Well the new Clint Eastwood film, "Gran Torino", will open in theatres on the 22nd of January, and should be the next big hit of the summer.

It tells the story of an old, grumpy widower, a traditional old fashioned all american guy, and veteran of the Korean war, whose neighbourhood is now taken over by ethnic minorities, and how he interacts with them.

His neighbours are Hmong, pronounced 'mong', who are vietnam war refugees who settled in the US, and his blatant distaste for them, and open racist language, does not inspire any type of relationship between them, until events force them to interact, and his journey of discovery, and redemption begins.

This is a character driven story, and Clint Eastwoods portrayal of the growling, snarling old man, initially seems a bit overplayed and comical, but as the story progresses, I found myself actually looking forward to hearing his next growl of disapproval.
The actors who play his vietnamese neighbours are apparently just previously unknown locals, but they carry their roles beautifully, and lend a real authenticity to the story.

As the conflict between the family and a local gang escalates, so the relationship between the old man and the families, lonely son grows into something that none of them expected.

The story builds towards a dramatic climax, which I won't spoil for you, but it is very well handled, and ties up the moral questions raised along the way, quite neatly.

So, Clint Eastwood, seems to be like a fine wine, that just keeps getting better with age.
I could recommend this film to anyone, and happily give it a 9/10, it is sure to be one of the best films of the year.

Yes, I am looking forward to Valkyrie too.
If it is half as good as Gran Torino, then you are in for a double treat.

I struggle getting past thinking what a total goose Tom Cruise is, when watching him act, but despite that, he does often do a performance, and hopefully, this role will be one of them.

I really want to see that movie helian, so thanks for that.

On a lighter note I watched Hancock last night..it was very funny. Will Smith..Charlize Theron ( can hear the guys drooling now)...

A derelict superhero (Smith ) with a bad attitude and amnesia..wont spoil it for those who havent seen it.

NorthOfNorth wrote on Jan 25^th, 2009 at 12:07pm:


Yes Clint is getting on a bit but what a great actor..(he looks like my dad)..

Its a real treat when some of his old stuff comes on ...So it looks like Ill be seeing Grand Torino too then.

Instead of getting to the movies fortnightly or even weekly, it's averaging quarterly at the moment but I am happy to say that we saw Slumdog Millionaire the other night, and Mozza was right. Two thumbs up, it was very good. The acting was pretty good especially by the youngsters. The girl who played the female lead as an adult was stunningly beautiful.

The other thing about the movie was that it was such a brilliant concept that once thought of, I reckon the book/script would have nearly written itself, well done.

Saw Benjamin Button a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed that as well, but felt it was too long overall. I can't believe that Scott Fitsgerald is know for that crap the Great Gatsby and this work was largely unknown. Still I would give it 4 stars, just. Would like to read the book but it is currently in RIP OFF mode at the bookshops.

Really looking forward to Ghost Town and must see big screen feature WATCHMEN, currently reading the Absoulte Watchman collection in hardcover. Gritty.

Would also like to see the Changeling which is another Eastwood film (directing not acting) it sounds interesting.

I expect you will like Ghostown, it is worth the admission just for the opening scene.

It gets a bit mooshy at the end, but if you like ricky gervais, and don't suffer fools gladly, there will be plenty to keep you amused in this one.

Definitely one of the better comedies of late.

Changeling is OK, but I think it is more of a chick's flick, I couldn't buy into the central premise, so it failed to take me with it.

I liked Benjamin Button, but it is nothing like the short story, and I thought they could have ended it better, and sooner.

Yes Man is another Jim Carey movie, with a few laughs, and you would need to be a Carey fan to rate it above average, but still worth a rent when it hits video.

Probably the most powerful film I have seen recently, is "The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas", a low budget UK production, about the family of an SS commander, who gets posted to take charge of a concentration camp, in the days of the final solution. The son is bored, and sneaks away to check out the "farm" with the fence, where they wear their pyjamas all the time, he strikes up a friendship, through the fence, as his dad implements the final solution inside.
I was like a rabbit transfixed, I could see the truck coming, but I couldn't get out of the way, it was very disturbing, and moving, and for any with working electrons above the neck, you will be considering the moral implications of your allegiances for days afterwards.

Well I just watched "Evil Roy Slade" again, for the first time in a few decades, and while not as funny without a gutful of whoopee weed in me, it still had some pretty funny lines.

When he is trying to go straight, and can't take it any more he says;
"the only nine to five job I like, is when I have nine guys robbing five guys".

Well, the Oscars have come and gone again, and I must say that they were the best run, as far as the show goes, that I have ever seen, with Jackman giving a stellar performance as host.

Winslet winning for the reader, was a cruel joke upon the others nominated, for far stronger performances, in far superior films, but no-one says that Oscar is always fair.
I suppose it could be a reward for appearing naked in the vast majority of her roles, she could have got a lifetime achievement award for "nuding" up, on film,, with the reader just another, in the long line, with the chance to flash the flesh.

While I always respect Sean Penn's work, I feel that Brad Pitt, is one of the most critically under rated stars in hollywood, and once again is passed over.
But hey, he is not alone, with Leo DiCaprio, not even being nominated for his stunning performance in Body Of Lies, a film also passed over by the academy.

Still, Slumdog, the big favourite, took out the two biggies, and a few more to boot, but nobody begrudges them for that, as it was definitely one of the better films this year.