Gran Torino (2008) Film Review - Clint Eastwood

Plot Summary - Gruff and tough old Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) has just lost his wife and is living alone (just him and his dog Daisy) in his old house in a rundown Michigan neighborhood that has been taken over by mainly Hmong immigrant families. Walt uses a lot of ethnic slurs in his way of talking, and doesn't care for the changes that have taken place in the old neighborhood. He also doesn't really get along with his grown sons and grandchildren (jerks the lot of them, if you ask me) - but he finds himself getting involved with and soon befriending his next-door neighbor's teen son and daughter, Sue and Thao. Thao is having plenty of trouble with his cousin's Hmong street gang who are after him 'cause he won't join them (Thao even botched a feeble initiation attempt to steal neighbor Walt's prize 1972 Gran Torino, mainly kept shiny and slick in Walt's garage). Sue is sassy and smart-mouthed. Walt confronts the street toughs with his huge Korean War gun he keeps handy, joins the family for barbecue dinners, helps Sue and Thao out of scrapes with the various local hoods and toughs, and finds himself liking this family better than his own, all while overcoming his own built-in prejudices.

Review - A well done film, quiet and interesting - Clint Eastwood is great and pretty amusing with his no-holds barred language and gruff manner, he comes across as a likable fellow despite outward appearances and manner. I found the story involving, the on-location neighborhood scenes nicely done, and the relationships between the characters realistic. Rating - 9/10 stars

Changeling (2008) Film Review - Clint Eastwood directed

Plot Summary - Period crime drama directed by Clint Eastwood and set in late twenties Los Angeles, based on a true story. About Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie), mother of a nine-year old boy, Walter, who disappears one day and the troubles she has with the police investigation that follows. POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR THE REST OF REVIEW: the police deliver a boy five months later who claims to be Walter, but mom knows better and denies that this boy is really her son. Christine insists he's not the boy and the police have made a mistake - the cops want her to refute her claims against them and insist she's insane. Corruption in the LAPD leading to a trip into a local mad house for Christine (where other women who stood up against cops have been thrown and electric shock treatments are the norm) and a real life murder story infamously known as the "Wineville Chicken Coop Murders".

Review - A gripping story from beginning to end - I really liked this. It's an odd, scary tale that - unbelievably enough - really happened. Jason Butler Harner, the actor who plays the deranged murderer/monster, gives a really memorable, absolutely chilling performance - I could swear the man was actually a psychotic killer! The recreation of twenties/thirties L.A. is masterfully done, I loved seeing the streets and old red cars looking so realistic! A week later and I'm still thinking about this story. Rating - 9/10 stars