Gran Torino

[Kptn Howdie]

Originally Posted by bighairydude

I will have to take issue with the opinion expressed...Mr Eastwood has remained not only a viable box office attraction as an actor but I believe you will be hard pressed to come up with a more influential cinema director of the last 20 years. From "Bird" to "Unforgiven" to the "Million Dollar Baby" and then the Iwo Jima films. they dont hand out Oscars to someone who "really doesnt mean much these days...

oh my, is Clint now bigger than Jesus? don`t think so dude. although i do agree with your statements eastwood is not much of a character actor. his roles are adherent to his former portrayals such as Blondie, Dirty Harry, Filo Beddo, Tough Guy Preacher, etc. As much as i did/still do enjoy all his flicks i`ve never really been blown away by any of his performances, he`s usually always the same in every movie he does no matter what role. that kinda leaves me saving my 50 bucks for the new Star Trek flick in the spring.

IMO, handing out oscars doesn`t mean much either!

[bighairydude]

Originally Posted by Kptn Howdie

oh my, is Clint now bigger than Jesus? don`t think so dude. although i do agree with your statements eastwood is not much of a character actor. his roles are adherent to his former portrayals such as Blondie, Dirty Harry, Filo Beddo, Tough Guy Preacher, etc. As much as i did/still do enjoy all his flicks i`ve never really been blown away by any of his performances, he`s usually always the same in every movie he does no matter what role. that kinda leaves me saving my 50 bucks for the new Star Trek flick in the spring.

IMO, handing out oscars doesn`t mean much either!

no where in my post did I allude to the popularity of Clint to bypass that of Jesus. Read the post again and you will see that I was alluding to the fact that he is in rare company as far as there has not been someone to exceed his excellence in "directing cinema" in the last 20 years. Hard to argue with the Best director and actor statues that he received for being someone who "really doesnt mean much these days"

[Kptn Howdie]

Originally Posted by bighairydude

Hard to argue with the Best director and actor statues that he received for being someone who "really doesnt mean much these days"

well i guess as long as the academy says "the best" i must put my opinion aside and blindly agree..........................

[tensleep]

Originally Posted by Maxamillion

Definitely a must see, but I don't think it can top "Unforgiven", one of the greatest movies ever made.

Gene Hackman: You just shot an unarmed man!

Clint Eastwood: If you're gonna decorate your place with my friend, you better be armed!

I'm with you on this one, although I haven't seen Gran Torino yet. "Unforgiven" - what a great western!

[soundmotor]

Originally Posted by Kptn Howdie

As much as i`m a big fan of Clint and worship him much, i`m wondering when hollywood will sprinkle in a pinch of reality in these types of movies and not cast someone in a tough guy role that should be in a old folks role. Mr Eastwood is looking rather whethered these days and i`m finding it increasingly difficult to watch him perform in the manners he did from yesteryear, let alone chasing street gangs to boot. IMO it might be time for this man to be cast in film that suits his demeanor like the bucket list or escape from the retirement home.

Kudos to hollywood for coming up with a catchy title like gran torino to get us out and lighten our wallets slightly again. personally i would have kicked it up a notch and went with more prolific muscle car for a title such as Yenko Nova or Hemi Cuda, but maybe gran torino best describes what Clint Eastwood is: A blast from the past that really doesn`t mean much these days.

I hope the torino at least has a blower...........................

Perhaps a mondo car chase scene & maybe a man running away from an explosion too?

Haven't seen that before.

[Sansui Louie]

Watched Torino last night. Very, very good movie. One of Clint's finest performances, if you ask me. Excellent.

[masterlu]

Originally Posted by Sansui Louie

Watched Torino last night. Very, very good movie. One of Clint's finest performances, if you ask me. Excellent.

Thanks, it's on my must see list.

[onepixel]

Finally saw Grand Torino tonight. The best movie I've seen in years. It will run you through the whole gamut of emotions.

Oscar winning performance!

[bordeno]

Originally Posted by Maxamillion

Definitely a must see, but I don't think it can top "Unforgiven", one of the greatest movies ever made.

Gene Hackman: You just shot an unarmed man!

Clint Eastwood: If you're gonna decorate your place with my friend, you better be armed!

We all got it coming, kid.

[Gibsonian]

Well written, directed, and performed. Another good one from Clint. He is an old man and he plays an old man, just a tough one, so I have no problem with his acting the tough guy part - very believeable. Hey, it's pretty damn likely he could kick the crap out of many men alot younger than him - he still has some decent pipes.

It's the best movie I've seen in a while, simple yet really engaging - I think just what Clint was looking for. It reminds me of the Unforgiven in that way.

[Alaric]

Originally Posted by Kptn Howdie

oh my, is Clint now bigger than Jesus? don`t think so dude. although i do agree with your statements eastwood is not much of a character actor. his roles are adherent to his former portrayals such as Blondie, Dirty Harry, Filo Beddo, Tough Guy Preacher, etc. As much as i did/still do enjoy all his flicks i`ve never really been blown away by any of his performances, he`s usually always the same in every movie he does no matter what role. that kinda leaves me saving my 50 bucks for the new Star Trek flick in the spring.

IMO, handing out oscars doesn`t mean much either!

Yeah. Him and John Wayne. You don't buy an old guy as a tough guy? I'm going to be 47 in March , wanna try me? "Well do 'ya , punk?" I'm sorry , I couldn't resist! A Clint quote just seemed to be the thing to do!
BTW , the old guy still has a decent set of guns on him. Even if he is an 'ice-cream lovin' former mayor of a liberal town' , he'll always be 'The Man With No Name' to me.

[soundmotor]

Originally Posted by Alaric

Even if he is an 'ice-cream lovin' former mayor of a liberal town' , he'll always be 'The Man With No Name' to me.

Yep, Eastwood is anything but liberal which makes the fact that he was elected as the mayor of Carmel interesting.

"Eastwood's no-nonsense libertarian streak became newsworthy in 1986 when, bogged down by red tape when he wanted to expand his restaurant (Hog's Breath Inn) in Carmel, California, he announced that he was running for mayor. He won with a 72% landslide, and his two years as Mayor reduced the city's regulations, had sidewalks put in on city streets, and got a library annex built that city elders had been bickering about for decades. And then, in a move more politicians should emulate, he declined to run for a second term."

[Alaric]

Originally Posted by soundmotor

Yep, Eastwood is anything but liberal which makes the fact that he was elected as the mayor of Carmel interesting.

"Eastwood's no-nonsense libertarian streak became newsworthy in 1986 when, bogged down by red tape when he wanted to expand his restaurant (Hog's Breath Inn) in Carmel, California, he announced that he was running for mayor. He won with a 72% landslide, and his two years as Mayor reduced the city's regulations, had sidewalks put in on city streets, and got a library annex built that city elders had been bickering about for decades. And then, in a move more politicians should emulate, he declined to run for a second term."

And ain't many men make Ronald Reagen look like a "little guy" in a picture!!!

[ducati_EL34]

Originally Posted by Kptn Howdie

As much as i`m a big fan of Clint and worship him much, i`m wondering when hollywood will sprinkle in a pinch of reality in these types of movies and not cast someone in a tough guy role that should be in a old folks role. Mr Eastwood is looking rather whethered these days and i`m finding it increasingly difficult to watch him perform in the manners he did from yesteryear, let alone chasing street gangs to boot. IMO it might be time for this man to be cast in film that suits his demeanor like the bucket list or escape from the retirement home.

Clint's character is Korean war veteran, which makes Clint the right age for this part. So are you suggesting they get a 40 something to play that role? That would be ridiculous.

What difference does his age make when he is carrying an M1?

As for the car, I agree. There are better cars than the Not so Gran Torino, but Hemi Cuda makes for a bad movie title.

[SPL db]

Saw the move last night with the wife... excellent movie, one of the best I have seen in a long time.

Scott