Gran Torino (2008)

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers (WGA):

Nick Schenk (screenplay)
Dave Johannson (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 January 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Disgruntled Korean War vet Walt Kowalski sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager, who tried to steal Kowalski's prized possession: his 1972 Gran Torino.

Plot Keywords:

Gang | Hmong | Widower | Old Man | Korean War Veteran

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Walt Kowalski
Christopher Carley	...	Father Janovich
Bee Vang	...	Thao Vang Lor
Ahney Her	...	Sue Lor
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 (as Scott Reeves)
Xia Soua Chang	...	Kor Khue
Sonny Vue	...	Smokie
Doua Moua	...	Spider
Greg Trzaskoma	...	Bartender
John Johns	...	Al
Davis Gloff	...	Darrell
Thomas D. Mahard	...	Mel (as Tom Mahard)
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. Chang
Maykao K. Lytongpao	...	Gee
Carlos Guadarrama	...	Head Latino
Andrew Tamez-Hull	...	Latino Gangbanger #1
Ramon Camacho	...	Latino Gangbanger #2
Antonio Mireles	...	Latino Gangbanger #3
Ia Vue Yang	...	Hmong Flower Woman #1
Zoua Kue	...	Hmong Flower Woman #2
Elvis Thao	...	Hmong Gangbanger #1
Jerry Lee	...	Hmong Gangbanger #2
Lee Mong Vang	...	Hmong Gangbanger #3
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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William C. Fox	...	Family Friend (uncredited)
Rio Scafone	...	Family Friend (uncredited)
Tony Stef'Ano	...	Man on Street (uncredited)

Directed by
Clint Eastwood

Writing credits (WGA)
Nick Schenk		(screenplay)
Dave Johannson		(story) &
Nick Schenk		(story)

Produced by
Bruce Berman	....	executive producer
Clint Eastwood	....	producer
Bill Gerber	....	producer
Jenette Kahn	....	executive producer
Robert Lorenz	....	producer
Tim Moore	....	executive producer
Adam Richman	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Kyle Eastwood
Michael Stevens

Cinematography by
Tom Stern		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Joel Cox
Gary Roach		(as Gary D. Roach)

Casting by
Ellen Chenoweth

Production Design by
James J. Murakami

Art Direction by
John Warnke

Set Decoration by
Gary Fettis

Costume Design by
Deborah Hopper

Makeup Department
Kevin J Edwards	....	assistant hair stylist
Louise Holoday	....	makeup artist
Kimberly Jones	....	makeup artist
Kimberley Kirkpatrick	....	makeup artist
Tania McComas	....	makeup department head
Jay Wejebe	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Tim Moore	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Dress	....	second assistant director
Michael Judd	....	second second assistant director
Donald Murphy	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Kai Blomberg	....	set dresser
Steven Ladish	....	set dresser
James R. Lord	....	propmaker gang boss
Loren Nickloff	....	general foreman
Missy Parker	....	assistant set decorator
Edward J. Protiva	....	leadman
Douglas S. Reilly	....	graphic designer: props
Scott Schutzki	....	set dresser
Michael Semon	....	assistant propmaster
Robert Silcock	....	propmaker foreman

Sound Department
Bub Asman	....	supervising sound editor
Gail Carroll-Coe	....	utility sound/second boom operator
William Cawley	....	sound effects editor
Flash Deros	....	boom operator
Michael Dressel	....	supervising foley editor
Juno J. Ellis	....	adr supervisor
Robert Fernandez	....	score mixer
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist
Jason King	....	sound effects editor
Lisa J. Levine	....	adr editor
Walt Martin	....	supervising sound editor
Sarah Monat	....	foley artist
Ryan Murphy	....	sound mix technician
Alan Robert Murray	....	supervising sound editor
Kevin Murray	....	sound editor
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer
Beth Sterner	....	sound editor
Shawn Sykora	....	foley editor
Katy Wood	....	dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Hank Atterbury	....	pyrotechnician
Michael DePietro	....	special effects pyrotechnician
David A. Poole	....	pyrotechnician
Ryan A. Riley	....	special effects technician
Shari Ann Riley	....	special effects assistant
Steve Riley	....	special effects supervisor
Dominic V. Ruiz	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Bron Barry	....	visual effects coordinator
Andrea Caretta	....	digital artist
Chad E. Collier	....	render i/o administrator: Digital Domain
Janice Barlow Collier	....	dustbuster: Digital Domain
Yoshi DeHerrera	....	visual effects artist: 3D scanning & modeling
Joe Farrell	....	senior digital compositor
Mark Freund	....	visual effects supervisor: Pacific Title
Brian Hanable	....	digital effects compositor: Pacific Title
Brian Holligan	....	digital coordinator: Digital Domain
Julian Levi	....	visual effects producer
Kyle Mulqueen	....	digital artist: scan data cleanup
Erin L. Nelson	....	digital restoration
Darren Poe	....	digital effects supervisor
Kelly Port	....	visual effects supervisor
Francisco Ramirez	....	assistant visual effects editor: Digital Domain
Wilson Tang	....	digital restoration
Bob Wiatr	....	digital compositor: Pacific Title
Amanda Hampton	....	software engineer (uncredited)
Ian A. Harris	....	digital artist: Digital Domain (uncredited)

Stunts
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Greg Brooks	....	dolly grip
Buzzy Burwell	....	lighting technician
Stephen S. Campanelli	....	camera operator
Trevor Carroll-Coe	....	film loader
Jesse Cecchini	....	electrician
Bill Coe	....	camera: "a" camera
Bill Coe	....	first assistant camera
Michael J. Conner	....	additional lamp operator
Ross Dunkerley	....	gaffer
Bill Hong	....	camera car operator
John Lacy	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Bobby McMahan	....	second assistant camera
Brian Minzlaff	....	set lighting
Liz Radley	....	camera operator: high definition camera
Charles Saldana	....	key grip
T. Daniel Scaringi	....	key rigging grip
Dean M. Simmon	....	first assistant camera: "b"camera
Scott Zuckerberg	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Cedric N. Lee	....	extras casting
Geoffrey Miclat	....	casting associate
Kathy Mooney	....	casting Michigan
Janet Pound	....	casting: Michigan
Janet Pound	....	extras casting
Molly Pound	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Melanie August	....	costume staff assistant
Diana Edgmon	....	costumer
Cheryl Scarano	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Jill Bogdanowicz	....	digital film colorist
Tony Dustin	....	digital film colorist
Blu Murray	....	first assistant editor
Mark Sahagun	....	digital intermediate editor
Larry D. Webster	....	post-production

Music Department
Daniel J. Johnson	....	music editor
David Low	....	orchestra contractor
Renzo Mantovani	....	composer: additional music
Chris McGeary	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Nicholas Acquaviva	....	picture car wrangler
Tony Barattini	....	driver: production van
Mike Bilkovic	....	transportation
Demond Dickerson	....	transportation
Billy Neckrock	....	driver
Kirk Roberts	....	driver: Clint Eastwood
Domiciano Rodriquez	....	transportation co-captain
Alana Stelling	....	transportation captain
Larry Stelling	....	transportation coordinator
John 'Detroit' White	....	transportation
David Schmidt	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Jennifer Burdick-Baklarov	....	additional production assistant
Joe Elrom	....	location assistant
David Fencl	....	key armorer
Alex Fields	....	assistant location manager
Dyane Hang Garvey	....	Hmong Cultural Advisor
Jason Gondek	....	production accountant
Matthew Goodwin	....	additional set production assistant
Holly Hagy	....	production coordinator
Mark D. Lee	....	staff assistant
Deana Lou	....	assistant: Mr. Eastwood
Eddie Merino	....	key assistant location manager
Patrick Mignano	....	location manager
Matt Miller	....	key set staff assistant
Tizzie Onderko	....	stand-in
Dimitrios Rongakis	....	production assistant
Cary Scaringi	....	staff assistant
Karen Shaw	....	production coordinator
Mindy Silberman	....	production secretary
Peter Skorupskas	....	production assistant
Joel Tokarsky	....	first assistant accountant
Landon Trawny	....	second assistant accountant
Renee Trawny	....	accounting clerk
Stephanie Tull	....	set staff assistant
Karen Turner	....	payroll accountant
Karen Turner	....	payroll accountant
Stephanie Whallon	....	travel accountant
Gowhnou Yang	....	stand-in
Trina Naz	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Matten Productions (in association with)
• Double Nickel Entertainment
• Gerber Pictures
• Malpaso Productions
• Media Magik Entertainment
• Village Roadshow Pictures
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Golden Village Pictures (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2009) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Village Films (2009) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Village Roadshow Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome Norge (2009) (Norway) (all media)
• Turner Network Television (TNT) (2011) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title and Art Studio (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• Avid Film Composer  edited on
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• Mid America Cine Support  electric equipment
• Pacific Title  titles
• S3 Entertainment Group  production services: Michigan
• Sequoia Illumination  lighting equipment
• Star Waggons  hair and make-up trailers
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates  digital intermediate
• Transportation Resources  transportation equipment

Also Known As:

Gran Torino (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for language throughout, and some violence.

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA | Germany | Australia

Language:

English | Hmong | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44954) | Finland:K-15 | UK:15 | Czech Republic:12 | Australia:M | South Korea:12 | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Greece:K-13 | Singapore:NC-16 (cut) | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | Argentina:13 | Hong Kong:IIB | Germany:12 (f) | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Sweden:15 | Peru:14 | Mexico:B | Denmark:11 | Austria:12 | France:U | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Center Line, Michigan, USA

Company:

Matten Productions

Trivia:

The infamous "Zodiac" killings in Los Angeles inspired the villain in the original Dirty Harry (1971), starring Clint Eastwood. Years later, in the film Zodiac (2007/I), John Carroll Lynch played the main suspect in the killings. Here, Lynch plays Eastwood's barber and buddy.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the scene in which the Hmong gangbangers drive up to the Mexican gang bangers, Spider is driving forward and then without a break in the scene is driving in reverse without changing gears. Then a break in the scene shows the backup lights of his car.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Al: God, I am sorry for Dorothy, Walt. She was a real peach.
Walt Kowalski: Thanks for coming, Al.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards (2009) (TV)

Soundtrack:

All My Hmong Mutha F*kaz

A great feel-good movie with both comedy and tragedy at the same time

This movie made me laugh and cry at the same time. It deals with both grimy old bastards as well as with more serious matters as racism. Good acting from Clind as well as all his supporting actors and once again Clint has shown that he is capable of making movies that involves both emotions and stereotypes! The "olidish" bitterness of Clint's character and the mix between comedy and drama is just genius. The only criticism of the movie would be that the gang-bangers were pretty and does not correspond very well to all of the reports of gang violence all around the world. But overall I thought this was a great movie with lots of potential for being one of those films that you will actually remember when you visit the video rental store in five years from now.