This film is part of Rentals
Gran Torino
A curmudgeonly, recently widowed war veteran (Clint Eastwood) finds himself involved with a violent Detroit gang after befriending a neighbouring family.
Director: Clint Eastwood
Overview
Korean War veteran Walt (Clint Eastwood) is made to confront his prejudices when his neighbour, shy teenager Thao (Bee Vang), is pressured by a local gang into trying to steal the prized Gran Torino car that sits in Walt's garage. After Walt stands up to the gang, Thao, at the insistence of his mother and sister, sets out to work for Walt as a way of making amends. At Walt's suggestion, Thao endeavours to make improvements in the neighbourhood, whilst Walt learns more both about himself and the neighbours he used to resent.
While the spirit of some of Eastwood’s iconic anti-hero roles can be detected throughout the film, its message of never being too old to learn new ways also resonates. With a cast made up largely of Hmong Americans, and Eastwood impressing as a 78-year-old action hero, Gran Torino has moral substance lurking beneath its gun-toting veneer.
Related
Anatomy of a Fall Anatomy of a Fall
Crime 2023 152 mins Director: Justine Triet
Justine Triet's gripping, Palme d'Or-winning psycho-thriller is deeply intelligent with a spellbinding performance from Sandra Hüller.
Mean Streets Mean Streets
Crime 1973 112 mins Director: Martin Scorsese
Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel excel in Scorsese’s seminal tale of the conflict between Catholicism and crime in New York’s Little Italy.
Crown v. Stevens Crown v. Stevens
Crime 1936 67 mins Director: Michael Powell
Patric Knowles stars as a naïve young man who becomes embroiled in the murderous, money-hungry scheming of his boss’s wife, in Michael Powell’s stylish proto-film noir.
The Innocent The Innocent
Comedy 2022 98 mins Director: Louis Garrel
Louis Garrel’s unique French comedy-heist-romantic-thriller comes loaded with charm and humour.
Badlands Badlands
Crime 1973 94 mins Director: Terrence Malick
Terrence Malick’s dazzling directorial debut, based on a seemingly random killing spree undertaken by a young Dakota couple in the 1950s
Training Day Training Day
Crime 2001 122 mins Director: Antoine Fuqua
Denzel Washington delivers an Academy Award-winning performance opposite Ethan Hawke in this gritty cop drama.
Dirty Harry Dirty Harry
Police drama 1971 102 mins Director: Don Siegel
An unorthodox police officer (Clint Eastwood) chases a ruthless serial killer across San Francisco in Don Siegel's violent 1970s cat-and-mouse thriller.
The Outlaw Josey Wales The Outlaw Josey Wales
Western 1976 136 mins Director: Clint Eastwood
Josey Wales and his band of outsiders find themselves in danger in Clint Eastwood’s stunning western.
East of Eden East of Eden
Drama 1955 118 mins Director: Elia Kazan
Kazan’s adaptation of Steinbeck’s novel is notable for an array of fine performances, including James Dean in his first major role.
Unforgiven Unforgiven
Western 1992 131 mins Director: Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood's outstanding homage to Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns.
White Hunter Black Heart White Hunter Black Heart
Drama 1990 112 mins Director: Clint Eastwood
A renowned film director (loosely based on John Huston) becomes obsessed with hunting elephants during a film shoot, in Clint Eastwood's dark moral tale.
The Outlaw Josey Wales The Outlaw Josey Wales
Western 1976 136 mins Director: Clint Eastwood
Josey Wales and his band of outsiders find themselves in danger in Clint Eastwood’s stunning western.
Dirty Harry Dirty Harry
Police drama 1971 102 mins Director: Don Siegel
An unorthodox police officer (Clint Eastwood) chases a ruthless serial killer across San Francisco in Don Siegel's violent 1970s cat-and-mouse thriller.
White Hunter Black Heart White Hunter Black Heart
Drama 1990 112 mins Director: Clint Eastwood
A renowned film director (loosely based on John Huston) becomes obsessed with hunting elephants during a film shoot, in Clint Eastwood's dark moral tale.
Unforgiven Unforgiven
Western 1992 131 mins Director: Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood's outstanding homage to Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns.
The Outlaw Josey Wales The Outlaw Josey Wales
Western 1976 136 mins Director: Clint Eastwood
Josey Wales and his band of outsiders find themselves in danger in Clint Eastwood’s stunning western.
White Hunter Black Heart White Hunter Black Heart
Drama 1990 112 mins Director: Clint Eastwood
A renowned film director (loosely based on John Huston) becomes obsessed with hunting elephants during a film shoot, in Clint Eastwood's dark moral tale.
Unforgiven Unforgiven
Western 1992 131 mins Director: Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood's outstanding homage to Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns.
Out of Darkness Out of Darkness
Horror 2024 87 mins Director: Andrew Cumming
Bringing a whole new meaning to the term ‘period film’, Andrew Cumming’s Palaeolithic horror movie is a true original.
The Peasants The Peasants
Drama 2023 115 mins Director: Hugh Welchman and Dorota Kobiela
Using an advanced oil painting animation technique, The Peasants is a visually thrilling rendering of Władysław Reymont’s Nobel Prize-winning tale.
The Iron Claw The Iron Claw
Biopic 2023 132 mins Director: Sean Durkin
Compelling sports drama about the real-life Von Erich brothers and their tragic journey to the top of professional 1980s wrestling.
Samsara Samsara
Drama 2023 114 mins Director: Lois Patiño
Berlin Film Festival award winner Lois Patiño’s assured third feature transports us to magical places in Laos and Zanzibar, where the visible and the invisible merge.
Gassed Up Gassed Up
Drama 2023 102 mins Director: George Amponsah
A group of London teenage boys turn to motorbike crime for survival in George Amponsah’s high-octane follow-up to The Hard Stop.
Occupied City Occupied City
Documentary 2023 251 mins Director: Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen’s cinematic commemoration of the Holocaust offers a multidimensional experience full of gravity and sublimity.