Gran Torino

A pure classic! Nothing more needs be said... I haven't rated a movie with 5 stars since Hellboy 2, and that says a lot for this movie!

Synopsis


Walt Kowalski is a widower who holds onto his prejudices despite the changes in his Michigan neighborhood and the world around him. Kowalski is a grumpy, tough-minded, unhappy an old man, who can't get along with either his kids or his neighbors, a Korean War veteran whose prize possession is a 1972 Gran Torino he keeps in mint condition. When his neighbor Thao, a young Hmong teenager under pressure from his gang member cousin, tries to steal his Gran Torino, Kowalski sets out to reform the youth. Drawn against his will into the life of Thao's family, Kowalski is soon taking steps to protect them from the gangs that infest their neighborhood.

Written by alfiehitchie


Starring: Clint Eastwood, Ahney Her, Christopher Carley and Bee Vang Directed by: Clint Eastwood


Storyline: 5 Stars


Excellent, just excellent! Eastwood realises that a god movie doesn't have to have a complicated plot, as most directors seem to think... Eastwood makes a movie that's both superb and easy viewing at the same time... quite a pleasure to watch!


Acting: 4 Stars


Clint's great and an extremely funny actor, all the rest of the cast fit in just nicely!

Music: 3 Stars


Music is relatively good, but isn't the driving force in this masterpiece...


Emotions: 5 Stars


Quite light and fun to start off with, but soon Eastwood gently stirs up your inward emotions, throwing them in all different directions!


Humour: 5 Stars


Like Del Toro in Hellboy 2, Eastwood uses the power of laughter as a tool in helping the audience to connect with the characters... and how skillfully does he wield this power!


Conclusion


A masterpiece like none have ever seen before, need I say more? Watch it!

Changeling

Well Clint Eastwood has certainly created a masterpiece this time.



I'll mention straightaway that it's not particularly my genre, being more of a Drama movie, so I'll be reviewing more indifferently here. Nevertheless, this movie turns out as a pure classic, to be remembered for years to come!



Synopsis



Inspired by actual events that occurred in 1920s-era Los Angeles, Clint Eastwood's "Changeling" tells the story of a woman driven to confront a corrupted LAPD after her abducted son is retrieved and she begins to suspect that the boy returned to her is not the same boy she gave birth to. The year was 1928, and the setting a working-class suburb of Los Angeles. As Christine (Angelina Jolie) said goodbye to her son, Walter, and departed for work, she never anticipated that this was the day her life would be forever changed. Upon returning home, Christine was distressed to discover that Walter was nowhere to be found. Over the course of the following months, the desperate mother would launch a search that would ultimately prove fruitless. Yet just when it seemed that all hope was lost, a nine-year-old boy claiming to be Christine's son seemed to appear out of thin air. Overcome with emotions and uncertain how to face the authorities or the press, Christine invites the child to stay in her home despite knowing without a doubt that he is not her son. As much as Christine would like to accept the fact that her son has been returned to her, she cannot accept the injustice being pushed upon her and continues to challenge the Prohibition-era Los Angeles police force at every turn. As a result, Christine is slandered by the powers that be, and painted as an unfit mother. In this town, a woman who challenges the system is putting her life on the line, and as the situation grows desperate, the only person willing to aid her in her search is benevolent local activist Reverend Briegleb (John Malkovich).



Source: IMDb



Starring Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, and Gattlin Griffith. Directed by Clint Eastwood.



Storyline: 4 Stars



The story of the movie is both intense and gripping... the movie was 2.5 hours long, it never got tedious, in fact I didn't feel like it had taken more than about 2 hours... and, unlike The Dark Knight, this movie felt like it had a nice rounded ending... Quite satisfying through and through!



Music: 5 Stars



In my opinion, this music score is the only worthy contender with Danny Elfman's Hellboy 2 score for the upcoming oscars. A wonderful score, not overly done, carrying the tone of the movie beautifully!



Now that I look at it, I find that on the IMDb page that the music composer is actually Clint Eastwood himself... Never knew a director could make such great music!



Acting: 3 Stars



Angelina Jolie makes a wonderful performance in the leading role in this movie, and really connects with her character!



The other members of the cast aren't excellent, but don't let the side down on no account...



Conclusion



I suppose you already know what I'm about to say... It's an excellent movie!



Watch it!