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Gran Torino

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Gran Torino
Theatrical release poster
Directed byClint Eastwood
Written byNick Schenk
Produced byClint Eastwood
Bill Gerber
Robert Lorenz
StarringClint Eastwood
Bee Vang
Ahney Her
CinematographyTom Stern
Edited byJoel Cox
Music byKyle Eastwood
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Village Roadshow
Media Magik
Malpaso
Release dates
December 12, 2008 (limited)
January 9, 2009 (wide)
Running time
116 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguagesEnglish
Hmong
Budget$33 million
Box office$40,065,000

Gran Torino is a 2008 American drama film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. The film features a predominantly Hmong cast, as well as Eastwood's younger son, Scott Eastwood. Eastwood's older son, Kyle Eastwood, provided the score. The film first debuted in North America with a limited release on December 12, 2008.

When it was widely released nationwide on January 9, 2009, it became Eastwood's best movie opening of his long career, getting $29 million in ticket sales in its first weekend.[1]

Plot

Life torn Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) is a Korean War veteran who lives in an urban Detroit neighborhood among Hmong immigrants. Kowalski's once peaceful neighborhood is now a victim of gang violence. Upon his wife's death, Kowalski slowly and reluctantly comes to know his neighbors as more than racial stereotypes. Eventually he comes to realize that he has more in common with them than his own spoiled family, who see him as an old racist useful only in what he can do for them. As the gang violence escalates and threatens to consume the lives of his newfound friends and neighbors, Kowalski decides he must take matters into his own hands in order to protect them.

Production

Gran Torino was directed by Clint Eastwood, who also stars in the film, and written by Nick Schenk.[1] It was produced by Village Roadshow Pictures, Media Magik Entertainment and Malpaso Productions for film distributor Warner Bros. Eastwood also produced, alongside Malpaso partner Robert Lorenz and Bill Gerber.[2] Filmmakers chose to produce Gran Torino in the state of Michigan, one of the first films to take advantage of the state's new law providing tax incentive packages to film productions.[3] Filming began in July 2008;[4] locations included Highland Park, Center Line,[5] Warren, Royal Oak, and Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan.[6] Hmong crew, production assistants, consultants and extras were used.[1][7] Gran Torino is being regarded as a potential Academy Award contender.[8] The film received a limited release in North America on December 12, 2008.[9]

Cast

  • Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski, a Korean War veteran. Kowalski's two prized possessions are his 1972 Gran Torino and M1 Garand from the War. Eastwood described the character's relationship with the objects, "He worked on the line in the Ford plant and retired and had this one car he bought himself. It's sort of a symbol of his days with the Ford plant. The M-1 is sort of a symbol of his days in the military... He's clinging to the memory of the war. You'll find out when you see it, some of (the memories) are not as pleasant as others. That helps make him even tougher to get along with."[10] Of the character, Eastwood said, "He's one of these guys who finds it very hard to accept change... [and that the film] just shows how his life goes and how he gets involved with the Hmong people who are living next door."[11] Eastwood's starring role was his first since Million Dollar Baby in 2004.[10]
  • Bee Vang plays Thao, a Hmong teenager who gets caught trying to steal Kowalski's 1972 Gran Torino. The part is Vang's first acting role.[1] The character is described as "the neighborhood wimp", and the large height difference between Thao and Kowalski was a deliberate echo of the mentor relationship Kowalski has with the character. Vang said, "Thao is literally 'looking up' to [him]".[12]
  • Christopher Carley plays Father Janovich, the local priest committed to helping Walt after his wife dies.
  • Ahney Her plays Sue, Thao's bossy older sister. Sue serves as Kowalski's guide into her family.[12]
  • Brooke Chia Thao as Vu, Thao and Sue's mother
  • Chee Thao as Grandmother
  • Sonny Vue as Smokie, gang leader
  • Doua Moua as Fong / Spider
  • Brian Haley as Mitch Kowalski
  • Geraldine Hughes as Karen Kowalski
  • Dreama Walker as Ashley Kowalski
  • Brian Howe as Steve Kowalski
  • Austin Douglas Smith as Daniel Kowalski
  • Conor Liam Gallagher as David Kowalski
  • Michael E. Kurowski as Josh Kowalski
  • John Carroll Lynch as Barber Martin
  • Scott Eastwood as Trey

The film features a leading cast made up almost entirely of Hmong actors, unprecedented for a mainstream American film. Open casting calls for Hmong actors were held in Hmong communities in Saint Paul, Fresno and Detroit. All but one of the ten Hmong leads were acting in a film for the first time, as were many of the Hmong extras. For authenticity, Eastwood encouraged ad-libbing among the actors in the Hmong language. An authentic Hmong shaman was cast, though it was claimed his ceremonial scenes were made more exotic.[1]

Reception

Critical reaction

After seeing the film, The New York Times noted the requiem tone captured by the film, describing it as "a sleek, muscle car of a movie made in the U.S.A., in that industrial graveyard called Detroit".[13] Manohla Dargis of the Times compared Eastwood's presence on film to Dirty Harry and The Man with No Name, stating, "Dirty Harry is back, in a way, in Gran Torino, not as a character but as a ghostly presence. He hovers in the film, in its themes and high-caliber imagery, and of course most obviously in Mr. Eastwood’s face. It is a monumental face now, so puckered and pleated that it no longer looks merely weathered, as it has for decades, but seems closer to petrified wood."[13] In the end she gave the film 4 stars out of 5. The Los Angeles Times also praised Eastwood's performance and credibility as an action hero at the age of 78. Kenneth Turan said of Eastwood's performance, "It is a film that is impossible to imagine without the actor in the title role. The notion of a 78-year-old action hero may sound like a contradiction in terms, but Eastwood brings it off, even if his toughness is as much verbal as physical. Even at 78, Eastwood can make 'Get off my lawn' sound as menacing as 'Make my day,' and when he says 'I blow a hole in your face and sleep like a baby,' he sounds as if he means it."[14] Rotten Tomatoes reported that 74% of critics gave the film positive write-ups, based upon a sample of 66, with an average score of 6.7/10.[15] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film has received an average score of 73, based on 23 reviews.[16]

Top ten lists

The film appeared on several critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2008.[17]

Box office

The film opened #20 in limited release during the December 12-14, 2008 weekend grossing $271,720. On its second weekend, it opened #18 with an 72.3% increase grossing $468,221. From its third to fourth weekend, it grossed $2 million. On January 9, it opend in wide release. During its first wide release, it opened #1 with $29,025,000. [18] [19]

Awards and nominations

Gran Torino was recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the Ten Best Films of 2008.[20] Clint Eastwood's performance has also garnered recognition. He won an award for Best Actor from the National Board of Review,[21] he is currently nominated for the Broadcast Film Critics Association (Critics' Choice Awards) and by the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association for Best Actor.[22][23] An original song from the film, "Gran Torino", was nominated for the Golden Globe Awards for Best Original Song. The music is by Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens, with Cullum penning the lyrics.[24] The Art Directors Guild nominated Gran Torino in the contemporary film category.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Rich, Joshua (January 11, 2009). "'Gran Torino' drives away with a weekend box office win". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 11, 2009. Cite error: The named reference "set" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ Garrett, Diane (March 18, 2008). "Eastwood to direct 'Gran Torino'". Variety. Retrieved October 24, 2008. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Graham, Adam (July 18, 2008). "Clint Eastwood attracts giddy gawkers". The Detroit News.
  4. ^ "Clint Eastwood begins shooting movie in Grosse Pointe Shores". The Detroit News. July 15, 2008.
  5. ^ Allard, Maria (July 16, 2008). "Clint Eastwood films scene for new movie in Highland Park, Center Line". candgnews.com. C & G Publishing. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
  6. ^ Hall, Christina (July 15, 2008). "The film set next door: Lights... camera... Clint Eastwood!". Detroit Free Press.
  7. ^ Schein, Louisa (September 3, 2008). "Hmong Actors Making History: The Bad Guys Of Eastwood's Gran Torino". New America Media. Pacific News Service. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
  8. ^ O'Neil, Tom (October 20, 2008). "Oscars predix: 'Frost/Nixon' remains in the best-pic derby and is joined by 'The Reader' and 'Gran Torino'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  9. ^ McNary, Dave (October 23, 2008). "'High School Musical 3' aims for No. 1". Variety. Retrieved October 24, 2008. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ a b Breznican, Anthony (October 22, 2008). "First look: Eastwood puts his scowl in high gear for 'Gran Torino'". USA Today. Retrieved October 24, 2008.
  11. ^ Debruge, Peter (October 24, 2008). "Clint Eastwood: Director, 'Changeling' and 'Gran Torino'". Variety. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  12. ^ a b Schein, Louisa (October 4, 2008). "Hmong Actors Making History Part 2: Meet the Gran Torino Family". New American Media. Pacific News Service. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
  13. ^ a b Dargis, Manohla (December 12, 2008). "Gran Torino (2008):Hope for a Racist, and Maybe a Country". New York Times. Retrieved December 16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Turan, Kenneth (December 12, 2008). "Review: 'Gran Torino':Clint Eastwood, at 78, shows he's still a formidable action figure". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Gran Torino Movie Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved December 22, 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  16. ^ "Gran Torino (2008): Reviews". Metacritic. CNET Networks, Inc. Retrieved December 23, 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  17. ^ a b c d e f "Metacritic: 2008 Film Critic Top Ten Lists". Metacritic. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  18. ^ "Gran Torino (2008) - Weekend Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  19. ^ "Weekend Box Office Results from January 9-11, 2009". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  20. ^ "AFI Awards 2008". afi.com. American Film Institute. Retrieved December 16, 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  21. ^ "Awards for 2008". nbrmp.org. National Board of Review. Retrieved December 16, 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  22. ^ "The 14th Critics' Choice Awards Nominees". bfca.org. Broadcast Film Critics Association. Retrieved December 16, 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  23. ^ "L.A., D.C. critics announce 2008 film awards". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. December 9, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2008. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Golden Globe Awards nominations for the year ended December 31, 2008". goldenglobes.org. Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Retrieved December 16, 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  25. ^ Justin Kroll (2009-01-09). "Art Directors Guild unveils nominees 'Button,' 'Doubt,' 'Torino' among contenders". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2009-01-09.

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