There are two bonus features on the DVD. The first, "Manning the Wheel: The Meaning of Manhood" is about the meaning of manhood as it is reflected in the American car culture. The second, "Gran Torino: More than a Car" is both about the car, and about Detroit's Woodward Dream Cruise which is an annual vintage car event. Here, car buffs describe the bond between men and cars.
Personally, I do not understand why Gran Torino was snubbed by the 81st Academy Awards as it was not nominated for even a single category. I think that the studio messed up by putting it out too late, but it certainly deserved many nominations. This has become more evident in light of fact that it has earned to this date over $250 million worldwide and still growing.
The bottom line is that I really liked Gran Torino. I think it is one of the top-ten movies of 2008. The characters, the situations, and resolutions were all believable and memorable. For me, it was one of those movies that even today, five days after I saw it for the first time, I still see it in my mind and go over various scenes; many with fondness.
Clint Eastwood may be one of those few individuals (if not the only one) to star in the role of lead actor of a blockbuster movie in each of the last five decades. It will be interesting to see what he has up his sleeve for 2010 and beyond.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
It was snubbed because it's not that good. It has some very good moments, but it certainly doesn't rise to greatness.
The film is too long, the plotting is weak, and at times it doesn't seem to know if it wants to be a comedy or a drama.
Clint is doing Archie Bunker, and the amateur actors are obviously that.
Why the gangsters seek revenge against the Hmong family house and not Walt's makes no sense at all, other than to leave him for the climax, which was rather obvious as they beat into the audience what was going on with Walt.
The "manning up" scene you found funny was possibly the worst of the film. I couldn't believe a director of Clint's caliber would have let it stand. It was like what a teenager thinks men are like.
I could go on, but this film has many problems.
2 - T. Michael Testi
"Clint is doing Archie Bunker"
I totally disagree. Growing up, near the steel mills of Gary Indiana and working there as a kid, I knew people like Walt.
I was fortunate enough to know both blacks and whites who had these attitudes. That is what made the interactions between the Hmong matriarch and Walt so great.
"The "manning up" scene you found funny was possibly the worst of the film."
I have also seen the barber shop and while they played it up more for its comedy value, it still was real.
"Why the gangsters seek revenge against the Hmong family house and not Walt's makes no sense at all"
Sure it does, most drive by shooting are meant to scare some one. It is not the most effective way to kill someone. If people get killed, that's collateral damage.
They are trying to get to Thao and get back at Sue. They know that they cannot scare Walt and it would be more effective to bring out Walt this way.
Even though Eastwood was born in California, his dad was a steel worker so I suspect that there is a lot of background he grew up with that drew him to this role. Now at 78, he is viewing these people from a different perspective, and that is what I am seeing from it as well.
T.