Critic Watch: Gran Torino

One of the most well known names in Hollywood, Clint Eastwood stars in his own movie Gran Torino. Eastwood plays the role of a retired Korean War vet who never backs down from any threat. After getting involved in a fight between his new neighbors and a gang, Eastwood is unwillingly pulled towards them. Critics, like Entertainment Weekly and The New York Times, gave the film good reviews. But others, like the Baltimore Sun and the Chicago Reader were not as impressed.


Lisa Schwarzbaum, the author of the article in Entertainment Weekly, alludes heavily, in her review, to Clint Eastwood’s previous films. Although it sounds as if this is another typical Clint Eastwood directed film, Schwarzbaum says, “Don’t let the star’s overly familiar squint fool you.” This film contains subject matters that normally are not talked about casually. Schwarzbaum gives the film a 91 out of 100.


Manohla Dargis, a writer for The New York Times, focuses more on the heavier themes. The film is more realistic than most because it deals with the lives of Americans that have to deal with issues “from economic worries to race.” Dargin feels that Eastwood has a firm grasp on what life is like for us many Americans. Feeling that the audience could relate to the characters, Dargis gives it a 90 out of 100.


Elizabeth Weitzman of the New York Daily News writes that despite the poor acting of the supporting characters, Gran Torino is a success because of Clint Eastwood’s experienced acting career. Weitzman calls the performance of the supporting characters “awkward” but because Eastwood puts on his “tough guy” image, it works out in the end. Weitzman isn't too convinced this is one of the greater works of Clint Eastwood. This film is given a 60 out of 100.


However, J.R. Jones, from the Chicago Reader, believes that Clint Eastwood in not the man he once was. Eastwood’s “classic hardass persona” does little to make the film as realistic as possible because of his age. But no matter what type of performance Eastwood could have given, it could not change the fact that the script contains some awkward situations. If the script and acting was better than it woulnd't have gotten a 50 out of 100.


Michael Sragow of the Baltimore Sun is not impressed with the work of Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino. There are some discrepancies in the story line that Sragow pointed out. He says, “to fill the gaps, Eastwood relies on an audience’s attachment to him as an icon - and an audience's fascination in seeing his character turn from aggressive violence to self-sacrifice.” The film is not made for the general public; only for those loyal fans of Eastwood. Sragow gave the film a 38 out of 100. The only way to improve the film would require a change in actors and script.


Most, if not all, of the critics referred to Clint Eastwood’s earlier works in film and focused solely on him. Some believe that Gran Torino is up to par while others believe it is a big disappointment. What it really boils down to is whether or not you like Clint Eastwood.