Review of Gran Torino (2008) by Dylan D — 12 Sep 2013

Powerful, moving, and timeless, Gran Torino represents the ultimate in straightforward moviemaking, where theme and emotional context overpower every other facet of the experience. It matters not that Eastwood delivers another exceptional performance on both sides of the camera, that the film features fine cinematography, or that the acting from several players might not be the best ever committed to film.

Regardless of its plusses or minuses, the emotional core of Gran Torino conquers all else, for its startlingly simple yet incredibly powerful theme of sacrifice and selflessness, particularly in a world full of selfishness, shines far brighter than any other facet of the film, a symbol of the power of personal, moving, and riveting old-fashioned storytelling.