Two things have been true about Clint Eastwood movies in recent years

1) no happy, sappy endings

2) always excellent

With Gran Torino it just keeps going.

It's a story of redemption and transformation that is grounded in cold, hard, dog-eared reality.

It isn't pretty but it is beautiful.

I plan to see this one...

As soon as it's out on DVD...

It looks like a crowning achievement, an end-of-life triumph...

And if he goes on to make more, we all win.

Can't wait to see it!

:hi:

I also recommend "The Changeling"

It's an inspiration to see someone do such a good job at their craft.

Good evening to you Peggy! :hi:

He just is.

And at 78, it's an example of accumulating wisdom and skill throughout your life.

And, he's a native San Franciscan!

GET OFF MY LAWN!

Good film, but I found myself wincing a lot because of his character's offensive language.

What can anyone say about Clint. I know, alot of the examples and values shown in his films are not ones I strive for. Yet, from the spaghetti westerns, Pale Rider, Unforgiven, and many others, I feel the desire for vengeance and justice that he shows in his films. But many of his films, personally, tempt me to feelings of anger or violence, but, in his films they are for righteous reason. This makes it tough yet thoughtful, so, for me, I have to filter it as a story, and find a different way to visualize his actions.

They have a common thought of an unjust world, where sometimes it takes a bit of individual strength to stand against strife or injustice. Sometimes an internal conflict, many times more worldly. For the most part, for me, his methods are a metaphor told to a culture that enjoys the quick and easy fix to a problem, without seeing the long term impact. And violence is a short term solution with bigger long term problems. Yet he finds a way to get that idea into the films also, really sublime. Like in unforgiven when he says "we all got it coming" to the blind kid, or when he rides out of the red painted town.

But he did alot for the Eastwood name, got to like that :)

I am sure I will see the film, and I include almost all his movies as guilty pleasures, and do watch them. But the themes do not follow 'turn the other cheek' or 'forgive them' so maybe they are a warning more then a guiding. Or maybe in a bigger context, how justice does find away around. Don't know... but they make you think in a wary sort of way. Lots of themes of redemption, and also admission of the failings that can haunt us.

He also got on the 'thats what I do' common meme going around with him saying he 'finishes things'.

be interesting to see what themes you pick up on in this film.

the common thread in his movies since "The Unforgiven" is not justice but coming to terms with human nature and people confronting problems and having only imperfect solutions to choose from in response --even when following their better angels. his movies lately don't have stereotypical heroes but rather flawed characters that sacrifice something in order to get things closest to right (obviously i'm thinking prominently of Million Dollar Baby here, but it applies to others as well).

what's interesting to me is how he finds these stories, they are unusual stories in American film, they have themes and characters that contain heroic acts, heinous acts, but the good guys are not necessarily that good, just sort of flawed people who had and took the chance to try and do one thing according to their conscience.

like i said, i don't know how a director finds so many movies that exemplify the same types of characters, especially in a Hollywood all about perfect heroes and perfect villains.

Its not the night in shining armor, it could be anyone, just being who they are. In many of the films just trying to do a little better, many times using who they are even if that is not the best of what good is.

It adds an area of introspection into what it is to judge others and yourself. Good films, from someone that shows us good is not always good, and bad is not always bad. Can't get more introspective then that.

:spank:

what do you think Eastwood is thinking here? :rofl:

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/03/20/apes_wideweb__470x342,0.jpg

:rofl:

probably, of all the characters, why can't i shoot this one? :P

"If I put Sandra in enough of these fucking movies as my leading lady, it ought to go better when it comes to 'Palimony time'."

or future wives. :rofl:

:thumbsup:

classy, thoughtful movies that I enjoy, but never need to see again

It's interesting to see how he puts it together, particularly since the film is in some ways almost upside down from his earlier, shallower flicks. I never liked him until that movie.

In some ways, it's similar to Robert Altman's "The Player" in the way it mocks the audience, showing them the devices it uses to manipulate their emotions, but manipulating them while doing it. That's more obvious in "The Player," but Eastwood uses many of the same devices he uses in his earlier westerns to create a hero out of a broken character. In "Unforgiven" Mundy is never a hero, but Eastwood still takes the same steps to build him into the typical western hero, almost taunting the audience, as if he's saying "See, this is what you worship. This is how easy it is to glorify violence. This is all as much your fault as mine." The film is a perfect commentary on itself.

I like a lot of his later films, like Million Dollar Baby, but I agree with you on most of them. They are beautiful, stunning, and haunting tales, but once you've seen them, you've got the whole thing. Given that you know the story, seeing them again won't add to your understanding, and may take away from it. "Unforgiven" is an exception, to me, to that.

Just my thoughts. Probably wrong, as always.

it is far more textured and raises questions, rather than just affirming reflexive humanism (not that there is anything wrong with that...)

Like saving private Ryan de glorifies war.

I think I get your comment, well said.
and what was the last line.
Why she married such a man...
Again supporting your comment.

Also did you notice the sheriff, never even understood what he did that was wrong. Granted somewhere he was trying to preserve order, but his methods made him more like muny then a good character.

And he never could understand that, he died asking why.

We will likely wait for it to come out on DVD. We do not get out for non-kid movies much.

a very nice movie too.

I hear it is a three box o' tissue movie.

a remarkable story actually, and a true one at that.

have to give credit to Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. They play this one just right.

I am not really a fan of either principle actor in that film, but it is good to hear that they got it right for Marley and Me.