Video Views Pick: Gran Torino

directed by Clint Eastwood
DVD Release: June 9, 2009
R; 116 minutes

Widower Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) is a bigoted curmudgeon who is rude to everyone, including Father Janovich (Christopher Carley), the priest insistent on hearing his confession. He’s especially hateful to his next door neighbors, an Asian family. When Walt stands in the way of the gangs that have taken over the area and have threatened teenagers Thao (Bee Vang) and his sister Sue (Ahney Her), the whole neighborhood considers him a hero. But he’ll have none of it, spurning their attention. Then, on his birthday, after he’s thrown his family out of his house for suggesting he move to a senior citizen facility, he accepts Sue’s invitation to come next door to their party. He gets a little tipsy; and even though he maintains his nasty manner, a positive relationship starts to form, especially with Thao. It’ll make you laugh, it might make you angry and it will touch your heart, but it will certainly hit you hard. It’s Eastwood’s (who also directed) crowning achievement.

DVD Extras: Featurettes “Manning the Wheel: The Meaning of Manhood As Reflected in American Car Culture” and “Gran Torino: More Than A Car.”

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