It is extremely racist, and offends just about every race. But I loved the message in the end. I simply adore Clint Eastwood, I have been a fan since the 70's, in his Dirty Harry days....anyone else?

Well, you all missed out on a great movie over the week end. !!

Another movie where an actor fantasizes about taking on the neighborhood gang.

Clint would get his old ass beat if he tried that shit FOR REAL.

MuthaFunka said:

Yes he would, but damn, I enjoy a Clint Eastwood movie!

MuthaFunka said:

That's exactly what I thought when I saw the trailer

bboy87 said:

With his old, bitch-ass - still thinkin' it's the 70s and shit!

yes. i liked it.

dunno about the movie itself being racist. i would argue the opposite is true. the character he plays is racist, and the movie is not saying that is a good thing by any means.

changeling was better, anyway

Yeah baby!!


Clint Eastwood's `Gran Torino' tops box office
Jan. 11, 2009, 1:54 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) -- Make my weekend. Clint Eastwood has had the best movie opening of his long and esteemed career. His "Gran Torino" revved up the winter box office with $29 million in ticket sales in its first weekend of wide release, according to studio estimates Sunday.

It's Eastwood's best opening ever, topping the $18 million his "Space Cowboys" made in 2000.

In what Eastwood, 78, has said may be his last starring performance, he plays a disgruntled war veteran who reluctantly comes to the aid of his neighbors.

The National Board of Review dubbed Eastwood's performance the best for an actor in 2008, and his song "Gran Torino" was nominated for a Golden Globe at Sunday's awards ceremony.

"Gran Torino," which Eastwood also directed, was previously in limited release for four weeks. It jumped from 84 theaters to 2,808 this weekend after boasting very high theater averages.

"At this stage of his career, I think it's remarkable," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution at Warner Bros., which released "Gran Torino." "There are a lot of younger people that can identify with him in a role like this that maybe haven't seen him a role like this since `Dirty Harry.'"

Eastwood stole the box-office bouquet from Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson. Their wedding comedy "Bride Wars," released by 20th Century Fox, came in second with $21.5 million. The horror film "The Unborn" from Universal Pictures followed with $21.1 million in its debut.

"Marley & Me," the Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson's family dog tale that topped the box office the last two weekends, fell to fourth with $11.4 million and a cumulative total of $124 million for the 20th Century Fox film.

While awards season was heating up, most of the major contenders had solid numbers, though mostly in limited release.

Paramount Vantage's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" took in $9.4 million in its third week of release, bringing its total closer to the century mark with $94 million.

Focus Features' "Milk," Paramount Vantage's "Revolutionary Road" and Fox Searchlight's "The Wrestler" — all with awards hopes at the Globes and beyond — were among the best performers in screen average. Each hopes to continue to build momentum as the Oscars near.

"Defiance," in its second week of limited release, led with a robust $33,000 screen average. "Defiance" stars Daniel Craig in the story of Jewish brothers who form a band of freedom fighters against the Nazis in Eastern Europe.

Fox Searchlight's underdog hit "Slumdog Millionaire" added $3.7 million to its total of $34 million.

The success of "Gran Torino" could boost Eastwood's awards chances. The film was largely overlooked by the Globes, but the Oscars have long supported Eastwood's directorial efforts and awarded his "Million Dollar Baby" best picture in 2005.

"This will raise its profile in a very profound way," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media by Numbers. "Certainly `Gran Torino' is in an excellent position. It's a textbook case of releasing a film in limited, nurturing it for about a month and unleashing it upon the world in a wide release and really capitalizing on that."

That audiences remain so eager to see Eastwood on the screen suggests to Fellman that he should rethink any acting retirement.

"Clint has said this is the last time he's going to be in front of the lens. I hope he reconsiders after this," Fellman said.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Gran Torino," $29 million.

2. "Bride Wars," $21.5 million.

3. "The Unborn," $21.1 million.

4. "Marley & Me," $11.4 million.

5. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," $9.4 million.

6. "Bedtime Stories," $8.6 million.

7. "Valkyrie," $6.7 million.

8. "Yes Man," $6.2 million.

9. "Not Easily Broken," $5.6 million.

10. "Seven Pounds," $3.9 million.

Yeah, it was Great. Eastwood is Amazing. Great storyline...

Im going to see it this Tuesday.

Excellent movie. I wouldn't say it was racist...it was more because of the time he grew up in. Clint Eastwood just gets better and better.

Clint says a lot of racist shit but you have to view it in the context of the film. I am the most racially sensitive person on the planet but it did not offend me in the least.

going to try to catch it this week. i'm really excited for it!

I saw it this past weekend and loved it. I don't consider it racist at all...it covers racism but the movie it self is not racist.

PaisleyPark5083 said:

"I said, get off my lawn"

Shorty said:

My thoughts as well...it's a piece of life and his journey to understanding
a group of people that he never understood before and the difference they made in his life.

He's cute, but he looks so fucking sleepy...

Bjork?
[Edited 1/21/09 11:49am]

I love love LOVED this movie; but I am biased because I love anything Clint does!

I liked "Gran Torino" because of Clint Eastwood's likeable performance of an unlikable character (if that makes any sense). I especially liked the scene where he's teaching the boy how to go into a barbershop and ask for a haircut "like a man". Funny stuff.

I want to see it again this weekend, that's how much I loved it!

OOhh! and by the way, Clint Eastwood is coming to the Santa Barbara Film Festival! I can't wait!

If calling blacks spooks and asians gooks wasn't racist then what would you say his character portrayed? I saw this movie and thought he played the role of a racist that is put in a position where he has to adapt with people of other cultures and races with which he would rather not.
[Edited 1/22/09 0:14am]

PEJ said:

seriously...most of the racist stuff was toungue in cheek and 2 b honest, made me laugh. The context is most important here. The little girl and little boy who lived next door were able to do that and still made friends with clints character. It was an old man, an old Korean War vet, and the stuff he said was all half expected anyway, which is was made it amusing. If it was offensive, lighten up a little.

PEJ said:

I'm not sure what your argument is? the movie is about racism, so ofcourse the actors portray racist characteristics.....but that doesn't make it a racist movie.....right?

BobGeorge909 said:

+1.....well said

I saw it yesterday.....he is my recently deceased grandfather....in his actions and his words....my grandfather wasn't PC ever...but he'd help anybody....

This movie was wonderful....

I loved how he was biased against everyone as a whole, not just other races. From the beginning the only person you know he had the up most respect for was for his dead wife. The scene at the beginning, when he see's his grand daughter with a pierced belly button at his wife's funeral, is priceless. All he has to do is grunt, and you knew what he was thinking.

BobGeorge909 said:

The whole theater was in hysterics when I went to see this...and there were many different races in the audience. It was nice to see people laughing it off rather than getting angry.

I am mexican/american and when the whole stereo typical cholo/gangster mexican guys in the lowrider, are in the scene... I thought it was actually funny, like CarrieLee said, people found it funny.
[Edited 1/22/09 10:22am]

Finally saw it, I loved Eastwood's acting a s a grumpy old man, racist but not closed up.....I was a bit disappointed with the ending.

liked it!