Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino Looks Amazing
Oct 25, 2008 by Vic HoltremanCheck out the new trailer and poster for Clint Eastwood’s next film.
Clint Eastwood is directing and starring in Gran Torino, a new movie coming out this December. The trailer was released a few days ago but I hadn’t taken the time to watch it.
What was I thinking? This movie looks like it’s going to be fantastic!
The synopsis of the film over at IMDB is:
Disgruntled Korean War vet Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager, who tried to steal Kowalski’s prized possesion: his 1972 Gran Torino.
However the trailer doesn’t make that look like it’s the plot of the movie at all. As a matter of fact, despite the fact that the name of Clint’s character being different in the movie, for all intents and purposes it looks like a revisiting of the Dirty Harry franchise along the lines of Rocky Balboa.
But don’t take my word for it… see for yourself:
Head over to Apple.com for higher-res versions of the trailer.
Gran Torino poster featuring Clint Eastwood
Based on the description above, this looks like a trailer designed to get people’s butts in seats but then deliver more of a “message film” than people may be expecting. That’s OK with me – Eastwood is an excellent director and I have faith that this will be a great movie.
Gran Torino opens on December 17th.
Around the web:
Loading ...
This is certainly Eastwood playing with his (well-deserved) iconic image. However the trailer reveals a careful character study amidst the idea of Eastwood as some sort of vigilante. He has to come to grips with the world he knows slipping away from him. It’s not quite Jim Thompson, but damn if that poster couldn’t be the cover to one of his books.
This is carefully, wonderfully crafted pulp and I simply can’t wait to see more.
Well I have to disagree with the Dirty Harry reference. The trailer made me think more along the lines of Death Wish with a little more emphasis on the character as opposed to just over the top violence. I agree a lot with what you had to say Bill as far Eastwood playing around with his image as the hard edged guy you just really don’t want to mess with.
This film had slipped completely under my radar up until I saw it here and I found myself looking forward to it. I like my special effects summer blockbusters just as much as the next guy but I love a great character study and if this film turns out half as good as the trailer looks it will just go to show you can’t replace a solid script, acting, and compelling story with glitter and gold.
@Cali
True, that’s another film it reminded me. It was sort of “Dirty Harry retires and turns into Death Wish.”
Vic
Holy crap, it’s old Dirty Harry vs an Asian gang. I’m soooooo there!
They need to show more action, I want to see grandpa Harry Callahan owning a bunch of kids that think they are cool driving around in a little rice burner.
I’m Asian, so I hate all of these Asian stereotypes. I drive a 2005 Ford F-150 5.4L Lariat and a 1992 5.0L Mustang GT, lol. Ok, so technically the 302 in the Mustang is closer to 4.9L but I guess the 5.0 badge just looks better… I’m gonna get it stroked out to a 306 to make it a true 5.0L haha.
So looks like December is Vigilante month with this and Punisher. Can’t wait.
Finally! something other than the bloated action films of late… saying that I’d be interested if they get Clint to direct the inevitable Punisher sequel.
You drive a F150, Ken,,, o boy,,,
This looks like the last best film of 08,,,and Eastwoods last hurrah!
I’m gonna have to see this one !!!
Even at his age that dude is still the coolest out there! he’s the real thing.
“Get off my lawn”
“I know what you’re thinking. ‘Did he fire seven shots or only eight?’ Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a M1 Garand, the most powerful semi-auto rifle of WWII, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question, ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”
Oops, meant to say fire eight shots or only seven, lol. doh!
This looks really cool. Can’t wait.
I will be seeing this film. No doubt. Clint is the MAN!!!!
It’s funny you should mention “Rocky Balboa.” The woman seen in the trailor who is Clint’s character’s daughter was in Rocky B as a grown Lil’ Marie. The actresses name is Geraldine Hughes (who is actually Irish, with the accent, the red hair, and everything). She is a great woman.
I was excited when I first heard about this because of it’s subject matter. I have a few question in regards to how the story came about, especially involving with the Hmong. Was this based on a true event or story? None of the writers are Asians and was anyone of them have a Hmong influence? How did Hollywood suddenly out of the blue picked a story like this and to have one of its iconic actor to handle it? I am Hmong therefore I was curious. No matter how sporadic the Hmong are, we are all one community, and such an event occurred, I would have heard of it? And yes, when the movie comes out in our local theater, I’ll be waiting in line to see it.
I saw the trailer during “Pride and Glory”, a 3.5 out of 5 film where Colin Ferrell was fantastic. It does remind you a lot of Harry Callahan, his mannerisms and tone. I will definately be in the seats when this comes out.
Clint Eastwood is a whole lotta man.
I need another Dirty Harry movie to end the franchise.
I’m not really a big fan of Clint, but this looks awesome. I’m excited it looks like it will be a well crafted film.
Woah. I hadn’t watched this till now.
I sure wasn’t expecting that.
I’ll be checking this one out for sure.
It’s cool that most people are looking forward to this because it seems that people automatically assume that because Stallone, Eastwood, Willis, Ford, and others are getting older that their movies are going to suck which is naive, actors get older but their talent for making great films are still their. Rocky,Rambo,Indiana Jones,Die Hard, all made tons of money and I think this one will to.
I disagree with that assessment scott. I think it’s less about the actors getting older and more about the fans getting older. As we mature we notice he actually is talented and who isn’t. For instance I haven’t heard anyone assuming Bruce Willis films will suck in fact it’s usually the opposite. However assuming a Stallone film is going to be riddled with terrible acting is usually a safe bet.
That’s because Bruce Willis is “da man” and will continue to be so, lol.
Well I disagree with your stallone comment, I liked Rocky Balboa and he did a great job and almost every critic and person went to go see it with a 20 million dollar film making 150 million, is what you call a blockbuster. Willis your right about, but just wait in a few years they are going to question every movie he makes saying can a 60 year old still pull it off. They said that about the new Indiana Jones and it was a really cool movie. One of my all time favorite movies is True Grit with John Wayne and he was in his late 60′s. People always put actors on a pedastal until they get to a certain age and then question every film they make. If they make a new sequel to any of the films I previously listed you will hear people and critics alike start to question the film even though they proved themselves many times before.
I thought the new Indiana Jones was simply OK. It definitely wasn’t as great as the originals, not by a long shot. But that wasn’t the fault of Harrison Ford being old, it has more to do with the plot and “Mut” swinging with the monkeys…
My favorite Harrison Ford movie has to be The Fugitive.
Rocky making a lot of money does not prove that it was good or that Stallone is a talented actor. In fact most people would at least admit he is pretty crappy at acting even if they liked Rocky. I bet you think Arnold is one of the worlds greatest Talents as well right?
Lol, Arnold is good at certain roles, but yah, he’s not really “great” at anything. But he is definitely one of my favorite actors anyhow.
But anyway, I never saw the latest Rocky so I can’t say anything about that, but I’m sure they made money from that seeing as how it is such a recognizable name. But yah, plenty of bad movies with bad actors make a lot of money. Doesn’t really prove anything more than good advertising…
A movie that makes a lot of money does not mean a actor or the movie is good but 80 approval ratings from critics and people alike saying it’s good must mean you are one of the few that don’t, moron. Yeah if people thought Stallone couldn’t act then why the hell would they go watch a movie centered around his character when they could go watch any other movie in theaters. You should go watch a movie with big explosions so you can understand it.
Damn Daniel, he’s snippy. You two were a match made in heaven.
You may think so Ken, but I never use words like Moron toward anyone else on these boards. Correct me if I’m wrong , but isn’t that flaming ? Aren’t personal insults against the rules? Nice to see that Scott can have a conversation like an adult huh.
Sorry scott , but Rocky getting such a high score proves two things. One is that it was the kind of movie that was huge in it’s time just like all the other crap films that were famous in that time period and two that nostalgia pays off. I’m sorry like it or not even if rocky was well written, and well directed (wasnt though) that still wouldn’t change the fact that Stallone is one of the worst actors to ever appear in front of a camera.