"Whassup, Walt?"
The trailer for Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino (Warner Bros., 12.17) is up and running, and it feels delicious. Make that scrumptious. It shows the basics, who the characters are, the tone of it, the tough-old-bird-against-the-gang-bangers scheme. And it conveys something really special, or does by my sights.
Remember that initial rumor that Gran Torino might be some kind of Dirty Harry movie (which of course was soon after debunked)? Well, take a look at this thing -- it is a kind of Dirty Harry movie, at least in terms of the pugnacious, suffer-no-fools, take-no-guff nature of Eastwood's Walt character. I realize that it's finally about getting past (or growing through) all of that, but that final hand gesture -- the very last image in the trailer -- has a certain legendary assurance, and almost a kind of beauty. Because of our decades-long investment in the Clint legend, because of his iconic nature, because of the Eastwood metaphor of never retiring or slowing down and getting better as you get older.
You can never trust trailers, but Gran Torino looks like a humdinger.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 24, 2008 at 11:10 AM
comment #1
Nick Rogers
says ...
Seeing as how this post disappeared, then moved to the top, I'll try my comments again:
At least now we know who overdubbed for Christian Bale in the Batsuit.
"Get off my lawn" seems as appropriate a line of dialogue for this film's seeming tone as "I've had it with these motherfuckin' snakes on this motherfuckin' plane."
Impressed by the man's productivity. Un-wowed by this trailer.
Sorry if this somehow shows up twice.
Posted by Nick Rogers
at October 24, 2008 11:14 AM
comment #2
gruver1
says ...
Posted by Mark, reposted by Jeffrey Wells as a courtesy due to the post being moved: Let me get this straight. Way old former soilder bad ass; prone to fly off the handle; refuses to go gently into the night; considers black man's taxation attempt to be assault; good church-going christian that tunes a deaf ear to parish leaders; accepts asian financial goods and hospitality, but not asian aggression, etc...
Anyone know who Clint is voting for?
Posted by gruver1
at October 24, 2008 11:16 AM
comment #3
gruver1
says ...
Posted by knigtrider76, reposted by Jeffrey Wells as a courtesy due to the post being moved: Best Actor nomination,easily. The only one for the film. Maybe even a win.
Posted by gruver1
at October 24, 2008 11:18 AM
comment #4
gruver1
says ...
Posted by tjfar67, reposted by Jeffrey Wells as a courtesy due to the post being moved: Who directed this? The trailer say Clint Eastwood, the website says Dramis Pereo. Either way, Clint is the hardest working man in show business.
Posted by gruver1
at October 24, 2008 11:19 AM
comment #5
gruver1
says ...
Posted by VoiceofReason, reposted by Jeffrey Wells as a courtesy due to the post being moved:
Wow! I had no idea there was a "Clint beats down Asian gangbangers" angle to this film. Looks really awesome.
Posted by gruver1
at October 24, 2008 11:21 AM
comment #6
gruver1
says ...
Posted by rr3333, reposted by Jeffrey Wells as a courtesy due to the post being moved: Clint's voice is starting to sound like Paul Newman's voice (when he was even younger than Clint is now). Damn, he's in good shape though. The man directs, acts, writes music, produces. Amazing.
Posted by gruver1
at October 24, 2008 11:22 AM
comment #7
lbeale
says ...
Here's what's rarely commented on: Eastwood's position as one of the most racially progressive stars in Hollywood. He's directed films with minority protagonists (Bird, etc.), starred in several in which minorities had key roles (True Crime), featured his black buddy Albert Popwell in all sorts of flicks, and even had a black lover in one film (The Eiger Sanction). So now he's dealing with an Asian minority community - after he made a film about the Japanese during WWII. Oh, yeah - he's married to a Latina.
There must be something in that Bay Area water, 'cause this jazz-lovin' Libertarian (or moderate Republican) sure doesn't seem to have any issues with American racial diversity.
Posted by lbeale
at October 24, 2008 11:45 AM
comment #8
Sean
says ...
tfjar: That whole credit block on the Apple site is "Greek." Pretty big/dumb/easy-to-fix mistake for WB.
Posted by Sean
at October 24, 2008 12:11 PM
comment #9
bmcintire
says ...
I know he's iconic and loved and all that, but that VOICE ruins it for me almost every time. And the grimacing he does throughout this trailer puts debate-mode MCCain to shame. Is this a comedy? They should have switched out the porch-sitting yellow labrador (Hollywood's favorite pet to kill in the second act) with an orangutan.
I'm glad this came out before the election, because there are going to be a dozen video mash-ups with this and the distinguished Republican senator from Arizona in about half and hour.
"Get off my lawn!"
Posted by bmcintire
at October 24, 2008 12:16 PM
comment #10
Som12H8
says ...
Holy crap, that looked awesome. Although having gone much of my youth with my favorite movie quote being the "do you feel lucky?" soliloquy, I guess I'm an easy mark. How many actors can match Clint's menace? Can't think of many, maybe Robert Mitchum in his best hour.
Posted by Som12H8
at October 24, 2008 12:16 PM
comment #11
actionman
says ...
Wow. Well that looks fucking awesome.
Posted by actionman
at October 24, 2008 1:09 PM
comment #12
berkguru
says ...
Looks awesome. Clearly Eastwood is the man Wells wishes he could be. I bet Wells points a few fingers at people at the screening if any non-whites or fat mexicans make noise or get in his line of sight.
Posted by berkguru
at October 24, 2008 1:54 PM
comment #13
Jake
says ...
Now if only they'd neglected to give his character a name- or at least limited it to a nickname- and hinted that he was a retired police inspector...
Posted by Jake
at October 24, 2008 2:22 PM
comment #14
frankbooth
says ...
"...I guess I'm an easy mark."
Yep.
Posted by frankbooth
at October 24, 2008 5:04 PM
comment #15
Josh Massey
says ...
There's really no reason this shouldn't be a Dirty Harry movie.
Posted by Josh Massey
at October 25, 2008 6:09 AM
comment #16
Edward
says ...
I love the voice, the sneer. Looks great.
Posted by Edward
at October 25, 2008 9:27 AM
comment #17
Piper71
says ...
I'm not mentally prepared for Clint Eastwood to be some grumpy old man who should consider retirement homes.
Judging from the trailer, this seems like a sappy grumpy, racist guy turned good movie and nothing really more than that.
Where's the "you're the man now, dog" quote that this is begging for.
Posted by Piper71
at October 25, 2008 11:48 AM
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