my 14 year old son actually sat through the whole movie, kept talking about how great it was afterwards....and there was not a robot, explosion or car chase to be found in the film.

jage1966

Is that a 1972?

Yes, 1972 Ford F-Series.

- JJ

This would be a nice movie to end a brillant career for Clint. I do wish there was another Western adventure he could star in. He is probably my favorite film star. Gran Torino is a film of dignity and he was great in the role. I want to see him top it somehow because its just not quite the way I want the man with no name to go out.

That was one of the films shot in Michigan recently thanks to our tax incentives.

I was hoping to work on it, but had too much of an overlap with the one I was already working on.

But I do recognize a few of my friends in those shots.

Cool you got to sit in the truck.

I still haven't seen the film.

Clint is known for his short days.
The shortest day on that film was (according to one of my friends) was 3hrs. 12 minutes.
And shortest set-up shoot and exit was less than one minute.