Sheriff Grits Teeth
"If Gran Torino does prove to be Clint Eastwood's acting swan song, he couldn't have picked a better way to go out," writes Pete Hammond in his latest "Notes on a Season" column. "As a grizzled, racist, foul-mouthed ex-Marine refusing to move from an old neighborhood now populated with Asians and overrun by gangs, Eastwood summons up memories from his past roles. Indeed, he's channeled his whole screen persona.
"As his character stands in front of his house pointing his gun at a group of young toughs and utters lines like 'Get off of my lawn' -- John McCain! -- "or 'Did you ever think you would be [expletive] with the wrong guy,' you could almost see what Harry Callahan would be like when he hit retirement age.
"Gran Torino's Walt Kowalski is a proud man who squints and grunts and, like a descendant of some reluctant Western sheriff, takes a town now bullied by 'outlaw' Latino, Asian and black gangs and tears them a new one. Giving real dimension to what could have been an unlikeable Archie Bunker-style bigot, not to mention heart and a 21st century enlightenment that we all have to live together, Eastwood has taken Dirty Harry to a new place and delivered the ultimate valedictory.
"When he croaks the lyrics of the title song (co-written by son Kyle) over the end credits, audiences will be applauding not just a fine performance but also a remarkable screen career."
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on December 2, 2008 at 2:55 PM
comment #1
p.Vice
says ...
I have to lodge a speculative disagreement with David Poland -- I really don't think it would be possible to get tired of hearing Clint say the word "gook".
Posted by p.Vice
at December 2, 2008 3:07 PM
comment #2
Nick Rogers
says ...
"Croaks" is a kind word:
http://www.hypeful.com/mp3s/Gran%20Torino.mp3
Posted by Nick Rogers
at December 2, 2008 3:07 PM
comment #3
swordandpen
says ...
This movie seems to have been made for disgruntled McCain supporters, reassuring them that they're not as racist as some of them actually were.
Posted by swordandpen
at December 2, 2008 3:11 PM
comment #4
D.Z.
says ...
http://www.themoviebox.net/movies/2008/0-9ABC/Che/trailer.php
Posted by D.Z.
at December 2, 2008 3:22 PM
comment #5
YND
says ...
What?! Pete Hammond likes a movie?!?!
He also considered CHANGELING, "Another Oscar-worthy masterpiece from Clint Eastwood."
Other choice Pete Hammond reviews (courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes):
AUSTRALIA -- "You can't help but be swept up in this eye-popping visual feast that deserves its comparisons to great movies such as Gone With the Wind and Out of Africa."
THE ROCKER -- "a hilarious sleeper hit"
HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE -- "a smart, entertaining comedy that will have you laughing from start to finish."
THE WOMEN -- "The Women is a smash hit, nothing more but nothing less than just hilarious, flat-out fun..."
DRILLBIT TAYLOR -- "...a hilarious winner in every way imaginable."
NATIONAL TREASURE 2 -- "total entertainment from start to finish."
THE KINGDOM -- "A riveting ticking time-bomb of a movie that really works. The last 30 minutes are so intense you won't be able to move."
One can go on and on and on...
Posted by YND
at December 2, 2008 5:48 PM
comment #6
aspiringcrackaddict
says ...
Trailer for Che is up
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4043592/10924831
Posted by aspiringcrackaddict
at December 2, 2008 6:35 PM
comment #7
MilkMan
says ...
This movie looks horrible. Heartbreak Ridge, Pink Cadillac horrible. It looks cheap and obvious.
Posted by MilkMan
at December 2, 2008 7:41 PM
comment #8
longrunner
says ...
Sheriff Hoists Pants
Posted by longrunner
at December 2, 2008 8:24 PM
comment #9
actionman
says ...
well, the kingdom was pretty fucking awesome.
Posted by actionman
at December 2, 2008 9:01 PM
comment #10
Arran
says ...
He's actually spot on about the last part of The Kingdom. That was fucking amazing.
But mostly he's just a big quote whore.
Posted by Arran
at December 2, 2008 9:57 PM
comment #11
D.Z.
says ...
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117996710.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
Posted by D.Z.
at December 3, 2008 1:27 AM
comment #12
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