Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Warner Home Video – 116 minutes – 2008 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 2.4:1 – Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Audio Mix – Digital Copy

Whatever magic potion Clint Eastwood is drinking in his old age is making him nearly superhuman. He’s in his 70’s and completely in his prime, both acting in and directing some of the best films of his fifty-plus year career. Gran Torino is the latest film that the Hollywood legend performs double duty, both in front and behind the camera. Gran Torino comes to Blu-ray from Warner Home Video showing that an old man can still kick some ass.

THE MOVIE

Clint Eastwood stars as Walt Kowalski, a Korean War Vet who has grown old in a world that has completely transformed around him. His only possessions are his home and a classic Gran Torino, an automobile that he treats like gold. Walt believes in old school values, which is a fancy way of saying he’s a bigot in the tradition of Archie Bunker. His neighborhood is now flooded with various poor minorities, including the immigrant South East Asian family who now lives next door to him.

When the Asian gangs that roam the neighborhood force the teenage boy who lives next door to try and steal the precious Gran Torino, Walt prevents the crime from happening, and the boy’s sister Su, played wonderfully by newcomer Ahney Her, attempts to befriend the old man. Walt is stubborn and stuck in his ways, but Ahney’s charm wins him over and he actually grows to enjoy the company of her and her family. But the street gangs continue to prey on Ahney’s family, resulting in violence and triggering a side of Walt that he thought he left behind.

Gran Torino is brilliant because in man ways it is a modern day cowboy film, a genre that Eastwood knows very well, with an old gunslinger whom must do one last thing to redeem himself from the world he hates. Eastwood also does something that most older actors refuse to do…he actually plays an old man, and not the slick, sarcastic botox injected actor who is still trying to be young and hip. Eastwood’s face is filled with wrinkles and he walks around with his bands pulled up to his stomach, just like your grandpa does.

The script by Nick Schenk is filled with vivid characters and doesn’t play it safe, making Walt completely unlikable. Eastwood gives a great performance and doesn’t overthrow his star status, by allowing the other cast members to stand out over him in scenes. It is easy to see how Gran Torino will be labeled as a classic that will still be a prime film in cinema as the decades roll by. In this CGI-flooded Hollywood that caters to teenagers, it’s refreshing to see a film that uses intelligence over special effects. Gran Torino should definitely be on your list of must see movies.

VIDEO

With a full 1080p image in a 2.4:1 aspect ratio, Gran Torino looks great on Blu-ray with its gritty style of photography and muted color tones. Every wrinkle that Clint Eastwood has earned is on display, and the world he lives in is gray with cloudy skies throughout. The image is sharp, looking better than I remember it being in the theater, and even though there are hints of grain it fits the mood of the movie.

AUDIO

Offering a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio mix, Gran Torino benefits with use of natural sounds. This is a heavy dialogue movie and every line is heard in crisp quality, including Eastwood’s gruff voice. It’s not demo material, but it does the job well.

EXTRAS

Even though the back of the Blu-ray base makes it seem like there are some decent bonus features, there’s actually not much here to see, which is a letdown because a film this good deserves more. There’s not even an audio commentary track from Eastwood, which would have been a great highlight.

‘Manning the Wheel’ is a ten-minute promotional piece that goes behind the scenes of the film with quick interviews from the cast and crew. This is your basic promo reel that offers nothing more than it is.

‘Gran Torino: More Than a Car’ is a five-minute clip that looks at the automobile that is the center of this movie, as well as some of the real life owners of the same vehicle who treasure it.

An exclusive to Blu-ray is the twenty-minute documentary ‘The Eastwood Way’ which explores his mindset behind making Gran Torino, and why he chose to act in the film as well as direct it.

For those of you who want their Clint Eastwood on the go, a Digital Copy of the film is provided.

BOTTOM LINE

Gran Torino is a well crafted and acted drama that takes a look at a changing America through the eyes of a rough old man. The Blu-ray offers good image and sound quality, but the list of bonus features leaves a lot to be desired. If you saw the film in theaters and liked it, then you need to add this to your Blu-ray collection. All others are also recommended to give Gran Torino a viewing, because you don’t have to be a Clint Eastwood fan to enjoy it.

SCORES: (Out of 5):

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 2.5

Bottom Line: 4.0