K=one guy                    S=the girl                 E=other guy                 

K:  I’m a big fan of Clint Eastwood’s directorial work these past few years.  Eastwood is an icon representing the old Hollywood glory years.  And, Eastwood’s character in Gran Torino reminds me of what an older Dirty Harry may be right now.

E:  Eastwood is hit or miss for me.  I’m a big fan of his directorial work, too… Unforgiven, Mystic River and Million Dollar Baby… all great work.  I think there was some buzz in Hollywood that Gran Torino and/or Eastwood would receive a nod or two from the Academy.  It didn’t and I’m glad.  Good film, just not a great one.

S:  I loved The Outlaw Josie Wales when I was a kid.  Does that count?

K:  Eastwood’s entertaining human performance is the reason Gran Torino works: You know people like this man exist in real life!

S:  Obviously you knew my Grampa!  Or many other older men in my community growing up.  Kind of crotchety but a heart of gold underneath.

E:  Eastwood’s character has every right to be sullen.  His current environment exacerbates the painful memories from his tour of duty in Korea.  Still, I was expecting a performance more like Paul Newman in Nobody’s Fool.  Grumpy, crotchety, holding on to some guilt, but still approachable and likeable.  But Eastwood, not so much.    

K:  The non-PC dialog throughout Gran Torino added to the quality of the movie.

E:  I’ll admit that added some depth to his character and a few laughs.

S:  The “How to Talk Like a Man” barbershop scene was so funny I seriously almost peed my pants.  That was worth the matinee price in and of itself.

K:  I enjoyed the poignant, surprise outcome of the dramatic confrontation towards the end of the movie.

E:  There was definitely a weight to this picture.  You don’t expect to see race and gang issues such as this in suburban Detroit.  And there were some lessons, good and bad, that the audience will take away.

S:  And I loved the contrast between the gang kids and the family next door.  The sister/daughter character was my favorite.  Tough yet totally dedicated to her family even if it was a very traditional one.

E:  Hmm… end of our review and we haven’t even touched another character in this film:  Eastwood’s Grand Torino automobile.  But I know we can all agree that Eastwood shouldn’t sing, as he does while the credits roll.

S:  You’re nuts.  The whole point of the song was to be a melancholy look at what this picture was about.  I definitely would go with matinee.

K:  I won’t go far as to say this is a Best Picture movie but it’s worth a solid matinee.

Matinee for sure