GRAN TORINO

Director: Clint Eastwood
Writers:
Nick Schenk (screenplay)
Dave Johannson (story)
Release Date: 18 February 2009 (Philippines)
Genre: Crime | Drama
Awards: Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations
Cast:
Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski
Christopher Carley as Father Janovich
Bee Vang as Thao Vang Lor
Ahney Her as Sue Lor, etc.

Plot:
*Walt Kowalski 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 Tao, 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. Written by alfiehitchie

I actually cried in this movie! no joke, hehehe. Wonderful! Very wonderful! You'd learn more about what Life and Death means.

Trivia:
* Clint Eastwood encouraged the Hmong actors to ad-lib in the Hmong language.

*The rifle Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) uses in the film is an American M1 Garand, a 9.5lb .30-06 gas operated rifle. It was first issued during WWII and was again issued in Korea before being phased out by the M14 selective fire .308 rifle. The pistol Kowalski uses is an M1911A1, a .45 ACP semi automatic handgun also issued during the Korean war. It would seem Kowalski's gun collection consists of the weapons he used in service.

*Clint Eastwood stated that this will be his last movie as an actor.

*Clint Eastwood's character's name, Walt Kowalski, is the real name of legendary wrestler, Walter "Killer" Kowalski.

Memorable quotes:
Walt Kowalski: [about Thao] I don't care about him.
Sue Lor: You hang out with him, you teach him to fix things, you saved him from that fucked cousin of ours.
Walt Kowalski: Watch your language, lady.
Sue Lor: And you're a better man to him than our own father was. You're a good man.

Walt Kowalski: You know, Thao and Sue are never going to find peace in this world as long as that gang's around.

Walt Kowalski: [to Father Janovich] I think you're an overeducated 27-year-old virgin who likes to hold the hands of superstitious old ladies and promise them everlasting life.

Walt Kowalski: You can keep the Gran Torino, on the condition you don't chop-top the roof like one of those beaners, don't paint any idiotic flames on it like some white trash hillbilly, and don't put a gay spoiler on the rear end like you see on all of the other zipperheads' cars, it just looks like hell.

Personal Rating: 8/10

*more at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1205489/
*photo by http://masalamedia.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/gran-torino.jpg