Gran Torno Written Movie Review By John Delia
GRAN TORINO
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Ahney Her and Cory Hardrict
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Rated R for language throughout and some violence
By John Delia
Clint Eastwood does it again with Gran Torino, a brilliant film that deals with life and it's stumbling blocks. Giving another great performance in the lead role, Eastwood shows his mastery for portraying subjects that are interesting and imaginative. If you like dramatic films that give you a view of society that you don't readily see, than Gran Torino is for you.
Eastwood portrays Walt Kowalski, an iron-willed and inflexible Korean War veteran living in a changing world, who is forced by his immigrant neighbors to confront his own long-held prejudices. A retired autoworker Kowalski fills his days with home repair, beer and monthly trips to the barber. Though his late wife's final wish was for him to take confession, for Walt--an embittered veteran of the Korean War who keeps his M-1 rifle cleaned and ready--there's nothing to confess. And no one he trusts enough to confess to other than his dog, Daisy.
The people he once called his neighbors have all moved or passed away, replaced by Hmong immigrants, from Southeast Asia, he despises. Resentful of virtually everything he sees--the drooping eaves, overgrown lawns and the foreign faces surrounding him; the aimless gangs of Hmong, Latino and African American teenagers who all think the neighborhood belongs to them; the callow strangers his children have grown up to be--Walt is just waiting out the rest of his life. Until the night someone tries to steal his `72 Gran Torino.
Eastwood is at his best when his films involve a life struggle. As Walt, a cantankerous old codger who has pushed away his children and makes war on his new neighbors, Eastwood commands the screen. He is very convincing here with his crass and no holds barred racist attitude that touches almost every ethnic group. I enjoyed his banter between his son's who seem to want the best for him but more than likely want to move on from the years of not being loved.
As a director Eastwood brings out some very good performances in the young teens that are the antagonists and antithesis within the storyline. Vang does a great job as Tao, the Hmong boy who is the target of a gang and Her gives a touching performance as his sister who sees the good side of Walt.
The film does contain a lot of racial slurs and is Rated R for language throughout and some graphic violence, so be cautioned.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Gran Torino is a very good film that has great acting by Eastwood and visualizes a seedier side to life. (3.5 of 5 Palm Trees)
Gran Torno Video Movie Review-Revisin en Espanol
Gran Torno Video Movie Review
Valkyrie- Written Movie Review By John Delia
VALKYRIE
Starring: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Terrance Stamp, and Eddie Izzard
Directed by: Bryan Singer
Rated PG-13 for violence and brief strong language
By John Delia
I just couldn't get into Valkyrie and what bothered me most were the ineffective acting and the valueless plot. If you are interested in an attempt on the life of Hitler or are a historian on WWII you may get some value from the film.
There is not much to say about the film without giving most of it away. Valkyrie is a true story in which several officers of the German Military get together and carry out an attempt on the life of Adolf Hitler, the Chancelor of Germany who perpetuated the war against Europe in the late 1930's up until his demise in 1945. The most obvious reason for this attack on him (many attempts were made on his life during his dictatorship) was that Germany was loosing and some of his main military leaders were looking for a way to negotiate their surrender, rather than an ultimate no deal defeat.
The film goes something like this. Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise) an officer of the Third Reich agrees to a plan to stop Hitler before Germany is destroyed by the impending invasion of the country. With the help of other German officers wary of Hitler's war, von Stauffenberg gains acceptance by the German inner circle of officers closest to Hitler. During a secret meetin, von Stauffenberg unleashes the plan to take down the German despot.
Not one of the actors playing the parts of the German officers is believable in the film. Cruise, although battle scared, doesn't act desperate enough to face such a huge icon as Hitler, let alone the Fuhrer's half crazed inner circle of officers. We know from all accounts that the incident did happen. But, even if it was as easy as depicted in the film to gain entrance to the site of the attack, it is hard to believe that the Gestapo was so amateurish in the escape. Having said this about the acting, I must say however, David Bamber who plays the Fuhrer does a great job doubling for the despicable man.
If this event in history does intrigue you, there were several films and TV productions made on the subject matter that I enjoyed a lot better including The Plot to Kill Hitler starring Brad Davis and the 2004 film Operation Valkyrie: The Stauffenberg Plot to Kill Hitler which is more of a docudrama where they show a lot of actual footage of the dictator and photos of the scene.
Valkyrie is Rated PG-13 for violence and brief strong language. The film runs about 2 hours.
FINAL ANALYSIS: If you like war films that are more drama than action, this film may fit the bill. (2 of 5 stars)
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button-Written Review By John Delia
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchette, Jason Flemyng, Tilda Swinton, Taraji P. Henson, Elle Fanning and Julia Ormond
Directed by: David Fincher
PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking
By John Delia
The film may be the best of the year with stellar acting, amazing make-up and CGI, superb directing and remarkable cinematography. I loved the odd yet touching romantic drama that held my interest throughout the nearly three-hour length. If you like films with wonderment at every turn, then The Curious Case of Benjamin Button should fill your fantasy.
The film, based on a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, centers on the birth of a child who is so hideous that his mother is forced by her husband to abandon it at a retirement home. A worker at the home takes the child in as her own and raises him. Aging backward, from his eighties the boy starts to grow in mind much like normal children, but still in the shell of an old man. As his life progresses we get to rummage though his loves, a stint in the war, his travels and the wonders of change all seen from the odd perspective of reverse ageing.
I found the film very fascinating as it played out showing the reverse aging process while the other characters aged normally. The film is brilliant in capturing the life of Benjamin as he catches up to his childhood with stopovers along the way.
Pitt does a terrific job of keeping in character throughout the film even under the most difficult circumstances of portraying Benjamin at challenging age levels. His ability project to me the believability of the character's age progression, especially the younger (when he is old looking) years where he is learning life skills, shows genuine talent.
In support Blanchette as older Daisy who tells the story and Swinton as a forlorn Elizabeth Abbott who falls in love with Benjamin are excellent. The two pull the story together and make it romantic and interesting. I also enjoyed the acting of Fanning as the younger Daisy who befriends Benjamin while others shun the boy.
Topping the cast however, is Henson as Queenie the housekeeper who takes Benjamin in and raises him. With an endearing performance, her devotion to raising the odd looking boy is moving and admirable.
The film is rated PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking so be sure to take this into consideration when deciding to take immature children to see the film.
FINAL ANALYSIS: The amazing and enjoyable film has Oscar awards written all over it. (5 of 5 stars)
Posts
