Gran Torino (2008)

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.

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers:

Nick Schenk (screenplay), Dave Johannson (story)

Stars:

Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Christopher Carley

Top Rated Movies #177 | Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 21 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 (as Scott Reeves)
Xia Soua Chang	...	Kor Khue

Storyline

Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) is a widower who holds onto his prejudices despite the changes in his Michigan neighborhood and the world around him. Kowalski is a grumpy, tough-minded, unhappy old man who can't get along with either his kids or his neighbors. He is a Korean War veteran whose prize possession is a 1972 Gran Torino he keeps in mint condition. When his neighbor Thao Lor (Bee Vang), a young Hmong teenager under pressure from his gang member cousin, tries to steal his Gran Torino, Kowalski sets out to reform the youth. Drawn against his will into the life of Thao's family, Kowalski is soon taking steps to protect them from the gangs that infest their neighborhood.

---

Plot Keywords:

gang | widower | gang rape | teenager | street gang | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language throughout, and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Japan]

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English Hmong

Release Date:

9 January 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gran Torino

Filming Locations:

13140 Charlevoix St, Detroit, Michigan, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$33,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$271,720, 14 December 2008

Gross USA:

$148,095,302

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$269,958,228

Company Credits

Production Co:

Matten Productions, Double Nickel Entertainment, Gerber Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Bee Vang (Thao Lor), the Hmong actors and actresses for this movie were isolated from the rest of the cast and crew. According to Vang, efforts by the Hmong actors and actresses to correct the portrayal of Hmong traditions were ignored. He has also refuted claims that the Hmong actors and actresses were encouraged to improvise. According to Vang, when he tried to improvise, Clint Eastwood told him to "stick to the script." Vang also stated that the cast and crew had attended a baseball game, but the Hmong actors and actresses were not invited. It was assumed that the Hmong actors and actresses were immigrants and did not know about baseball, but the majority of the Hmong actors and actresses were U.S. natives. Bee Vang later participated in a parody of this movie, "Thao Does Walt", in which he played an elderly Hmong man to a teenage Caucasian boy, highlighting perceived racial stereotyping in the original scene.

---

Goofs

When the Hmong ladies feed Walt in Sue's kitchen, Sue's mother Vu puts a large spoon into a bowl of salad, then moves to transfer the contents to Walt's plate, even though most of the salad fell out of the spoon back into the bowl. Either the actress either didn't notice, or she decided to keep going with the scene.

---

Quotes

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

---

Crazy Credits

The credits scroll over a highway overlooking the lake shore, with the Warner Logo appearing in black and white.

---

Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Worst Movie Racists (2015)

---

Soundtracks

Gran Torino
Written by Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, and Michael Stevens
Performed by Jamie Cullum and Don Runner
Jamie Cullum appears courtesy of Terrified Records and Universal Music Operations Limited

User Reviews

One of the best movies I've seen in years

This is a poignant, beautiful movie, maybe the best film Eastwood has ever done. The characters are fully drawn, believable, and resonate true human emotion. I at first was put off by the idea of seeing a movie about an old racist, but when I saw the numbers of people attending the screenings, I thought there must be something there, so I went to the Arclight in Hollywood, where the theater was packed. Crusty old Kowalski, a Korean war veteran, now living in run down Detroit, hates the Vietnamese immigrants that have moved next door to him. As time goes on, he gets to know them, and the bond that forms is wonderful, and spiritual. There was not a dry eye in the house when the movie ended. I won't give the ending away, but suffice it to say this is a truly wonderful story, one that you will love and tell your friends to see. If you're looking for one of those great movie experiences that so rarely comes along, you'll not find a better film to see than this.