Gran Torino

Wow! Again...

It has been some time. I started a new job in the beginning of November which has been taking a lot of my time from not only blogging, but from watching movies! I haven't watched much lately. The horror - but in the profession, I guess it was somewhat expected. My intention when I started this blog is to talk about movies, movies, movies. I want to talk about upcoming movies, movies I watch at home, and movies I watch in the theaters.

This weekend I was fortunate. This lovely north weather blessed me with a snowstorm on Friday. I loved it! I made a decision to work from home yesterday which provided me the opportunity to sleep in yesterday and today. With all the free time, I decided to jump in the shower, put my newspapers down, and venture to Times Square to catch one of four movies I am interested in seeing. I had to choose from The Day the Earth Stood Still, Seven Pounds, Slumdog Millionaire, and Gran Torino. I was really leaning towards Gran Torino, but I would've like to get acquainted with the work of a fave director of mine - Danny Boyle who directed Slumdog. But it wasn't showing at the time I thought which left me with Gran Torino...a good choice indeed.

Gran Torino stars and is directed by Clint Eastwood. What else can I possibly say other than the guy is a cinematic legend who happens to make some phenomenal movies. If you are not acquainted with any of Eastwood directed movies than I highly recommend The Unforgiven and Millionaire Dollar Baby. Anything Eastwood does is gold so you really can't go wrong...

Torino starts with a funeral. Eastwood plays a Korean War veteran who just lost his wife and lives alone - very alone. He is a grizzled, old, racist (I use that term lightly), veteran who happens to live somewhere in Michigan - I'm guessing in or near Detroit because his character worked in the automobile industry for ages. An Asian family moves in next door and his beautiful Gran Torino is the catalyst for a relationship with his neighboors which is very touching. Because it is an Eastwood movie, not only is the character development superbly done, but the climax just builds. While the movie may practically write itself with an old war veteran who lives with his dog and a very lethal, vintage M-1 in an increasingly dangerous neighborhood, the movie ends with a twist I was not expecting. This movie is very well-made. I just love the scene when there's a scuffle between an Asian gang and the family who lives next door, Eastwood comes out with that rifle, points it into the face of one of the gang members and says , in a very menacing tone, "We used to stack [racial slur] f**ks like you five-high in Korea! We used the bodies as sand bags!" You can't help but like the guy...especially when he sheds a tear.

Upcoming movies to keep an eye out for - first, of course, Watchmen!!! FYI - Watchmen is listed in Time magazine's Top 100 All-Time Novels!!!

Next, I just saw the trailer for the upcoming Wolverine movie. High Jackman is reprising his role as everyone's favorite anti-heroic X-Man. But it was the footage of the X-Man character Remy LeBeau who had me sit up and take notice. It's about time Gambit got some screen time. I also read somewhere that DeadPool is making a guest appearance as well...say it ain't so!

I also saw the trailer for the new Terminator movie. Christian Bale takes the reins as John Connor. Bale, a new Terminator movie - a recipe for a damn good movie.

Other movies I saw recently and would like to mention is Nothing Like The Holidays - a Puerto Rican family reunion, holiday movie with a who's who of actors to include a great reunion between Jay Hernandez and the always superb Luis Guzman. They starred together in the very underrated prequel to Carlito's Way, Rise to Power.

And at home I watched Anatomy of a Murder. I phenomenal legal trial movie starring James Stewart and a young, menacing Ben Gazzara. I am definitely going to write about this movie after I watch it one more time. This movie is listed in the American Bar Association's Top 12 Trial Movies of all time...

Well, I am going to try to diligently blog the movies...until next time...