Gran Torino
Gran Torino

Movie spotlight

Gran Torino

2008
Movie
116 min
English

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.

Insights

IMDb8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes81%
Metacritic67/100
Google Users86%
Director: Clint EastwoodGenres: Drama

Plot Summary

Walt Kowalski, a Korean War veteran with a foul temper and deep-seated prejudices, is estranged from his family and lives alone after his wife's death. His Hmong neighbors' teenage son attempts to steal his prized 1972 Gran Torino, inadvertently sparking an unlikely bond between Walt and the young man, forcing Walt to confront his own biases and find a measure of redemption.

Critical Reception

Gran Torino received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Eastwood's performance and direction, as well as the film's handling of themes of racism, cultural clashes, and redemption. Audiences also responded well to the film, appreciating its emotional depth and Eastwood's iconic portrayal.

What Reviewers Say

  • Clint Eastwood delivers a powerful and nuanced performance as a prejudiced veteran.

  • The film thoughtfully explores themes of race, community, and redemption.

  • Eastwood's direction is assured, balancing sentimentality with grit.

Google audience: Google users largely praised Clint Eastwood's performance and the film's emotional resonance. Many appreciated the story's exploration of intergenerational and intercultural relationships, finding it to be a moving and impactful experience.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards ('Gran Torino').

Fun Fact

The car used in the film, a 1972 Gran Torino Sport, was actually Clint Eastwood's personal car.

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Community Critic Reviews

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

It's curious that the main English language awards largely ignored this, yet it won both a David and a César in Europe and is definately one of Clint Eastwood's more characterful efforts. He is the curmudgeonly "Walt" who has recently lost ...

Matthew Smith

Matthew Smith

Clint Eastwood is a good director. I've seen ten of his films, one of them being “Play Misty for Me.” A film that I think is incredible. But like any director, Clint’s films can vary in quality. In the case of “Gran Torino,” it's a good fil...

r96sk

r96sk

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="...

Video Reviews

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