8.0
Disgruntled Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski sets out to reform his neighbor, Thao Lor, a Hmong teenager who tried to steal Kowalski's prized possession: a 1972 Gran Torino.
Clint Eastwood
Walt Kowalski
Christopher Carley
Father Janovich
Bee Vang
Thao
Ahney Her
Sue
Brian Haley
Mitch Kowalski
Geraldine Hughes
Karen Kowalski
Dreama Walker
Ashley Kowalski
Brian Howe
Steve Kowalski
John Carroll Lynch
Barber Martin
William Hill
Tim Kennedy
Brooke Chia Thao
Vu
Chee Thao
Grandma
Choua Kue
Youa
Scott Eastwood
Trey
Xia Soua Chang
Kor Khue
Sonny Vue
Smokie
Doua Moua
Spider
Greg Trzaskoma
Bartender
John Johns
Al
Davis Gloff
Darrell
Thomas D. Mahard
Mel
Sarah Neubauer
Paralegal
Cory Hardrict
Duke
Nana Gbewonyo
Monk
Arthur Cartwright
Prez
Austin Douglas Smith
Daniel Kowalski
Conor Liam Callaghan
David Kowalski
Michael E. Kurowski
Josh Kowalski
Julia Ho
Dr. Chu
Maykao K. Lytongpao
Gee
Carlos Guadarrama
Head Latino
Andrew Tamez-Hull
Latino Gangbanger
Ramon Camacho
Latino Gangbanger
Antonio Mireles
Latino Gangbanger
Ia Vue Yang
Hmong Flower Woman
Zoua Kue
Hmong Flower Woman
Elvis Thao
Hmong Gangbanger
Jerry Lee
Hmong Gangbanger
Lee Mong Vang
Hmong Gangbanger
Tru Hang
Hmong Grandfather
Alice Lor
Hmong Granddaughter
Tong Pao Kue
Hmong Husband
Douacha Ly
Hmong Man
Parng D. Yarng
Hmong Neighbor
Nelly Yang Sao Yia
Hmong Wife
Marty Bufalini
Lawyer
My-Ishia Cason-Brown
Muslim Receptionist
Clint Ward
Officer
Stephen Kue
Officer Chang
Rochelle Winter
Waitress
Claudia Rodgers
White Woman Neighbor
Vincent Bonasso
Tailor
Director
Clint Eastwood
Screenplay, Story
Nick Schenk
Story
Dave Johannson
February 11, 2022
9
There's a lot to unpack about <em>'Gran Torino'</em>, probably way more than I could offer an opinion on.
I fully acknowledge the talk about this film's potential impact on the world, namely for Hmong Americans (see: Bee Vang's <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/covid-19-era-s-anti-asian-racism-isn-t-new-ncna1258184" rel="nofollow">op-ed</a>), and I'm not saying it's perfect one bit. I admittedly do have a difficult time separating film and real life, to me films are just fictional things but I get they can/do have real world implications.
Strictly as a film, it is entertaining. Clint Eastwood is remarkably good at being a super racist and super grumpy old man, who literally hates every single person he encounters across the opening portion of the film. His character's lines in this are nuts and his delivery with them is incredible - the look of utter disgust on Walt Kowalski's face when someone pisses him off in a new way is just amusing to watch. If not for his on point delivery, it wouldn't have worked.
Eastwood is the only actor in this worth talking about on a grander level, though I could've done without his ropey singing at the end, but I did enjoy the showings of the earlier mentioned Vang, Ahney Her and John Carroll Lynch - not that the latter does much, I just like the guy as an actor... all stems from <em>'<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Walking_Dead_(TV_series)" rel="nofollow">The Walking Dead</a>'</em>, he's in literally one episode back in 2015 and yet I always remember his character.
I'm not sold on the ending, Walt isn't exactly redeemed and it does reek of white saviour let's be real, but it didn't affect my enjoyment in film terms to be honest.